Jose Miranda begins his book, Communism in the Bible, with the thesis: "Christianity is Communism." He cites Acts 2:44-45 as well as the latter part of Acts 4 as proof that original Christianity was communistic. According to Miranda, the personal possession of wealth is evil. A true Christian will be a communist. Right after Pentecost,

… all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need.Acts 2:44-45

Acts 4 tells us that the believers were united in heart and soul. They had everything in common. People sold land and houses and brought the money to the apostles for distribution to the needy. Barnabas sold a field he owned and gave the money to the church.

Cults and sects often take these verses and, like the Anabaptists of the 1500s, "… introduce a communion of goods" (Belgic Confession, art. 36). So do people, such as Jose Miranda, who subscribe to Liberation Theology. They say that communism is the purest form of Christianity. They reach this conclusion because they have ripped these few verses out of their context.

The immediate context proves the thesis wrong. In Acts 5:4 Peter very clearly affirmed the privilege of private ownership of property. He told Ananias that before he had sold the piece of land in question, it was his. Ananias owned it. And after he had sold it, the proceeds were his. They were at his personal disposal. They were his either to spend or to bank. Ananias was under no obligation to donate them to the church. Further, the communist interpretation shows no sensitivity for the historical situation. This was a crucial time.

The Lord had recently ascended to heaven. He had empowered His church with the Holy Spirit and charged it to bring the good news of salvation through faith in Him to the ends of the world. The believers had to begin this great work. Critical times call for drastic action. The normal routine of owning a house, some land and a business had to be suspended for awhile. There can be times when the church is faced with such a momentous task that the only responsible thing to do is to pool resources and get to work. But we cannot lay this down as an abiding principle for all places and times. Finally, the early church knew that Jerusalem was soon to be destroyed. The Lord had warned them many times of the judgment which would come upon the city. From a practical point of view, owning land and houses in Jerusalem made little sense.

Communism is not found in the Bible. It is a human invention. The principle of communion, however, is taught in the Bible. If a brother has need, I must help him. As James wrote:

If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit!

The Communist says: "What's yours is mine." The Christian says: "What's mine is yours."

We are stewards over personal property. We may use it and enjoy it. We must, however, always use our material wealth to advance the gospel. We must also be ready at all times to exercise communion with the brotherhood by giving to those in need, perhaps to the point of selling everything.