By REV. LAWRENCE ALTHOUSE
The Bible Speaks 

Sept. 13, 2015

I groaned a little when I saw our scripture for this week contains the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Why? Because the story is so often misunderstood and misused.

Understandably, as it stands in Acts 5:1-11, the reader might assume that Simon Peter was responsible for their dramatic demise, or it was God Himself who snuffed out their lives. Please note: The writer of The Acts of the Apostles does not ascribe their deaths to either Peter or God. When Ananias appeared before Peter, he was confident he and Sapphira had managed to deceive Peter and the Christian community into believing what they turned over to the common treasury was the complete proceeds of selling their property, while secretly retaining some of the money for themselves.

Acts does not tell us how Peter learned of their duplicity – possibly by the Holy Spirit – but he was certain enough to confront them with four deadly questions: (1) "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?" (2) "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own land?" (3) "And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?" (4) "How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart?" (5:3,4).

Apparently Ananias was speechless, and Peter finished with this condemnation: "You have not lied to men but to God." And just how did Ananias lie to God?

In Acts 4:31 we are told: "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit."

So, the church was sustained by the inspiration and motivation of the Spirit of God and the deception of Ananias and Sapphira was a violation, not only of the community of God but also of the will of God.

There is a certain irony in their names: Ananias means "God is gracious" and Sapphira means "beautiful."

Regrettably, they did not live up to their names.

It is not difficult for me to surmise that these two died instantly because all too lately they recognized the enormity of their betrayal.

They had acted as if God were powerless or even nonexistent – just as some of us do from time to time. While we would never say, "There is no God!" we might act as if God does not exist, see or care.

As I have already noted, some people conclude Ananias and Sapphira were punished by God, not because they held back some of their wealth but that they willfully pretended they had given their all. Those of us who make an annual pledge of contributions to our church result may tremble at that thought.

But, if so, how would this be in harmony with and support of the example of Jesus himself, who cursed no one from his cross and promised eternity to the thief crucified next to him? Luke tells us "great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things" (5:11).

That is understandable, but while it might have been primary in the Old Testament, "fear" is not the basis of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Nevertheless, we could learn a lot about Christian giving from the early church. Luke tells us: "Now the company of those who were of one heart and soul and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own. But they had everything in common …

"There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was given to each as any had need" (4:32-35).

Richard Braunstein says: "It is possible to give without loving, but it is impossible to love without giving." I would take that a step further and say it is impossible to be a disciple of Jesus Christ without loving and giving, for both of these were at the heart of Jesus’ preaching, teaching and healing. Today we tend to ask "how much" we should be into giving, but the early disciples asked instead, "what are the needs and what can we share?"

-James Russell Lowell, The Vision of Sir Launfal

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World.