D. Litt. et. Phil / The purpose of this research was to answer the following question: The funding of the church according to the book of Acts: Socialistic or capitalistic? Can this model of giving be developed and defended that promotes and integrates the believer and his material possessions while at the same time respecting the believer as an autonomous agent, who, as such, may be led by the Holy Spirit to give up all his possessions in support of the work of the Lord? In order to answer the research question a discourse analysis of selected verses in the Sermon on the Mount (SM) regarding possessions is undertaken as well as an analysis of verses selected from the book of Acts regarding money and possessions. The ethical guidelines as presented in the SM, can serve as a guideline for each believer as the SM presents God’s standard in a practical manner. Due to the social environment during the first century A.D., which could have had an influence on the manner in which the early believers used their material possessions to support the work of the Lord, a social scientific investigation of the first century A.D. is undertaken. The introduction to the research as well as an Old Testament (OT) background regarding the role possessions played in worshiping the deity is presented in the opening chapters. The conclusion reached was that money and possessions have always played a vital role in the relationship between the believer and the deity. It was also established that specific laws concerning “giving” developed over a period during OT times, which was meticulously followed by Israel. The New Testament (NT), however, takes on a new direction when it comes to giving, and this new standard of giving is investigated against the backdrop of the social and religious environment of the first century A.D. The question as proposed in the study is answered in chapter 5. Guidelines regarding “giving” are submitted in which I hope would free many believers from the legalism clearly evident in many teachings. Chapter 6 contains a critical evaluation of the two “giving” philosophies, presented by scholars. This study xiv reveals that much of what is being taught and practised among believers today with regard to giving to God, is based on the prescriptive patterns of the OT examples of giving. Most of these models or theories fail to provide specific guidelines for the believer to make the crucial distinction between autonomous choices and choices dictated by the Holy Spirit. Chapter 7 concludes with a synthesis of the entire study.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:2199 |
| Date | 10 April 2012 |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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