Comm14-X†4: Common property at Jerusalem congregation (Acts 4:32-38)

      This continues from Part 13 (Table of Contents in Part 1), a series presenting a new translation of C.F.W. Walther's Communism and Socialism from 1878. — The master Bible teacher Walther now uses the Reformation principle that Scripture, not man, interprets Scripture.  If any giving is not of faith, and therefore not voluntarily, it is not Christian giving and is no good in the spiritual sense. This will also be expanded in the next Part 15.

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Translation of Walther's 1878 Communismus und Socialismus by BackToLuther primarily using DeepL online translation service; highlighting and bolding are my emphases, red text within square brackets [ ] are my comments, underlining is Walther's emphasis. Red highlight indicates omitted in 1947 translation.

C.F.W. Walther's Communism and Socialism, (Part 13, p. 45-47)

The second citation is found, as I said, in the Book of Acts. In Acts 4:32 ff. it is told: “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, [page 46] being interpreted, the son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.” But this is a glorious example of fervent love in which the first Christians stood. For one must know that very few of the wealthy converted to Christianity even then; most of those who became Christians were [1947-62] poor people. In addition, no Christian was safe for even one hour of his life. The drawn sword of a bloodthirsty Herod hung over every Christian's head. In this time of terrible need, the Christians worked closely together, and so that none of the poor would suffer want, the rich decided to sell their property and put the proceeds into the common treasury.

So far, it seems that these examples do indeed speak for Communism. But first of all, we do not read of any other Christian congregation of the apostolic era that it had made this arrangement. On the other hand, we also hear the following (Acts 5:1-3): “But a certain man” Luke continues in the story, “named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price (his wife also being privy to it) and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet." This Ananias thus also wanted to be looked upon as a loving, charitable, merciful Christian man. Therefore, although he sold his goods, he kept a part of the proceeds, and gave the other part to the apostle Peter, pretending that this was all that he had realized. And Peter said [Acts 5:3], “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?”  

What is most strange is what Peter says here: “While it remained, was it not thine own.” We can see that it was not an order that the first Jerusalem Christian congregation had made that everyone had to give his property, but rather that the Christians did so voluntarily and without compulsion. For here Peter testifies to Ananias: “It would not have been wrong if you had kept your field and your house.” Indeed, he adds: “And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power. You might also have said: “I will give half of it, and then it would have been all right; no one would have made it a matter of conscience. The shameful thing in your deed is that you wanted to be considered a loving, sacrificing Christian, when you secretly did the opposite of what you pretend to have done. Therefore we also read that in the first Christian congregations the Christians had houses and goods, e.g. the tanner Simon in Joppe (Acts 10:6), the rich seller of purple Lydia in Philippi [1947-63] (Acts 16:14-15.), [1947-64] then even the deacon or almoner Philip of Jerusalem had a house in [page 47] Caesarea (Acts 21:8.), so also the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12).

From this it emerges irrefutably that the first Jerusalem church was not Communist in its structure, but that the behavior described was a completely voluntary expression of love in times of terrible need. Acts 9:31: “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” From that time on, this relative community of goods in Jerusalem was also completely abolished. It had lasted for a short time, until after Paul's conversion in about the year 36.

But what we see from this example is this: how a true Christian should be minded. In his heart, if he understands it correctly, every Christian should be a Communist. In other words, a Christian should be ready and willing to give all that he has for his brothers and sisters in need at any moment when the need of the brothers and sisters demands it. This is why John says: “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” (1 John 3:17) And the Savior says explicitly: “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” (Matt. 5:42) Indeed, the apostle Paul commands that a Christian “labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” (Eph. 4:28) He does not say that he should work with his hands and create something good in order to be able to lay down capital and become rich, but “that he may have to give to him that needeth.” The apostle Paul goes on to say: “They that buy, as though they possessed not.” (1 Cor. 7:30) So he who buys something should have such a heart as if he did not have it; his heart should not be attached to it, it should not cost him any struggle, if the need of his neighbour or the glory of God demands that he give it away. But he to whom the money has grown on his heart is not a Christian. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ also says right at the [1947-64] beginning of His Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” What does that mean? Blessed are those who, though they may have much or little property, are poor in spirit. According to heart and mind they shall be poor. The one who has wealth, then, and this wealth has also become for him wealth, the dearest and most precious treasure that he keeps, that he does not want to lose for everything in the world, has not yet recognized the first words with which Christ begins his Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the spiritually poor.” And if you were immensely wealthy, you should be poor in spirit; it should be as if you did not have all that has fallen to you. This is why the Psalmist also says: “If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” (Ps. 62:10) — [page 48]

- - - - - - - - - - - - -   Continued in Part 15:  - - - - - - - - - - - -

      When Walther says "every Christian should be a Communist" at heart, he is also saying in essence that the Communists want a heavenly kingdom here on earth.  But that is impossible unless everyone were a Christian.