Sin in the Body

I wonder exactly what it was like that Sunday just a short time after the founding of the church at Jerusalem. Things were happening. People were getting saved every week. The Apostles were performing miracles and the church was growing. People were selling their possessions and contributing to the common fund so the needs of others could be met. This was all happening in the face of persecution (Acts 4).

And then came the most horrible Sunday. I will assume for our purposes here that it happened on a Sunday because the early church did worship on this day, although they worshiped on other days also.

The people came to church expecting another miracle, more salvations, and great acts of love and sacrifice. Not long before, Barnabas had contributed a great sum when he sold a valuable portion of the property. He humbly came before the Apostles and laid it at their feet.

In this service, it was happening again. People stood in line to give their gifts. There was Ananias who laid a large sum, just like Barnabas, at the Apostles feet. A hush spread through the congregation.

“He is doing the same thing as Barnabas! He sold a property and is giving the money to meet needs.”

We do not know if Ananias started the rumor, but we do know he did not deny it.

Like a crack of lightening Peter’s voice rang out! “You have not lied to men but to God!”

Ananias dropped dead.

At that moment the love, joy, and excitement were sucked completely out of the room. All that remained was fear. And that is exactly what God wanted.

Three hours later, Sapphira, Ananias’ wife entered the room. Peter gave her an opportunity to come clean, and she shunned it, choosing to repeat the lie told by her husband and suffering the same consequence. She would not be held accountable for the sin of her husband. This sin was her own. She willingly colluded in the lie. The young men were just arriving back from burying Ananias only to be faced with the solemn task of burying his wife.

Now they all knew. Ananias’ death could have been attributed to shock, a heart attack or some other stressing ailment. But now that Sapphira died in exactly the same way that her husband did, there was no doubt. Their deaths were caused by the swift and just Hand of God.

Again fear.

The new church that had been glorying in the love of God for the salvation of souls was suddenly reminded that the God of the New Testament is also a holy God who should be feared. And fear they did. Acts 5:13 tells us that there were some who cast aside all associations with the Church, while those that remained were unified and empowered by God to reach the lost. As amazing as it might sound, the end result of this horrible, horrible Sunday was the blessing and effectiveness for the Church.

What sin was so offensive to God? It was lying to the congregation. It was using the church to prop up a false personal reputation. It was seeking to steal the glory of God for self, and conspiring with another to do it.

Church leaders who lie to the congregation, who use God’s people to line their own pockets, who deceive in order to build up their own egos, have no less guilt and are in no less danger.

May we never forget that the God of the New Testament is a holy God and He demands a holy Church. This is not a game we play on Sundays. This is a serious calling.