I didn't say it was.
And because of their selling everything they had, and sharing the profits with each other, and living in communes, they all became poor, to the point where many were starving. (It's the main reason Communism doesn't work.)
It got so bad for them (because Christ did not return as He said He would, because of Israel's rejection of Him) that Paul and the Christians elsewhere took up a collection to send to them.
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
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians16:1-4&version=NKJV
Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. - 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Corinthians8:1-5&version=NKJV
But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for
the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. - Romans 15:25-27
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans15:25-27&version=NKJV
Says the one who rejects simple scripture.
GT, why did the believers in Jerusalem sell all they had and divide the proceeds among themselves, and live together?
(Hint: I gave you the answer in this post)
Again, "Love God and love your neighbor."
You are sadly mistaken. Paul tells us what it means.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians13:1-13&version=NKJV
Did you catch that?
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy;
love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
When you obey a law, what does it do?
Let's say your church institutes a rule that members of the church may not smoke, and that those who do must quit or be kicked out. (Note: this example is not meant to advocate such a rule in churches, but only to demonstrate a point.)
How do you think that the ones who don't smoke feel about that rule? Do you think they might be puffed up (no pun intended, I promise)? Could they say, "Good thing I don't smoke," and boast about it? Could they lord it over those who do smoke?
Is that love? or is that obedience to a law?
Do you remember how I said that another name for the law is "the knowledge of good and evil"? (sidenote: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the only law God gave in the Garden of Eden was don't partake of the law, or the tree)
Considering that, What does Paul say about such laws, and the obedience of which?
Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge [ie, of of good and evil]. Knowledge (of good and evil, aka the law) puffs up, but love edifies. - 1 Corinthians 8:1
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians8:1&version=NKJV
The law puffs up, but love edifies.
If you love your neighbor, you don't have to have a law that says, "don't smoke." If you love your neighbor (as yourself), and God, you won't smoke out of love for them, and you won't damage your body out of respect for your Creator.
But that law, where you must stop smoking or be kicked out of the church, only puffs up those who obey that law.
Love, on the other hand, does not boast (ie, parade itself) as if obeying a law, it doesn't bring about a debt owed, like obedience to a law does (Romans 4:4).
Other verses to note:
For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. - Romans 8:3-4 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans8:3-4&version=NKJV |