A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Community - Not Commune"

The historical landscape is littered with innumerable attempts to create utopian communities. In the 1960's and 1970's a generation marched its way into communes in isolated areas singing, "give peace a chance," "all we need is love," looking for the answers they thought were blowing in the wind. An entire political system was created with the idea of placing everyone one on the same level, making that which belonged to one belong to all. All such attempts inevitably crumble.

Reading through Acts we find a description of what seems to depict communal life.  "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people." (Acts 2:44- 47a)

At first glance one might think that this describes a Christian commune. It is far from it. It is a Christian community in action. There are distinct and radical differences between these two things. Communes force equality and corporate ownership upon those who belong. It may seem voluntary due to the person's choice to participate, but in reality it is a structured human mandate forced upon a participant. This is not the case for the Christian community.

This passage paints a picture of Agape (divine Love) in action. What is described is not forced and mandated communal participation. What is seen here are the actions of a people loving God with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength and their neighbor as themselves. They are living out the Kingdom in community. They all belonged to God and all they had was His for His use. They were but stewards of His things. Therefore, when someone was in need they had no problem selling property and goods, for it wasn't theirs. It was their Master's. They were in communion with each other in Christ, and that is level ground. Here "there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28) They were one in Christ, in communion. How could they live otherwise? Agape mandated their living and giving. It flowed out of their love for God, and their continual acts of worship, sacraments, and hospitality.

When we live out true community, live out the Kingdom, by the power of the Spirit, we become a magnet for non-believers, because they yearn for such community. If the western church today is to every realize such Kingdom living, we must have a radical transformation of mind and heart regarding how we understand possessions, social structure, place, and position. It will require a redefining of our understanding of "church," and our commitment and participation in a local congregation. Agape must rule our hearts and lives, and we must recognize that in Christ we have everything in common and we are already in communion with each other. In Him we are one and therefore stand ready to sell so we can give to anyone who has need. Our gracious acts must be responsible, directed by the Spirit of Truth and divine wisdom. Nevertheless, our death grip on things needs to be loosened, our hearts opened, and our lives freed to live out Christian community. It is up to us beloved, to consecrate ourselves anew to Christ that it will be so in us an d in our churches! Not communes, but Christian community.

Keep Close to Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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