God and Marx
Michelle on Jan 02 2007 at 3:38 am | Filed under: The Political
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
It is embarrassing to say that as a Christian, I have never read the Bible. Sure, I’ve read the Gospels, some of Psalms, Proverbs and the breathtaking Song of Solomon. I have read a bit of Genesis and other bits and pieces while sitting bored in church as a kid. But I have never seriously read the entire thing, which is ridiculous, considering that I have probably read over 6,000 books in my lifetime and call myself a Christian.
House arrest during the holiday break provides plenty of time for contemplation and cleaning, the latter of which I have done disgustingly little. I have, however, began to read the Bible, one of my goals on 43 Things. (By the way, I’ll bet that site is really hopping right now!) At any rate, imagine my surprise when I came across this particular passage in the book of Acts:
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
I was shocked. In all my days growing up in the church, discussing Christianity with others and attending church with others, I have never even heard mention of these verses. Whoa. The verses afterward describe a man and his wife who were basically smote because they held back money, and I have heard about that, but it was in the context of the man and wife having lied to God. I never heard the backstory.
Strangely, Husband and I had just had a conversation the same evening I read this in which I stated that I could never live under Communism because I am unmotivated enough as it is. So it was on my mind, and perhaps that is why these verses just jumped out at me. I’d really love to hear the Uber-Right explain this one. Or perhaps not. Does that make me close-minded?
It would indeed be a great society if everyone lived and felt like these early Christians did, but I don’t see it happening. There is a definite message there, though, and I believe it is one that has been lost.
What about you guys, have you ever heard much about these verses before? What is your take on it, whether you have heard/read them before or not?
Edited to Add: Right after I finished writing this post, I started going down my list of “Places I Go” links. I got to Sojourners and read this article, The Gospel of Bling and saw it again, now for the second time in my life. I think this is how God speaks. I should listen.
ITK code for Singing The Sky:
I had heard of those verses,and many others that are selectively used or ignored by certain people! That’s why I could never be a Bible literalist.
I’m kind of concerned that despite growing up in church you’ve never heard those verses before, I mean seriously, what was your church teaching? Anyway, I guess I was lucky to be part of the Navigators as a student, who really stress the importance of EVERY Christian reading the WHOLE Bible for themselves. They kind of go a little far, but at least after four years with them I know what the Bible says.
Anyway, I think this verse is getting at the way early Christianity was all about community, about living in harmony with each other, way more than it was about a bunch of rituals to follow, or things to be believed or accepted on an intellectual level. Does that make sense?
Anyway, good luck with the reading!
Well Marx was an atheist, and if I was looking for a system which abolished wealth I’d personally steer clear of communism - libertarian socialism is more my speed, and there are certainly others.
In any case, try Googling the term Christian socialism.
Ok, so I’d be the WRONG person to ask this of, considering my vocation. But it’s been my experience that most people attending church have very little experience with the biblical text. In fact, most only hear snippets, and usually only from the New Testament. So, Kudos to you for reading it in its entirety.
There is a reason, tho, that most people don’t read the whole thing. The Hebrew Scriptures (as my kind likes to call the Old Testament) are difficult, circuitous, and often contradictory. Too many people have a deep sense of a “loving God” they presume is in the New Testament–and that’s not who they find on first glance in Old Testament. But… as a person who has spent most of her life in pursuit of reading Hebrew Scriptures, I beg you to look deeper than the first glance at the OT. Because, if you read deeply (and it does require outside help!) you will find a beauty worth knowing! Despite God’s reputation in these texts, they are chock full of cries for justice and decrees to end oppression.
Anyhow… don’t let all the “death and destruction” fool you–that stuff was written for very theological reasons and it cannot be taken “at face value!”
When I was at college, which was pretty leftist and liberal-minded, there was a seminar called “Jesus was a Communist.” There’s so much in the bible that is progressive and revolutionary. I would suggest looking into Liberation Theology - which is or was mainly Catholicism and Marxism working together in Latin America, in the 1960s. I think it would truly fit some of your political and religious leanings, that you find left out or outrightly decried in the standard American churches.
Religion has been a big topic around our house lately. With the baby coming, I have a strong urge to commit to some religion or belief system. But it certainly won’t be Christianity and R is a non-practicing, non-committed Muslim. Right now we just plan on trying to raise Peanut with good values and exposure to many ideas. Who knows if that will be enough!
I had not heard of these verses, but I am not well-versed in the Bible. I do however believe that God does speak to us in amazing ways & the fact that you ran across something twice, is more than serendipity, it is a message. What that message is exactly often takes some time and unfolding to completely realise … and perhaps more pieces of the message will show themselve to you … the thing is to keep mind and heart open.
Much peace, love and happy New Year’s wishes to you Michelle.
Warmly,
Deborah
http://www.churchhopping.com/ten-verses-never-preached-on/
Text called the gospel of judas
“You can see how early Christians could say, if Jesus’s death was all part of God’s plan, then Judas’s betrayal was part of God’s plan,” said Ms. King, the author of several books on Gnostic texts. “So what does that make Judas? Is he the betrayer, or the facilitator of salvation, the guy who makes the crucifixion possible?”
I’ve not only read these verses before but I’ve even preached on them. But don’t worry I’m not going to give you my sermon now. I do think it just points to the vital importance of reading the Bible for oneself and also of it being taught systematically in church to open up all its riches to God’s people. Jumping from one text to another inevitably means the church gets an unbalanced diet.
On reading, I really would encourage you to keep on and aim to read the whole of the Bible. Maybe there will be things you don’t understand. Note them but don’t be unduly bothered by them. Note any questions that arise.
How about setting up a group blog for reading the Bible and recording our reactions, questions etc. Interested?