Community
VS
Communal

   Community Versus Communal

These two terms or mindsets invariably waft in and out of any conversation that has to do with community, especially Christian. From my perspective (see looking through the knothole,) a community is a group of people of equal standing working together for the benefit of all. Even though there are differences in age, strength, skills, giftings and resources, all are loved equally by the Lord and should be also by one another.

A communal group is a collection of people who endeavor to share all things in common. This is generally limited to material possessions and money and at times chores and responsibilities. It would be difficult to share a gifting like discernment or healing with a person literally, but I supposed that it could be shared freely at the Lord's instruction.

I have interviewed many (not then of the Lord) who went to the extent of sharing wives, children and even underwear! The groups that tried to practice pure communal living, eventually unraveled because it goes against God's plan for man's life and basic human nature as set by the Lord. History has proven this out many times. Those that cling to this failed concept usually devolve to the lowest common denominator before completely falling apart. This would be most noticed in the areas of cleanliness, order, productivity and personal integrity.

Those who attempt to support a communal mindset, in my personal experience, are typically those who have a lackluster history in financial stewardship. They extend a hand of friendship but all to often with an up turned palm.

Communal position
It is popular in the communal camp to use the book of Acts just after Pentecost (Acts 4:32 ) " Those that believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things that he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common."
Wow, what a wonderful and marvelous moment to be alive! The people who believed in Yeshua became of one heart and soul. We, as a church, would have difficulty making that claim today. As a result of their supernatural transformation, material possessions became of little importance allowing them the mindset of having all things in common.

Actually, this should now be the mindset of every Christian who has been transformed by a saving relationship with Jesus. What the natural man thinks of as ownership, is in reality, stewardship over God's created things. With stewardship comes sober responsibility. As such, we in Christ should never think that anything placed into our care is actually ours to possess and to hoard for our own selfish purposes. Rather, we watch over our "charges" with integrity and due diligence. We are grateful for the trust that the Lord has in us and are always willing to release these things into His Kingdom work whenever instructed by Him (not man) to do so.....just as the early church in Acts did with their lands and possessions.

The saints in the book of Acts, although legally (of this world) owning lands and possessions, did realize their Kingdom stewardship over what God had entrusted into their care. As such, nobody did say that any of the things that he possessed (or, had stewardship over) was his own.

Pentecostal Perspective
This might be a good time to put some perspective on the events happening in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost described in the book of Acts. The Jews were celebrating their annual Feast of Pentecost. Thousands of visitors from throughout Judea flocked into Jerusalem for this annual event. They most probably filled every place of lodging to capacity.

Then, God ignited a thermo - nuclear blast of His Holy Spirit right there in their midst! Probably the greatest outpouring of revival power yet seen in the world to date. Thousands upon thousands of Jews came to Christ, were transformed by His Spirit and became of one soul and spirit with Jesus! They all decided to stay in Jerusalem after the holiday and grow in Christ rather than return to their homes outside of Jerusalem. This presented a serious and unprecedented problem. The resources that these visitors had brought to Jerusalem to support themselves with, perhaps a two week visit, were about gone. How was the local church going to house and feed these many thousands of new converts who had no jobs or permanent residences?

This situation was mitigated by the Lord instructing His stewards to sell any homes or lands that they had been given care over, and bring the proceeds to the apostles to be distributed as needed. In doing so, there were enough resources to cover food and housing for this growing family in Christ. In time, many of these visitors most probably made their way back home taking with them their newfound life in Jesus.

Communal proven?
But, by this wonderful story and event, are we being commanded to sell everything, find some apostles and place the proceeds at their feet? Not at all! Acts 5:4 clearly indicates that stewardship giving is of a free will and it is of Love and obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit that provokes us to release that which God has entrusted us with. Side Note; I challenge you to try and find a real apostle in today's world. A group of them pure and undefiled enough to handle such responsibility might be a real challenge. I have met certain individuals promoting themselves as an Apostle, but never one who had the integrity or witness of others to make the grade.

