RE: Hugo Chavez is dead
March 9, 2013 at 3:20 am
(This post was last modified: March 9, 2013 at 3:21 am by jstrodel.)
Quote:And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
(Acts 2:44-45 ESV)
There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
(Acts 4:34-37 ESV)
The Bible does not teach that there should be a centralized state that redistributes wealth and takes control of property (although it does talk about redistribution of wealth in the Old Testament). It is more like a hostility to greed and materialism and an acceptance of love and charity and a suspicion of self interested values, although I think Christianity and capitalism can exist together.