Are We modeling the Acts'--New Testament Church?

[Anointed Sister]

Greetings I am researching and working on a project about the New Testament model of the local body of believers and would like some input from others. I would appreciate your comments as it relates to Are We modeling the Acts'--New Testament Church?

In Acts 2: 44- 47 and Acts 4:32 -35 the people after accepting Christ as savior as well as the teachings of the apostles the people gave to the needs of one another so that "no person" was in lack. Acts 2 states that they [the people] had all things in common and were in one accord. While Act 4 states: 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

I have tried to imagine what the models of the Acts churches would feel and look like in our contemporary setting and local bodies of believers. I believe this to be a model for local communities of believers as well as the contemporary Catholic Church (universal church) at large. Yet, I find myself questioning how did the above models take shape? Did the communities of believers just begin to share after being empowered by the Holy Spirit or did they each (individually and corporately) go through a process of transformation in time? How did they get to the place of personal sharing so that there was no lack among them? What steps did they (individually and corporately) have to master? Were they alone given a certain measure of grace to manifest such selflessness? Where are we as parts of the Body of Christ in the model? Surely, we are not in one accord because we allow so many issues to build walls of separations between us. But and how are we journeying towards our destiny in God's plan for the building of the kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven?

[Prophetess Dr. Teloria Williams]

A lot of how the church is today has to do with the times changing,but I do believe we must stay rooted and grounded in the word becassuse sin is crouching at the door , waiting for an opportunity to create chaos.Many churches are doing a good job. Some operate according to the temperature of the members, they know what to say and when to say it. It has become comfortable for some. I'm sorry if I offend but, We must call it like it is. Legalism,the Jones , Little I's and big U's. We must let them know that the scripture says He is coming for a church without wrinkle,shot blemish or any such thing. We must practice to make perfect.Its time to call a spade a spade. God is counting on leadership to prepare His people for His return. We better get RIGHT or get left BEHIND.

[DR. ROY KENNEDY FARLEY JR.]

AWESOME

[Minister Gee]

I think we have forgotten the lessons of our ancestors who always made sure that they looked out for each other. We have become self absorbed. If I got mine you need to get yours the best way you can. That is not what bringing people to God is suppose to be about. We have forgotten the lessons of the past trying to be like the "Romans". Black people may live next door to each other but we are not neighbors, we are not collective, we have been educated in the art of induvidualism. We seem to do very well with that. It is so sad. A generation has forgotten from where we came. One church was all we had at one time now we have churches on every conner with 5 members that will not dare to come out of the saftey of their own 4 walls. We must pray for unity of our race once again. We must pray for each other without ceasing.

[Anointed Sister]

WOW...I heart rejoices to read what you have shared. Thank you so much for taking the time. Praise the Lord. I will look forr and purchase the book. I would be great to know that more local bodies are getting the revelation of the Act church.

[Emma]

You asked a great question!
I have heard in years past that certain churches were helping one another pay off their credit card debts. This is an article I found dated 2002. I don't know if this program is still ongoing but it could work in any church where the people are honest and faithful.

How it works, is that a member brings his credit cards to the church, tells the church how much the debt is and the church will take up a collection to pay off that debt.

That person pays off their debt, and the money they were paying on credit cards (or a large portion of it) now goes to the church. Interestingly now that money paid is "tax deductable"!

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BISHOP RUSSELL'S "DEBT LIQUIDATION REVIVAL" GETS MEMBERS OF HIS CONGREGATION OUT OF DEBT. IT STARTS WITH CONTRIBUTING TO THE BOWL OF CUT UP CREDIT CARDS THAT HE'S HOLDING.

THERE'S SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY GOING ON AT Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia. Sure, there's praying, clapping of hands, and singing of hymns. But upon the pulpit sits a jar filled with cut-up credit cards--a testament to what makes this church unique. Because along with paying their tithes, members of this congregation are quite faithful when it comes to a far more secular ritual--paying off their debts.

"You can't serve both MasterCard and the Master" is Bishop C. Vernie Russell Jr.'s mantra. Once a month, Russell, 49, leads the congregation in a "debt liquidation revival." He selects a family to be delivered (the decision is made through divine inspiration) and the congregation contributes money to pay their arrears. The average gift from a church member is from $25 to $100, though some have given as much as $1,000. From June 2001 to August 2002, members donated $367,000 to pay the debts of 61 families.

"In June, we raised $18,044 in 10 minutes," says Russell. "We got two families completely out of debt and raised $6,000 toward helping the third." The revivals will continue until every family that attends is debt-free.

While this idea might appear novel, Russell says he was motivated by a biblical passage from the book of Acts that describes how the early Christians shared what they had.

"No man lacked anything," says Russell. "Those who had possessions sold them, and the money was distributed as needed." Mount Carmel's 5,000 parishioners--a mix of blue-collar workers, military personnel, and professionals--span the economic spectrum and similarly share their wealth, as described in DOFE principle No. 7: to use a portion of my personal wealth to strengthen my community. They contribute money to pay the debts of others, despite their own bills, and donate their old cars to deserving families rather than trading them in.

Russell's mission is as much about helping people help themselve as it is about assisting others. He teaches parishioners basic financial planning, urging them to close credit card accounts and pay off their smallest bills first so they can see their accomplishments. He also focuses on DOFE principle No. 3: to be a disciplined and knowledgeable consumer.

His words have inspired church members to tackle bill paying more aggressively. "Before Bishop began preaching about being debt-free, we were just sending the minimum payments," says Rita Robichaux, 52. She and her husband, Mariano, 55, worked overtime and paid off about $2,000 on two credit cards before the church gave them the remaining $6,000 in October 2001. "I used to spend a whole lot on things I didn't really need," says Rita. "Now, my whole concept of spending has changed."

Every three months, each family that is delivered must attend a seminar on staying solvent, and there is an informal obligation to contribute at least $300 at subsequent revivals. No major purchases can be made for seven months, and even then, items should be bought with cash--not credit. To date, all of the families that have been "delivered" have remained debt-free.

Tithes have increased 25% in the past year. Mount Carmel takes in more than $2 million yearly for operation costs and fund community projects.

Russell practices what he preaches. At one time, he worked three jobs to pay credit card debts that mounted when he was first married. He now has one credit card, American Express, that he pays off every month. He has written a book, Upon This Rock (Faith and Action Publisher, $11.95) that outlines the debt liquidation program so that it can be implemented in other churches. Here are some of the principles he teachers:

* KNOW WHAT YOU OWE

A Pearl and Stanley Thomas Jr. didn't know how much debt they had until Russell started holding revivals. They didn't have credit cards but had accumulated almost $11,000 in unpaids bills. "We wouldn't have been able to say how much we owed if someone had offered to pay those bills," says Pearl, 41. "Being more aware of the debt made a difference in how we went about eliminating it."

She and Stanley, 45, both worked overtime and began by paying off their smallest debts first. They managed to pay off about $2,000 in seven months; the church took care of the rest.

* SET UP YOUR OWN LAYAWAY PROGRAM

"When I was growing up, we had layaway, but the money you paid went to the purchase price, not the interest," says Russell. When it comes to making big purchases, he suggests doing the same--open a savings account and put away money each month until enough has accumulated to pay for the item.

* BREAK THE CHAIN

"Bishop really promotes doing something for yourself," says Pearl, who was inspired to start her own sewing business. She is teaching her children sound management principles to the point that her 10-year-old daughter chides her when she uses a debit card. "She says, `Mommy, you know what Bishop said about using credit cards!' I have to explain that this comes directly out of our account!"