Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. There was a Levite from Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 4:32-37
“Mature materiality requires that one be alert to one’s role as citizen, that is, having active responsibility for the public good… I should add a note about the right place being variously rural or urban. It is an easier case to make one’s practice of habitation as heir, neighbor, partner, and citizen in a rural community where institutions are more accessible, where the population is more likely to be homogeneous, and where face-to-face interactions are more readily available. Such a portrayal of rural habitation may be tempted to romanticism. But to refuse romanticism about rural life (as Wendell Berry refuses) one must recognize that rural life is not on offer for everyone. Many persons will, for a variety of reasons, be urban dwellers. In densely occupied urban habitats, the same call to be heir, neighbor, partner, and citizen is sounded. Only there it is more complex and in some ways more demanding. But these same markers for the right place pertain, even if on a different scale. In urban settings one can more feel detached from such a summons. For that reason the insistence of the urban church on right habitation is all the more important. The church community can vouch for a narrative of responsible habitation and be a body of companions engaged in good work for the “right place.”
Walter Brueggemann in Materiality As Resistance: Five Elements for Moral Action in the Real World (Louisville: WJKP, 2020), 73-74.
We read this Scripture together when building the Palmful of Coffee contextualize curriculum. I never get tired of reading it. Notice the priority of the common good. See no needy person among them. Celebrate the sharing of stewards.
In modern times, this way of living comes into view as caring citizens who live as heirs, neighbors, partners, and companions with others in both urban and rural settings. Each one has its own challenges.
I have been in rural Colombia. Find Armenia on the map. The cool part is, whether in tiny Armenia or big Bogotá, when we live as a community of companions, we help the homeless find a home and we demonstrate responsible habitation.
The launch event far exceeded our dreams and expectations. Stay tuned for access to a trip report. We will wrap it up today before we travel home. Thanks for your prayers for safe travel for our team of 13 from 6 countries.