Bible

Voluntary contributions distributed according to need

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The tangible closeness of God characterised the people of the first church. They brought their abundance to the apostles. The gifts were distributed among the needy, as much as each person needed (Acts 4:35).

It was not a communist way of life in which the state was in charge of distributing the possessions of others. Rather, it was a matter of voluntary contributions that were distributed by a committee according to need. This meant that not everyone received the same amount.

The parishioners did not sell everything they had, but only part of their ‘fields and houses’ (plural). They did not give the shirt off their backs until they themselves were in need. They only gave away what they didn’t need to live on.

By law, family property could not be sold, but could only be enfeoffed until the Halljahr. But their attitude to property changed. It was not about amassing as much money and property as possible. Rather, they saw themselves as stewards of their possessions (Acts 4:32). Because everything was and is a gift from God.

There was no pressure from within among the first followers of Jesus. The members of the church voluntarily helped each other to withstand the pressure from outside, to grow spiritually and to be filled with God’s presence.

It is also noteworthy that they met in a public place (Solomon’s Hall) and did not build or rent a community building. Such public places no longer exist today.

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