5th Sunday of Easter ’11 – Acts 4:32-35
Over the past few weeks we have been considering how various passages in the Acts of the Apostles unfold the implications of the resurrection of Jesus. We’ve seen that the resurrection is God’s declaration that Jesus is the world’s true Lord and Israel’s messiah. And we’ve seen the implications of this declaration for mankind, that we all must seek salvation in this Jesus by repentance and baptism in His name. Then last week we began what will be a three part consideration of the Church that is brought into being as a result of the resurrection of Jesus. From Acts 2:42-47 we saw how the common worship of the Church was expressed in their common life and resulted in an effective and attractive presence in the world. Now in this week’s lesson (4:32-35) we have occasion to take a closer look at one of the central aspects of the Church’s common life that we considered briefly last week: the way that the first Christians sacrificially provided for one another’s needs.
Last week I argued that those who share in Christ through the teaching of the apostles, the breaking of the Eucharistic bread, and the prayers of the Church, will be those who share their possessions, their gifts, their time, their money with one another. Well, in Acts 4:32-35 Luke describes why and how the Church managed to share their lives in this way. First, Luke provides us a summary introduction of the sacrificial unity of the Church in v. 32. Second, he states the basis for this sacrificial unity in v. 33. Third, he describes how this sacrificial unity was practiced in everyday life in vv. 34-35. In all of this I want us to be thinking about how we at Holy Trinity can better reflect “the communion of the saints” in this area of our common life.
So then, the first thing that Luke does is to provide us with a summary introduction of the sacrificial unity of the church in v. 32. He writes, “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” This “multitude of those who believed” is of course a reference to the church, which is now composed of the 3,000 people who gladly received the preaching of Peter at Pentecost, together with the 120 upon whom the Spirit fell on that day, and those we considered last week who “the Lord [was adding] to the church daily” as result of the church’s common worship and common life. So we’re talking about several thousand Christians “from every nation under heaven” scattered throughout the city of Jerusalem. They’re probably already being arranged into various “house churches”/parishes with the apostles providing teaching and oversight.
Now I want to note two things concerning this multitude. First, note the description of this large and profoundly diverse gathering of believers: they “were of one heart and one soul.” This large and diverse gathering of new believers was united and their unity ran deep. This was no special interest group or religious club. Rather that which united them sprang from the core of their being – their heart and soul. Second, note the expression of this unity: “neither did anyone say that any of things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” The unity of this large and diverse gathering of new believers was expressed sacrificially. For them people, preeminently the people of God were of greater value than possessions. That which united them made it worth it to them to sacrifice what belonged to them for the greater good of the community.
Now we’re going to come back to this in a moment, but before we do so I want us to consider the basis of this sacrificial unity as Luke states it in v. 33. This verse is something of a parenthesis in his description. You could begin reading in the second half of v. 32 with the phrase “neither did anyone say…,” read to the end of the verse and then skip over v. 33 entirely and resume reading with the phrase, “Nor was there anyone among them who lacked…” In fact there are some who think a later editor came along and put v. 33 in the wrong place. It should have been placed before v. 32. I think this is silly. I believe that Luke interjects this parenthetical statement in order to highlight the basis of the sacrificial unity that he is literally in the middle of describing. So what is the basis of this sacrificial unity? What could possibly unite such a large and diverse gathering of people and make it worth to them to sacrifice what belongs to them for the greater good of people they have probably just come to know over the past few days or weeks?
Luke states two things that serve as the basis of this sacrificial unity. First, he states that “with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” It is the Spirit-empowered proclamation of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ that produces sacrificial unity among those who believe this message. This is because through the death and resurrection of Jesus God has formed a new humanity, the household and kingdom of God. Through faith and baptism you have entered this kingdom; God has placed you in this household. Thus you now have a vast and innumerable host of new siblings in Christ. Second, he states the result of this Spirit-empowered proclamation of the resurrection: “And great grace was upon them all.” It is the great or abundant grace of God that makes this sacrificial unity possible. Even though God has placed you within His household and given you new siblings in Christ apart from His grace you will not be able to fulfill your obligations to one another. This is because there are so many things for us to fight about and get frustrated with and that threaten to divide us. Ultimately it is only when we are firmly grasped by the grace of God, understanding ourselves to be sinners in need of His grace, that we will be able to extend grace to one another and practice sacrificial unity.
