The Wokepedia Minute: Didn’t the members of the early church practice socialism?

In making making the case that the members of the early church practiced socialism, many cite Acts 2:44-45 and 4:34-35. Yet, even though these early believers “had all things in common,” their approach actually didn’t constitute socialism. First, gifts were given voluntarily. The government was not involved, nor was redistribution coerced. Second, there was no centralized plan implemented for wealth to be redistributed. Third, since property and other resources were sold and gifts given spontaneously, property rights were honored. We see this confirmed as well in Acts 5:1-11: Even as Peter rebuked Ananias for lying about the amount he and his wife had given to the church, the apostle asked him rhetorically, “While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control?” Finally, gifts were laid “at the apostles’ feet.” Socialism is a godless, atheistic system, and socialists would cringe over this action.

For the Wokepedia Minute, I’m ____________________ .

 

Didn’t the early church practice socialism?

 

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