So, what it this story all about?

In our little group, we have been doing a study on the Book of Acts, as part of an ongoing attempt to consider the place of Christians in post-Christian, post-modern Britain. (We are using ‘Exilio’, a study on the book ‘Exiles’ by Michael Frost- see here for more information.)

We have just spent some time chewing on this very difficult passage in Acts 6. Here is the story

The early church has begun in a blaze of Holy Spirit fire, and these early followers of Christ came together in beautiful communities, sharing and caring for one another, and giving us a glimpse of heaven.

Then Ananias and his wife Sophira, perhaps to gain influence or status, sell a piece of land, and present the money to the apostles for the communal good, or at least they present some of it- they keep back some for themselves, but pretend that they have given all.

Peter challenges first Ananias, who lies, then drops down dead. Then his wife turns up, and rather than consoling her, Peter asks her the same question, she lies too, and Peter has a few harsh words to say to her, before she too drops down dead.

And everyone was consumed with the fear of the Lord… Well, you would be wouldn’t you…

It is a story that I struggle with. Did God kill these people? If not, what did- an overwhelming sense of guilt? Peter? Was what they did so bad? Have you and I not done worse- and yet lived to feel the guilt, and perhaps seek the promised forgiveness?

The next story is about the squabbling over the handing out of food to the poor- and the need to appoint stewards to keep the hand-outs fair to all concerned. But there is no mention of any of the moaners or unfair dealers being cut down in judgment.

This is (I think) the only story of instant punishment of sinners in the New Testament. It seems like an old testament kind of story…

So why is this story in the Bible? What is God seeking to teach us as we read this? In our discussions we came up with a few possible answers-

1. The God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the new. We attempt to understand him as cuddly and predictable at our peril.
2. The sin was to break the unity of the spirit in a time of when this was a beautiful reality. A sin against the spirit is the only unforgivable one.
3. Sin cannot exist with such holiness as was known then.
4. God did not kill them, nor Peter, rather they died from their own overwhelming conviction of sin.
5. The story is incompatible with the wider story of God as revealed by Jesus, and should be read as allegory, pointing us to broad principles.
6. The issue is how we read the Bible, and how we understand context…
7. God is mystery. We will never understand or be able to conceptualise all that he is.
8. The issue is about money, greed and the idolatry of possessions, and it’s destructive affect on community.

What do you think folks? Any thoughts gratefully accepted…