Rev. Troy Lynn Pritt July 11, 2010 Page 1 CHRISTIAN COMMUNAL LIVING Part 2 Christian communal living did not survive as an integral part of the Christian church. It did reappear in other forms at various times. Last week I listed Christian communities in the history of our nation. During the Middle Ages the system of monasteries developed in both the Eastern and Western churches. Monks or nuns lived communally. An offshoot of the monastic system were mendicant orders. The friars of these orders went from place to place preaching and teaching. They had no personal or communal property. They begged for their daily food and other needs. St. Francis of Assisi was a mendicant. In the early nineteenth century, in the wake of the Second Great Awakening, the Restoration movement began on the American frontier. This movement sought to restore the church and unify all Christians into one body patterned on the church of the New Testament. They discarded all creeds and confessions, taking only the Bible as they standard of belief. They rejected labels and called all believers Christians. They were committed to restoring primitive Christianity. They celebrated the Lord s Supper every Lord s Day, they believed the baptism of adult believers by immersion in water is a necessary condition of salvation, they believed in congregational autonomy, a plurality of elders in every congregation, and generally rejected using music instruments in worship. They rejected the following practices of the early church the holy kiss, deaconesses, footwashing, charismatic exercises, and communal living. Why was communal living abandoned as a feature of Christian life?
Rev. Troy Lynn Pritt July 11, 2010 Page 2 1.) Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. (Acts 6:1-6 NKJV) The rapid growth of the Christian church made communal living more difficult and then impossible. One of the priorities was to provide for the widows. Jesus on the cross gave to John the responsibility of supporting his mother Mary who was a widow. Even though the church at some point in time abandoned the practice of everyone having all things in common, it still took responsibility for the support of widows among the believers. This became a burdensome administrative task for the apostles. Later on the support of all the widows became more than the church could manage or afford. Paul gave instructions about how to decide which widows should be supported by the church and which ones should be supported by their children or otherwise. Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. (1 Timothy 5:3-5 NKJV) But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. (1 Timothy 5:8-10 NKJV) Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. (1 Timothy 5:14 NKJV)
Rev. Troy Lynn Pritt July 11, 2010 Page 3 2.) knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Romans 6:6 NKJV) that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, (Ephesians 4:22 NKJV) Although the old man has potentially been put to death with Christ on the cross, experientially it shows itself alive in our lives and actions. That is why Paul says For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. (Romans 7:15,17 NKJV) The second reason that communal living failed in the early church is that all some of them took advantage of the fact that all had everything in common. They either cheated like Ananias and Sapphira in not putting all their wealth into the common treasury (even among the Twelve, one of them Judas Iscariot was stealing from the common purse); OR they used it as an excuse not to work. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 NKJV) But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. (1 Timothy 5:11-14 NKJV) The other way that the old man appeared was that many who were wealthy refused to share their food with the poor Christians. Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. (1 Corinthians 11:20-22 NKJV)
Rev. Troy Lynn Pritt July 11, 2010 Page 4 3.) And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:27-30 NKJV) There was a succession of famines in various parts of the Roman Empire during and after the reign of Claudius Caesar. In Judea the food produced locally was taken to feed the Roman soldiers who were occupying the land. The collection mentioned above was taken up and delivered to Jerusalem by Paul and Barnabas between 44 to 47 A.D. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark. (Acts 12:25 NKJV) The ministry they fulfilled was delivering the collection to Jerusalem. The Christians could no longer share what they had with one another because no one had anything to share. Famines are horrendous events. My father witnessed the famine that came in the wake of a drought in the early 1930 s. People were starving. Those who had an income could still buy food. People who lived in town were begging and stealing food. Many people who lived in the country starved to death. Ten years later, 53 to 57 A.D., there was another famine in Judea: Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me. (1 Corinthians 16:1-4) The collections for this famine are also mentioned Acts, Romans, 2 Corinthians, and Galatians. The tremendous growth in membership, the old man in the actions of some, and famines caused the failure of communal living to continue as a characteristic of Christian life.
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