When did it happen? When did we become so 'dug in' about having things the way we want them--indignant, even militant when someone disagrees
with us?!
Whatever we think we want or need, we find a way to get it; and with Prime, maybe the same day! The Consumer is king! When I look back over my shoulder, knowing it hasn't always been this way, it seems the most recent entitlement shift happened as a result of the pandemic - the 'C' word.
Suddenly, people demanded things according to how they saw the world, to how they felt 'safe'... you know, mask or no mask, vax or anti-vax, gatherings vs. isolation, churches open or only online, etc. Pay attention to your exchanges with folks you encounter--people want the world to be as it 'should be - the world according to me'!
Guess what? The same mentality has invaded our personal views of God Almighty, and how we think and feel about church; both are addressed in Luke's recounting of two contrasting scenes in Acts. How I wish I could take you in my rucksack into the Old City of Jerusalem--as it still is today--so you could picture those early Christians meeting, praying... figuring out gospel living, enjoying Jesus and one another.
Those who came together were keenly aware of the 'haves' and 'have nots' amongst them. Those who had means generously shared with those who did not. From the end of Acts 4, we get our first glimpse of Barnabas - immediately, he was known for being encouraging and generous. [hey, wouldn't that be cool if that is the first thought someone had of you? Mary? Oh sure, I met Mary at a women's group... she always had a kind word to say, and she... yeah, sign me up--I want to be known for being an encourager who would give people the pink shirt off my back]
Here is the setting as Luke describes it: Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.1
On to Acts 5, But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
“Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.” When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.
About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?”
“Yes,” she said, “for that price.”
Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.2
Why in the world would God strike these two dead for lying - misrepresenting their 'generosity' to the Church?
Oh, just a second here - let me add one more verse, Acts 5.11: Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.
Segue - How many times have you heard someone say, 'If I knew then what I know now, I would have done things differently'? Classic example: parenting. If I knew how this ____ would have contributed to his making these ___ choices, I would have parented another way. Right?
God is our Father.
Let's remember what is at stake in the first century, not long after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, then ascended into Heaven...and 10 days later the Holy Spirit blows into Jerusalem with radical, powerful change. On the same day, 3000 people got it! Why, they knew about this Jesus of Nazareth, and upon hearing Peter explain His great love and purpose for mankind, they trusted Jesus to be their Savior. From a community of 120 to those numbering in the thousands...
Our God sees time in all one piece. Check it out: when Ananias and Sapphira perpetrated their deception, God heard my seatmate 2000 years later on an American Airlines flight say, "I don't want anything to do with the Church; it is full of hypocrites and judgmental people who say one thing and do another." (Okay, duh, that is the definition of hypocrisy, but remember, this was a real comment made to me.)
Friends, at this time, God is doing a huge work amongst the new believers in Jerusalem, just ahead of the Gospel going out to other places. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the apostles are doing miraculous things, priming the people to hear Gospel messages, readying their hearts to respond. God is no longer relegated to the ancient Laws of the Jews, He certainly is not in the pagan worship of the Greeks and Romans, no, He is alive and at work! He is also holy.
Look back at Acts 5.11, what some could call a throw away verse: Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things. Two things: this was a holy fear. The people saw that God would not stand for deception or the pride that birthed it in this precious new community. Second thing--this is the first time this new community of believers is called the 'church'. hmmm.... God is sounding the bugle: My church is to be filled with those who want to honor me. Reminds me of Another--'Remember Jesus' arrival into Jerusalem? Twice, Jesus cleansed the Temple, turning over the tables of greedy profiteers, announcing, 'my house shall be called a house of prayer!'3 No, God was not going to let these two shysters stand, literally, and bring hypocrisy among the pure in heart, who were seeking him.
When I consider Ananias and Sapphira and how they could have irreparably harmed the first church, I do not find God's actions harsh - I find them merciful. God knew where he was going to take the Gospel; he knew the slanderers, adulterers, murderers and thieves he was going to set free with the salvation of Jesus Christ--he could not, would not let these two shutter the church. God had you and me and the 2025 global Church in mind. Oh yes, he did.
God is sovereign.
He is good and merciful, but also pure and holy.
God knew he was going to 'save' a radical named Paul in short order; he would not allow the Church to be destroyed before it even took off.
The World According to Me ... the World as it Should Be... Really?
The World According to Me...
by Christine
Jul 25
Listen along here: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/25004aeb/the-world-according-to-me-the-world-as-it-should-be-acts-no-18
The World According to Me . . .
the World as it Should Be! Really?
