“But Peter said, ‘You have not lied to man but to God.’ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.” (Acts 5:3-5)
The idyllic picture of a loving church in which everyone shares with one another is suddenly disrupted by the story of Ananias and Sapphira.
This couple, being members of the church, sells a field and gives part of the money to the church leaders. They pretend that it is the entire amount they received from the sale—in order to gain even more admiration for their generosity. For this lie, they are severely judged. Both of them fall dead in the midst of the congregation. What a shocking story, especially because God Himself is directly involved! It is no wonder that everyone who hears what happened is deeply shaken. Even today, we are startled by this account. Does God really deal so strictly with believers? Where are His forgiveness and grace? And what does this mean for us? After all, we are not perfect either…
Over the coming days, we will reflect more deeply on this passage. One lesson it makes very clear is that we must take God’s presence in the church absolutely seriously. He deeply cares for His church and will judge anyone who attacks or injures it. This is comforting and awe-inspiring at the same time.
What does the story of Ananias and Sapphira bring to mind for you? How does this account fit into your understanding of God?