With this in mind I want us to consider, third, how Luke describes the practice of this sacrificial unity in everyday life in vv. 34-35. We’ve already seen the way that Luke described this sacrificial unity in v. 32, that “neither did anyone say that any that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” While that sounds great, it raises all kinds of questions about how this communal possession of goods worked. As I mentioned last week, this is where we bump up against questions concerning private property and socialism. And I want us to take just a few minutes to examine these questions before moving on to some broader points of application.
Now I want to be very clear from the start that I do not believe that what Luke is describing involves the renunciation of private property as such and the implementation of some form of Christian socialism. Why do I say that? In vv. 34-35 we read that “all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold and laid them at the apostle’s feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.” What Luke is describing here is a gradual and ongoing sale of surplus property to meet the needs of God’s people as they arise. The little phrase at the end of the verse “as anyone had need” also occurred in last week’s passage where Luke wrote that folks “sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.” If we put these two passages together we see that the needs of God’s people both determine the sale of property and the distribution of the proceeds from the sale. So a Christian who owns some land sees that the folks who he or she breaks bread with on Sunday have no bread for Monday and decides that rather than seeing their brother or sister go hungry, they will part with their land. Their decision to sell their property is unconstrained. The example of Ananias and Sapphira in the next chapter makes this clear. Peter says that so long as the possession remained theirs, it was at their disposal. Their sin was in committing all of the proceeds of the sale to the church and then holding some back for themselves. The decision concerning both the sale itself and the dedication of the proceeds was theirs to make. So some form of private property was retained.
But here’s where we’re in danger of mission the forest for the trees. As I also mentioned last week, when we have successfully defended some form of private property we still have to go on and ask the next question as to why God has given us the resources that we have. So why has God given you the resources that you have? Surely one reason is so that you can provide for the needs of your families.* This is good and proper and if we are careless in this area, failing to work faithfully and fruitfully with our own hands, then we’re just going to make ourselves an unnecessary burden upon others. And second reason that God has given you the resources that you have is for your enjoyment. Paul writes that God has given us all things freely to enjoy. So it’s alright to spend money on things that you enjoy such as art, music, and sports. To read some advocates of simple living you might think that you are supposed to get by with the bare minimum, but I don’t see that as being consistent with the abundant life that we are called to in Christ Jesus. Yet we can’t stop there.
Another primary reason that God has given you the resources that you have is in order to bless and provide for the needs of others. So for starters you tithe and you do so faithfully for in this way you support the work of the kingdom, including the care of the poor through the diaconate. It is important to note the references to the proceeds from these sales being laid at the apostle’s feet in vv. 35 and 37. This a clear reference to the centrality of the church in the care of the poor. Barnabas knew that folks were in need, but he also knew that apostles would know whose needs were the greatest. But the tithe is just the starting point. There will be occasions when God will lead you to give over above the tithe to meet specific needs such as the recent tornadoes in Alabama.
Furthermore, what Luke is here and in Acts is an entire way of life whereby we become keenly aware of the needs of our brothers and sisters and move to meet those needs as we are able. So for example, you know that the needs of your family are being met, but that you have excess resources, whether time, money, goods or services, that you could extend to a brother or sister in Christ who is in need. Do it. Take the step. If you’re not aware of various needs within the body, go talk to a deacon or perhaps better yet, spend more time together in settings where you can be open and honest with one another so that you know what’s going on in one another’s lives. I know that within Greenville Parish we’ve talked about meeting a little more frequently in more a “small group” setting where we can pray and talk a little more freely. We simply must find ways to do life together in more tangible and meaningful ways.
There’s one other thing I want to say in conclusion. I’ve sketched out three reasons that God has given you the resources you have, but you shouldn’t necessarily think of them as a progression of steps. First, provide for the needs of your family. Second, enjoy the things you have. Then third, bless and provide for the needs of others. That’s not necessarily a bad way to proceed, especially if you’re just getting started in thinking this way. But really, these three reasons, and others I’ve not mentioned, are a package deal. At times you should be ready to forego things you enjoy in order to bless and provide for the needs of your family or fellow Christians. At other times you might need to be ready to forego certain things that your family is accustomed to having in order again to bless and provide for the needs of others. You see it is this “foregoing” that as Christians we call “sacrifice” and it is central to who we are called to be. Jesus said that following Him involves denying yourself and taking up your cross each and every day, and you do this not just as individuals, but also as families. It is through this readiness to sacrifice for one another that you reflect the unity that is yours through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The abundant grace of God has been given to you in order to empower you to live this way together in Christ Jesus. Let us pray.