When did it happen? When did we become so 'dug in' about having things the way we want them--indignant, even militant when someone disagrees
with us?!
Whatever we think we want or need, we find a way to get it; and with Prime, maybe the same day! The Consumer is king! When I look back over my shoulder, knowing it hasn't always been this way, it seems the most recent entitlement shift happened as a result of the pandemic - the 'C' word.
Suddenly, people demanded things according to how they saw the world, to how they felt 'safe'... you know, mask or no mask, vax or anti-vax, gatherings vs. isolation, churches open or only online, etc. Pay attention to your exchanges with folks you encounter--people want the world to be as it 'should be - the world according to me'!
Guess what? The same mentality has invaded our personal views of God Almighty, and how we think and feel about church; both are addressed in Luke's recounting of two contrasting scenes in Acts. How I wish I could take you in my rucksack into the Old City of Jerusalem--as it still is today--so you could picture those early Christians meeting, praying... figuring out gospel living, enjoying Jesus and one another.
Those who came together were keenly aware of the 'haves' and 'have nots' amongst them. Those who had means generously shared with those who did not. From the end of Acts 4, we get our first glimpse of Barnabas - immediately, he was known for being encouraging and generous. [hey, wouldn't that be cool if that is the first thought someone had of you? Mary? Oh sure, I met Mary at a women's group... she always had a kind word to say, and she... yeah, sign me up--I want to be known for being an encourager who would give people the pink shirt off my back]
Here is the setting as Luke describes it: Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.1
On to Acts 5, But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
“Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.” When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.
About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?”
“Yes,” she said, “for that price.”
Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.2
Why in the world would God strike these two dead for lying - misrepresenting their 'generosity' to the Church?
Oh, just a second here - let me add one more verse, Acts 5.11: Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.
Segue - How many times have you heard someone say, 'If I knew then what I know now, I would have done things differently'? Classic example: parenting. If I knew how this ____ would have contributed to his making these ___ choices, I would have parented another way. Right?
God is our Father.
Let's remember what is at stake in the first century, not long after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, then ascended into Heaven...and 10 days later the Holy Spirit blows into Jerusalem with radical, powerful change. On the same day, 3000 people got it! Why, they knew about this Jesus of Nazareth, and upon hearing Peter explain His great love and purpose for mankind, they trusted Jesus to be their Savior. From a community of 120 to those numbering in the thousands...
Our God sees time in all one piece. Check it out: when Ananias and Sapphira perpetrated their deception, God heard my seatmate 2000 years later on an American Airlines flight say, "I don't want anything to do with the Church; it is full of hypocrites and judgmental people who say one thing and do another." (Okay, duh, that is the definition of hypocrisy, but remember, this was a real comment made to me.)
Friends, at this time, God is doing a huge work amongst the new believers in Jerusalem, just ahead of the Gospel going out to other places. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the apostles are doing miraculous things, priming the people to hear Gospel messages, readying their hearts to respond. God is no longer relegated to the ancient Laws of the Jews, He certainly is not in the pagan worship of the Greeks and Romans, no, He is alive and at work! He is also holy.
Look back at Acts 5.11, what some could call a throw away verse: Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things. Two things: this was a holy fear. The people saw that God would not stand for deception or the pride that birthed it in this precious new community. Second thing--this is the first time this new community of believers is called the 'church'. hmmm.... God is sounding the bugle: My church is to be filled with those who want to honor me. Reminds me of Another--'Remember Jesus' arrival into Jerusalem? Twice, Jesus cleansed the Temple, turning over the tables of greedy profiteers, announcing, 'my house shall be called a house of prayer!'3 No, God was not going to let these two shysters stand, literally, and bring hypocrisy among the pure in heart, who were seeking him.
When I consider Ananias and Sapphira and how they could have irreparably harmed the first church, I do not find God's actions harsh - I find them merciful. God knew where he was going to take the Gospel; he knew the slanderers, adulterers, murderers and thieves he was going to set free with the salvation of Jesus Christ--he could not, would not let these two shutter the church. God had you and me and the 2025 global Church in mind. Oh yes, he did.
God is sovereign.
He is good and merciful, but also pure and holy.
God knew he was going to 'save' a radical named Paul in short order; he would not allow the Church to be destroyed before it even took off.
The World According to Me ... the World as it Should Be... Really?
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goeTQ3QarNs&list=RDgoeTQ3QarNs&start_radio=1
To the Only God,4
Christine
PastorWoman.net
1 - Acts 4.36-37
2 - Acts 5.1-11
3 - Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46
4 - Jude 25a