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 were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales. Acts 4:33-34
“For her own benefit, the Church owns nothing except her faith. These rents and revenues to which they refer, the church gives away. The possessions of the church are expenditure on the poor. Let them count up how many captives their temples have ransomed, what nourishment they have offered to the poor, to how many exiles they have given resources for a livelihood.”
Ambrose of Milan (c. 340-397) in Epistula 73 “Ambrose Formal Reply to Symmachus” in Ambrose of Milan: Political Letters and Speeches (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2005) 86
Just like in the early church in the book of Acts, Christians in the fourth century were giving land (or the proceeds from the sale of land) to the church so that the community of faith would have land to work and resources to care for the needy. Some land generated revenue but Ambrose was quick to note that all the money was, in turn, spent on the needy among them.
Don’t miss the beautiful economy in play here.
In antiquity, criminals fled to the safety and sanctuary of pagan temple precincts. They were often branded or tattooed for their crimes. They were prisoners of their own past. Subsequently, in modern terms, they would have no life or way of making a living. Not only does the church ransom them, also notice that exiles are cared for by the Church. This likely points to Christians who lost everything for their faith. The church was home for the destitute and dispossessed.
So what’s Ambrose saying to Symmachus (and to us)?
The Church has everything it needs in Jesus Christ and demonstrates this faith by caring for the poor. “The possessions of the church are expenditure on the poor.” In God’s economy, God is what people need most, not money. Money is a tool to care for those that God cares for that are often forgotten or ostracized by society. Encourage your church to go and do likewise: Spend money on the poor. Ransom captives. Nourish the poor. Rescue exiles!
What are the possessions of your church? Does your church value what Christ values?
Today I am teaching on “God’s Design for Faithful Workers: A Biblical Theology as a Foundation for Pastoral Preaching and Congregational Practice” at the EFCA One Conference. If you want a PDF of my slides, reply to this email. And pray for the Holy Spirit to bless all who attend through my teaching of God’s Word. Thanks.