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| The problem is that this couple plan ahead of time to lie. They want to have some money to rely on if they need it. If this community of believers doesn’t pan out, then they have back up. So in this sense, they are struggling to trust God completely. Yet they could have been honest about their reluctance to give all and given only a percentage of the full amount. But if they admit to this, then they lose the respect of the community. They want to look good, like Barnabus. Spirit-filled Peter sees through the lie. And he names it. He announces to Ananias that he is lying to the Holy Spirit. This is a huge charge and one that we must take to heart in our current communities. Lying to others in the community is the same as lying to God. The community is so important that to endanger it is to sin against the Spirit. Upon hearing these words, Ananias instantly drops dead. This is not some mean act from Peter that exploits his authority as an apostle. This is an act from God. And then, when Sapphira arrives three hours later, Peter gives her a chance to clear her name. She neglects to tell the truth, and she too drops dead. While this discipline from God may seem harsh, the lesson is clear and sobering. Deceit of one’s self and deceit to the community of believers is a way that leads to death. If we don’t confront deceit in our communities, it will be the death of our lives together. This story gives us the first use of the word ecclesia that is the Greek word for church. It simply means gathering, like a town hall meeting or a public discussion group. Here it is used in the context of discipline. Great fear seizes the church (verse11). Church means many things to us; discipline and accountability are important parts of that meaning. God doesn’t want the church to live in fear, but back then and now, we need to take seriously our relationship to other brothers and sisters in the Lord and to see those relationships as a reflection of our relationship to Jesus. Continued... |
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