The venality and callousness of some of today's Christian churches have their roots in the early churches. Take for example the story narrated in Acts 4: 32 - Acts 5- 11;



Acts 4:

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Acts 5:

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.



Can Peter's behaviour here be described as anything near compassionate? He seemed to be only concerned for the money from these couple. Many pastors in today's churches are behaving like Peter in Acts. They are only concerned your the money the congregations brings in and are lacking in the brotherly compassion you would expect them to have. So beware which church you patronise.

Did you attend a church today was is like Peter's?

How no-one is daring to tacking this post?

Hi Pointus. Actually, Ananias and Saphira died as a result of lying before the Holy Spirit. The issue wasn't money. They could have given nothing and not died. They lied to gain an advantage they did not merit. They had no fear of the Lord. This is a warning to hypocrites.

You can't patronize a church. The church is the body of believers in a locale. The church is not a place. You must must be confusing the institutional system with the gathering of disciples.

<><

John

pointus,


Are you so desperate to avoid acknowleding your responsibility to obey the God of the Bible that you resort to all these easily debunked arguments against the God of the Bible? Does your seeming desperation cloud your judgment so much that you cannot see how incredibly weak your arguments are and have been?

at the time of the death of ANNANIAS AND SAPHIRA............there were millions of pagans , outside the church, living horrif lives of sin, murder, rape, etc............and the Bible does not say that God killed these pagans.

this couple were killed by God because God wanted a NOTORIOUS EXAMPLE of the Judgement that awaits hypocrites, false teachers, etc IN THE CHURCH

the lesson is:...........God is not mocked........you will die for your sins, if you don't repent..........you can't fool God..........God will judge sin and hypocrisy

what were the most horrific words that Jesus said in the Bible?...........He said horrific things against the HYPOCRITES........there's a lesson , there

the people outside the Church are not hypocrites,,,,,,,,in the same way that ANNANIAS AND SAPHIRA were

this couple were fake christians............and God will terribly punish fake christians.........and lukewarm christians