6 Subversive Acts: Revolutionary Economy

Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day 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 favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 4:32-35

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there was no needy person among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Matthew 10:8b

Freely you have received; freely give.

1.     Danielle spoke of three prevailing systemic evils, which Dr Martin Luther King Jr had identified, as (i) Racism, (ii) Economic Exploitation (leading to excessive wealth and poverty), and (iii) Militarism.

-        How do we go about overthrowing systems?

-        Is that something the church should even be thinking about? (Hint: read Ephesians 6:10)

-        In what ways do you think these three evils are related?

2.     We usually think of signs and wonders in terms of healing miracles, rather than economic ones, but there was certainly something revolutionary about what was happening in the way the early church distributed resources, as Danielle said, they eradicated poverty! She went on to say that a revolution takes three things: (i) A brand new idea just at the right time, (ii) A catalyst and a community where those ideas can be manifested, and (iii) A means by which those things can keep on going.

-        What was the new idea and the catalyst for change in Acts 2 and 4? What powered the revolution?

-        Why do you think this sort of radical generosity is not exactly’ normal’ in the church today?

-        What would it mean to hold everything in common? How does the idea make you feel? Does it make you fearful of what you might lose? Could it be liberating?

3.     Danielle went on to say three things about how we make the revolution real in our worlds. We need to recognise that (i) Everything is a gift – it’s not yours, it’s God’s; (ii) Maybe it’s not for you – maybe what you have been given is for somebody else. You are a steward, not an owner (see also 2 Corinthians 6:10); (iii) It’s Unlimited – all the immense, immeasurable resources of heaven are at your disposal every day.

-        What would it mean to really practice “open-handed living in a closed-fisted culture”?

-        How can the church be a meaningful force for the eradication of poverty in the world?

-        What can we do?