This didn't happen just because of certain isolated Christians. The idea of Christians doing things was something that was carried out by groups of Christians working together. When we talk about Christian ethics in the New Testament period, we have to remember that they were community ethics. Christians lived and worshiped and acted -- together. And the things they did were as down-to-earth as tomorrow's groceries.
All who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. . . . No one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. . . . There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need ( Acts 2: 44, 45; 4: 34, 35).
That's how seriously the early Christians took their community ethics. If your neighbor was in need, you didn't just pray for him; you dug into your own pocket and helped him with your own money -- only you didn't call it your "own" any more, because you had given it to the community so that anyone in need could be helped. You had to love the people whom Christ had loved. You could not be lolling around in luxury if your "brothers in Christ" were starving.
Today, people look at this early experiment in Christian living and whisper, with a shudder, "Communism." Actually, this was very different from modern Communism, as any good student of the latter subject can tell you. The striking thing about it is that it shows how far the early Christians were ready to go in translating their beliefs into practice. They didn't just talk about "being concerned with the other chap"; they actually helped him out.
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