Are we really New Testament Church???

[Dordrecht]

Acts 2:42-47

42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
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The church I attend claims to be a real New Testament Church.
I see some "New Testament" activity, but not all of it as I read about in the book of acts.

Traveling across the prairies some years ago I was invited to visit a few
Hutterite Colonies in Alberta and Saskatchewan. They seem to follow verses 44-47 very closely. They meet every day for meals, they worship daily and share all they own together.

The question is: Why do we follow some New Testament scripture, but not all of it??

Why do one thing and not the other thing. And where do we draw the line?

[Sam]

The sharing of food and property in the latter part of Acts chapter 2 was a temporary and local thing. At that time the population of Jerusalem was about 50,000 but on some feast days there could be as many as 2 million people in and around the city. 3000 people had believed what Peter preached and they accepted the fact that Yeshua was indeed the Messiah and they were joined to that group of 120. We don't know how many people went on home to their own city and country and how many stayed for a while in Jerusalem but there was a real need for food and a place to stay. We read later in Acts 5 about people selling property and giving the proceeds to the Apostles for distribution. We read in chapter 6 about distribution of food. Chapter 6 is believed to have taken place in the spring of AD 31 before the harvest when prices were high.

When we read about the Gospel going to Samaria (Acts 8) and later to Gentiles through Paul's ministry, there is no mention of communal living.

[Aquila]

I don't believe the Gospel would have spread like wildfire had they settled down into communal living. I agree with Sam, they practiced these things as necessary for specific situations.

[Sister Alvear]

We generally follow what we like!

[Dordrecht]

Originally Posted by Sam

The sharing of food and property in the latter part of Acts chapter 2 was a temporary and local thing. At that time the population of Jerusalem was about 50,000 but on some feast days there could be as many as 2 million people in and around the city. 3000 people had believed what Peter preached and they accepted the fact that Yeshua was indeed the Messiah and they were joined to that group of 120. We don't know how many people went on home to their own city and country and how many stayed for a while in Jerusalem but there was a real need for food and a place to stay. We read later in Acts 5 about people selling property and giving the proceeds to the Apostles for distribution. We read in chapter 6 about distribution of food. Chapter 6 is believed to have taken place in the spring of AD 31 before the harvest when prices were high.

When we read about the Gospel going to Samaria (Acts 8) and later to Gentiles through Paul's ministry, there is no mention of communal living.

Yes, that makes sense. Thanks, Sam, it puts another light on it.
I had no idea that Jerusalem had 50.000 people at that time.
I pictured it as a small town of around 3000.
Two million visitors would certainly put pressure on food supplies, etc.

[Dordrecht]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

We generally follow what we like!

Lol....you mean the food part??

[Sister Alvear]

I AM just in a teasing mood tonight...

[Sister Alvear]

SAM is quite an informed person...I ALWAYS ENJOY READING HIS POSTS. SORRY FOR THE CAPS...MY KEYBOARD KEEPS STICKING AND IT IS BRAND NEW...LOL...

[Michael The Disciple]

Actually having all things common is mentioned about like speaking in tongues. Its up front in Acts and whatever they were doing seems like was meant to be a part of the New Testament Church.

[Dordrecht]

Michael, Are you suggesting speaking in tongues was only for 2000 years ago?