The poor and the early church

A few of you know that I’m busy writing a post-graduate thesis on the early church that, focusing on how they engaged the poverty-issues of their time. The research is entitled “Engaging today’s poverty through a critical integration of the Early Church Father’s beliefs and practices.” For the last few years I’ve read a lot of the patristic writings. It has been an amazing journey. It has also messed with me … stretched me … humbled me … and excited me.

I’m now at a stage where I’m about to do interviews with a few local churches in order to gauge how our teachings and practices differ from our early brothers and sisters. I continually hear people say that they wish we could be the Acts 2 church again. I’ve posted on that topic a few months ago. Let me just say that I think we could learn a lot from these early followers … I tell you all this because I would like your help. If you would be interested to read some of the research then I would love to email it to you and hear some of your comments.

Over the next few weeks I’ll post some quotes of our early fathers and I would love to hear some comments:

“Instead of tithes which the law commanded, the Lord said to divide everything we have with the poor … Those who have received freedom set aside all their possessions for the Lord’s purposes, giving joyfully and freely and not just the least valuable of their possessions.”Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 4.13.3 & 4.18.2

I would love to hear your thoughts!