Could it be that you're clueless, that Ananias and Sapphira chose to LIE and were called for it? If you read the passages with a non-cult mind, you can even hear Peter's words to them regarding the LIE being the point of their SIN against the Holy Spirit's leadership. They were not ordered to sell all they had, in fact Peter even tells them 'when you held the property you sold, was it not yours to do with as YOU saw fit?' They tried to look like they were giving the full sale price to the common funds while withholding a portion for themselves, but the LIE that they had given the entire sale price was the point of condemnation. Of course, no Mormonism Apologist would comprehend that if it doesn't fit the lie the apologist wants to promote regarding commandment to give 100%! There was NEVER such a command, Mormon. But that was a typical Mormon try to fabricate a lie to be supported by scripture mischaracterized by the apologist cultish mindset.
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,Your Assertion here is that all things were not held in common, so I am asking you what does acts 2:44 mean to those with a non-cult mind? Acts 2:44,45
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.Here are my two questions: 1) I understand that you do not believe my interpretation, but what does it mean to a non Mormon that the believers held all things in Common?
I'm pretty sure the RM warned about the personal attacks, but since this is old, and I'm playing catch up, I won't hold it against you. It's pretty common wording though from you, please refrain.
Now, on to the subject... Of course Ananias and Sapphira lied! That is obvious. So did Peter about the Christ. God didn't kill him though, did he? He was made the head of His church. In fact, he revealed to Peter that he would kill Sapphira. It's much more than a lie, it's a breaking of covenants.
But, you do make an excelled point as to the necessity of works. Ananias and Sapphira were believing Christians, and yet God held them accountable for their actions. Thanks for pointing that out.
The "all things in common" was practiced by the saints, and all that believed practiced together. I believe that Christ himself set the example here in Matthew:
Matthew 19:21
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
The LDS believe that not only did the early Jerusalem Christians have all things in common, but so did the Nephites, after Christ's appearance to them in the new world. We also believe the residents of the City of Enoch also had all things in common. The early LDS church also tried it, and in some aspects, it was successful, but it ultimately failed due to the pride, which we all have. In a perfect world, as I suspect will happen during the millennial reign of Christ, we will love each other more than ourselves, and practice "all things in common" once again.
Cheers.