On the Articles: Article XXXVIII

The Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity
O GOD, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness: Be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy Church; and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

XXXVIII. Of Christian Men’s Goods, which are not common
The Riches and Goods of Christians are not common, as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as certain Anabaptists do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability.

Article XXXVIII is interesting in that it is the most explicit in its condemnation of protestant excesses, often of the radical reformation and in this case from the Anabaptists in particular. This Article in particular repudiates the idea that a Christian is compelled to live in some form of communism, holding only common property and not personal property.

It should be of little surprise that with the rise of Soviet Communism in the 20th century, this Article took on a particular poltical significance among both British and American commentators. Writing even as recently as 2009, the American commentator Gerald Bray places particular emphasis on the modern political dimensions of communism and how much of a failure it is as a political system before eventually moving actually explore the Biblical imperatives.

Most Christians might reflect on the passages of the Acts of the Apostles which note the early Christian community living with all things in common or the deaths of Annanias and Sapphiras for withholding their property. Yet, looking at Christ’s teachings on the poor and even the whole of the account of the Acts of the Apostles, it seems that the living with all things held in common was an idea to be aspired to but not a requirement of the faith. We are called, as the Article notes, “to give alms to the poor, according to [our] ability.” Yet at the same time, to fail to compel a Christian to give up their property seems far more consistent with the Gospel imperative.

Christ invites us into communion with him, he does not compel. Upon being arrested after his betrayal, Christ asks, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (St Mt 26. 53). God could very well compel us to love him, but that wouldn’t be true love. Instead he has given us a choice. Similarly, Christ had already reaffirmed in the antitheses (St Mt 5. 21-47) that God cares about what happens in our hearts, not just what we outwardly do. If a Christian is compelled to give up all they have, they may do so because they are forced but not do so gladly and willingly.

Now of course, what must not be lost among all of this is the final imperative of the Article, that we ought to give alms to the poor. Christ was clear:

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (St Mt 25. 31-46)

We are called to serve the poor, yet it must be of our own decision. We are called to see Christ in others and to treat them appropriately, for we are all made in the image of God and bear dignity through that.