Ananias

[Mr Dave]

Hi, I was wondering what people make of the story of Ananias in Acts 5:1-11?
I know that they've done wrong but isn't striking them dead a bit extreme especially considering this is shortly after the resurrection? This passage confuses me.

 

[wayseer]

Hi, I was wondering what people make of the story of Ananias in Acts 5:1-11?
I know that they've done wrong but isn't striking them dead a bit extreme especially considering this is shortly after the resurrection? This passage confuses me.

In what way are you confused?

It's all pretty straight forward I would have thought. The message is you can deceive yourself but you won't deceive God.

Or do you think God kinda over reacted?

 

[Mr Dave]

In what way are you confused?

It's all pretty straight forward I would have thought. The message is you can deceive yourself but you won't deceive God.

Or do you think God kinda over reacted?

I see the message behind it, but I guess I should've asked, Do you see this as actually happening, or is it just a story to show that message.
Jesus had just died and resurrected for our sins so (if it is a historical story) why would God strike them down instead of allowing them to repent; the atoning sacrifice for sin had just been made.

 

[wayseer]

I see the message behind it, but I guess I should've asked, Do you see this as actually happening, or is it just a story to show that message.
Jesus had just died and resurrected for our sins so (if it is a historical story) why would God strike them down instead of allowing them to repent; the atoning sacrifice for sin had just been made.

Do you mean is the story historically accurate? Probably not.

But God has been known to get a mite uptight over some things. Someone said that a fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. I can live with that.

 

[heritage36]

This is such a different time and situation. The brethren at this time shared everything and enjoyed what was basically a kingdom preview with nobody getting sick or dying of normal circumstances, only if God thought them worthy of death. Lying clearly was not tolerated and Ananias and Sephira should have known that Peter could sense their deception.

 

[EyesOnZion]

Perhaps the question isn't why God was so harsh on Annias, but rather why he's not so harsh on people normally.

The Bible is clear that sin requires death. Why doesn't he kill us all immediately for our sins?

 

[heritage36]

Because he is dealing with us in a totally different manner now than he was during the Acts period. He didn't even deal with gentiles in general until the end of Acts and only a few exceptions before that. God was working manifest signs through the Apostles during Acts and Jesus was before that. Since the Apostles God has been working in Grace clearly, as told by Scripture.

 

[ittarter]

In a world where death is commonplace and not taboo I'm sure God striking people dead wasn't interpreted as an immoral act, as it would be nowadays.

Ask yourself: when the average lifespan is less than forty (guessing here) and materialism (physical life is all we have) is not the dominant philosophy of the day, how would the story of Ananias and Sapphira be understood? Or for that matter, the issue of God commanding some kid to be put to death for collecting firewood on the sabbath (book of Numbers, I believe)?

 

[EyesOnZion]

Because he is dealing with us in a totally different manner now than he was during the Acts period. He didn't even deal with gentiles in general until the end of Acts and only a few exceptions before that. God was working manifest signs through the Apostles during Acts and Jesus was before that. Since the Apostles God has been working in Grace clearly, as told by Scripture.

I'd argue that Scripture also clearly teaches that God holds back wrath waiting for either a fruition of sin or a fruition in time before he punishes. Meredith Kline refers to an instance like Ananias as "Intrusion Ethics", where God chooses not to withhold his wrath, instead God's righteous wrath 'intrudes' in a particular circumstance.

 

[heritage36]

I understand what you are saying, but in current times God is witholding his wrath indefinitely until his Kingdom comes, so it is different from the situation with Ananias where he had to decide whether to withold wrath temporarily or impart immediate punishment. He would have to stop his whole system of dealing with people that has been going on for almost 2000 years to punish one person now, and obviously he isn't going to change his plans for a single person at any point, or the majority of people for that matter.

 

[EyesOnZion]

I understand what you are saying, but in current times God is witholding his wrath indefinitely until his Kingdom comes, so it is different from the situation with Ananias where he had to decide whether to withold wrath temporarily or impart immediate punishment. He would have to stop his whole system of dealing with people that has been going on for almost 2000 years to punish one person now, and obviously he isn't going to change his plans for a single person at any point, or the majority of people for that matter.

Right, I wasn't saying that he would. My point was only that instead of asking "Man, why is God so harsh here?" (which would probably make God out to be capricious and vindictive), it might be more appropriate to ask "Man, why isn't God this harsh today?", which would point to him purposefully withholding his wrath until the time of judgment, which I think is a more accurate depiction of the situation.

 

[heritage36]

Oh, okay, yeah that is very good. Seeking that answer through the Bible could answer a lot of other questions for people now, like "why do good things happen to bad people?" and "Why doesn't God stop these wicked people?".