"Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events."
Acts 5:11
Read the above verse by itself. Perhaps you are familiar with the story, but try to pretend that you do not know the preceding context. What would you expect the reason for the church’s fear would be? Flagrant persecution? Demonic activity? On the contrary, when we read the preceding ten verses, we discover that the church was in fear because of what God had done. Two people now lay dead: the husband and wife Ananias and Sapphira. What was the great sin that they had committed? A lie. A small lie. In fact, really more of an exaggeration. And yet, God responded with an act of capital punishment that left the entire Jerusalem church gripped with fear.
In our always-connected society that is constantly looking for the next big story, a guaranteed headline-maker is always a public figure that has been caught in a lie. Whether it is a religious leader, politician, athlete, or most recently a newscaster, the list of celebrities who have been publicly shamed and ridiculed for public statements proven to be false is a long one. The reactions show that at least on some level, integrity is still considered a positive trait, while purposeful deceit is seen as wrong. This is a good thing, for the Bible holds up honesty as a Godly trait while lying is linked directly to Satan. We should hold leaders and role models to the standards of truth and integrity. When that standard is broken there should be consequences.
But there is a deeper issue. It seems that in the public ridicule of liars, it is implied that the accusers are innocent of such actions. It would seem that the deception of celebrities is considered far worse than the lies that we tell each other. But the story of Ananias and Sapphira shows that even the smallest, most innocent white lie is worthy of no less of a penalty than death. We, as God’s church should be gripped with a fear of the righteousness of God; not a fear that paralyzes, but a fear that drives us to be imitators of Christ. We should have a fear that reminds us of the greatness of God’s grace that overcomes our own sin. Let us not merely stand back and ridicule at the discovered deception of other, let us reflect on the deception within our own hearts and actions and call on our Lord to forgive us and strengthen us to be a people that are marked with integrity.
To God Alone Be the Glory
Pastor Andrew Zoschke
Acts 5:11
Read the above verse by itself. Perhaps you are familiar with the story, but try to pretend that you do not know the preceding context. What would you expect the reason for the church’s fear would be? Flagrant persecution? Demonic activity? On the contrary, when we read the preceding ten verses, we discover that the church was in fear because of what God had done. Two people now lay dead: the husband and wife Ananias and Sapphira. What was the great sin that they had committed? A lie. A small lie. In fact, really more of an exaggeration. And yet, God responded with an act of capital punishment that left the entire Jerusalem church gripped with fear.
In our always-connected society that is constantly looking for the next big story, a guaranteed headline-maker is always a public figure that has been caught in a lie. Whether it is a religious leader, politician, athlete, or most recently a newscaster, the list of celebrities who have been publicly shamed and ridiculed for public statements proven to be false is a long one. The reactions show that at least on some level, integrity is still considered a positive trait, while purposeful deceit is seen as wrong. This is a good thing, for the Bible holds up honesty as a Godly trait while lying is linked directly to Satan. We should hold leaders and role models to the standards of truth and integrity. When that standard is broken there should be consequences.
But there is a deeper issue. It seems that in the public ridicule of liars, it is implied that the accusers are innocent of such actions. It would seem that the deception of celebrities is considered far worse than the lies that we tell each other. But the story of Ananias and Sapphira shows that even the smallest, most innocent white lie is worthy of no less of a penalty than death. We, as God’s church should be gripped with a fear of the righteousness of God; not a fear that paralyzes, but a fear that drives us to be imitators of Christ. We should have a fear that reminds us of the greatness of God’s grace that overcomes our own sin. Let us not merely stand back and ridicule at the discovered deception of other, let us reflect on the deception within our own hearts and actions and call on our Lord to forgive us and strengthen us to be a people that are marked with integrity.
To God Alone Be the Glory
Pastor Andrew Zoschke