Changes

====New Testament socialism====

====New Testament socialism====

The earliest Christians were decidedly living in a manner consistent with basic aims of socialism, albeit with critical requirements and distinctions from its secularist expressions. Luke 14:33 requires the forsaking of all one has if one will be a disciple of Christ, and while this is not shown to necessarily always require the literally forsaking of all,<ref>Lk. 19:8,9; Acts 16:14,15; 1Cor. 11:22; 2Tim. 4:13</ref> (Lydia of Acts 16:14 was a "seller of purple", which in those times usually indicated a person of at least some means. Lydia becomes a Christian and is not told she must give up her worldly possessions). Acts 2:44 states that the communal believers "had all things common". Acts 4:32-5:11 also describes community redistribution of property, (not redistribution in the modern since, but voluntary giving) and details the Divine punishment of a husband and wife for hypocrisy, in keeping proceeds from the sale of a piece of property while openly pretending that they gave it all, as others  voluntarily did. *Note that this was not anything like modern socialism.  The situation was unusual in that there were thousands of new Christians from all over the known world now living in Jerusalem because of the new and miraculous revelation of the beginning of the church.  They had all things in common only out of necessity. How could they otherwise support all the newly converted; many of whom probably never returned to their own countries.  All they did was completely voluntary.  Peter asks Ananias why he has lied to the Holy Spirit and then says to him in verse 4, "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold , was it not in your own control?..."  The land Ananias had was his to do with completely as he desired, as was the money he he had after trading it.  No Christian was forced to give to the church at Jerusalem.  <ref>Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, 5:1-11)</ref>   

The earliest Christians were decidedly living in a manner consistent with basic aims of socialism, albeit with critical requirements and distinctions from its secularist expressions. Luke 14:33 requires the forsaking of all one has if one will be a disciple of Christ, and while this is not shown to necessarily always require the literally forsaking of all,<ref>Lk. 19:8,9; Acts 16:14,15; 1Cor. 11:22; 2Tim. 4:13</ref> Acts 2:44 states that the communal believers "had all things common". Acts 4:32-5:11 also describes community redistribution of property, and details the Divine punishment of a husband and wife for hypocrisy, in keeping proceeds from the sale of a piece of property while openly pretending that they gave it all, as others  voluntarily did.<ref>Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, 5:1-11)</ref>   

However, forsaking all is shown to be that of first surrendering oneself and life to the God of the Bible, and placing all at His disposal,<ref>Matthew Henry (1662 - 1714), ''Commentary on the Whole Bible'', Lk. 14:25-35</ref><ref>Archibald Thomas Robertson, ''WORD PICTURES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT'', Lk. 14:33</ref> with literal giving as a result being as He directs, and voluntary. (2Cor. 8,9)  

However, forsaking all is shown to be that of first surrendering oneself and life to the God of the Bible, and placing all at His disposal,<ref>Matthew Henry (1662 - 1714), ''Commentary on the Whole Bible'', Lk. 14:25-35</ref><ref>Archibald Thomas Robertson, ''WORD PICTURES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT'', Lk. 14:33</ref> with literal giving as a result being as He directs, and voluntary. (2Cor. 8,9)