Other scriptures that commune-centered devotees utilize to secure their position are the time that Jesus sent out his disciples, two by two, and told them to take no provisions with them. If one were to read on a little further, it would be noted that the Lord sent them out again but with full provisions and even two swords for protection. Apparently the first excursion was to demonstrate the Lord's ability to supply our needs even when not physically present.

The story of the rich young ruler always seems to come up. This young man appeared to be bound up by what he believed that he owned. He loved things more than he loved the Lord....sad. The lord was correct to instruct this young man to rid himself of what had him in bondage or sin. This correlates with the scripture where Jesus tells us to lose our eye or our hand should they cause us to sin. This story speaks to breaking the bondages that separate us with a close relationship to Yeshua and not a command to live without possessions.

God views community
The scriptures that suggest that God may not have a communal mindset or standard can be gleaned from the parable of the talents. This parable is based on the usage or stewardship over money. At the end of the story it is said that to him who has more, more will be given to him by taking away from the one who was found to have little. Hmmmm, interesting concept. If someone is not very good at handling something, take it away from him and put it into the hands of a person proven to be capable. Smart policy but doesn't sound very communal to me.

Then there is the story where Jesus chastised Judas for complaining about expensive oil being used to anoint His feet. The Lord said, (paraphrase) " You will always have the poor, but you will not always have me". If God had determined that there would always be poor people, then He had also determined that there would always be folks having more than the poor. You cannot determine poverty unless there is some degree of wealth alongside to compare it to. Again, no communism here.

Lastly, there is the book of Philemon. Here, Paul is making an appeal to a wealthy Christian slave owner in whose home the church in Colosse met. This brother had apparently not heard about the need to sell everything and lay it at the Apostles feet. Was he a Christian in word only and not in deed? Paul says to not even eat with such a man. And yet in Phil. 1:22, we read of Paul asking him to prepare a guest room for him when he comes on his next visit there. A wealthy Christian with a big house and slaves and the apostle Paul sees no problem with that! Where is all that communistic, communal stuff that was going down in the book of Acts???

Could it have been a unique event that required a unique response that came to a supernatural conclusion? You decide for yourself.

Diversity through Community
In conclusion, I just want to say that we all differ in our giftings and purposes within the bride and body of Christ. Find your gifts, be grateful for them and ask the Lord for more. You will get them if you have been trustworthy and faithful with the ones that you have. They are not to be used for purposes of self, but rather to be a blessing to the church and for better service to the Kingdom.

Some will be gifted in administration and the effective handling of money. This can be a powerful tool for the purposes of Christ if employed with wisdom. Strive to be of one Spirit and of one soul, otherwise you lack the ability to function in concert with God's will through His Spirit.

Do not market your gifts for profit, as did the moneychangers in the temple. The Lord was very displeased with them. When I see gifted writers, musicians, teachers, healers and evangelists aggressively marketing the gifts that were so freely given to them, I just groan deep within. I do not judge because I understand things imperfectly and the Lord, himself, will judge in His own time.

I like Paul's style. He asked for little or no help from those that he was sent out from and none from those that he was ministering to. He worked at his trade during the day and ministered in the evenings. He required the same of those that traveled with him so as not to be a burden to the church locally, and to give his message more credibility.
Irregardless of how much sterling character or credibility that you think you are endowed with, anytime that you allow personal monetary gain to be a part of your purpose and ministry, you will in time become compromised and stained. Not if, but when.

The heart of a son will become like that of a hired hand. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit that you once knew will wane and withdraw. The resulting vacuum might be filled by a religious spirit along with the striving in the flesh. Guard your hearts, please!!

Seek freedom to be more like our Lord, Master and Friend. Freedom to love all whom the Lord loves. Freeness to be more like Him as a result of transformation and of becoming and not by that of our works. Remain humble and thankful always and in all things. Remember that our Father has each and every one of us uniquely placed on that narrow pathway home. Love, help and encourage all who tread upon it to the extent that He enables us to do so.

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Agape Village @2008----Bob Kaline-----PO Box 781-----Ferndale, CA. 95536

"What the
natural
man
thinks
of
as
ownership,
is in
reality,
stewardship
over
God's
created
things."