I could not agree more - the first century church was focused on simplicity and we know that many sold what they had in order to commune with each other, however there are two things here we need to realize: (1) the communal living was voluntary and does not seem to be forced on the congregations by the apostles, and (2) the parousia was at hand and the return of Jesus was expected to happen within their lifetimes. Those two issues alone put them in a different context that is much different than ours.

If simplicity and poverty is what Christianity should be about, there are still many monasteries across Europe where one could easily be accepted if he wished to live an ascetic lifestyle, so janamills is free to pursue that kind of life if so desired, however the hypocrisy is astounding since he is trying to force his socialist ideas on others rather than himself live out those ideals he feels so strongly about. If his faith leads him to socialism and simple life then he should sell everything he has and become a monk rather than politicize the Christian faith and turn it into a totalitarian-justifying religion.

Sorry but this concept of “Christianity led me to be a communist” is as ridiculous as the republicans saying that “Christianity led me to be a Republican.”