The ABCs of Faith

In the Old Testament, God clearly defined what was right and wrong and expected man to obey. The Israelites were rewarded for obedience and punished for disobedience. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Ananias and Sapphira were killed on the spot for their lies (Acts 5), the son conceived by David and Bathsheba in their adulterous union was taken from them (2 Samuel 12).

With today’s modern technology and reliance upon social networking and media, it is much more difficult to discern what is even true and false, much less what is right and wrong. Social networking sights are filled with photo-shopped pictures and fictional news reports, which far too many people buy into without hesitation. When we live in a world of grey, where right and wrong may no longer appear black and white, it is even more important that we assess our own actions based upon the Word of God and not the tolerance of modern society or current rule of law.

Let us return to our previous examples of God’s punishment for wrongdoing and see if these individuals at least exhibited some measure of accountability for their sins. When God asked Adam if he had eaten of the forbidden fruit (and, of course, God already knew the answer), Adam responded; “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” (Genesis 3:12). Would you say this was a good Biblical example of accountability? Not by a long shot. Adam not only blamed Eve, he even implied that God was at fault for having put the woman there.

Many may be less familiar with the New Testament story of Ananias and Sapphira, found in Acts 5. Acts 4 describes the early church in Jerusalem as a group of believers so filled with the Holy Spirit that they were of one heart and mind. So great was their love for one another and their devotion to their commission to share the word of God, that they became a communal society, sharing most – if not all – possessions among one another. Consequently, those who sold property were expected, though not necessarily required, to share those profits with the apostles, to be distributed to those in need. This couple, however, chose to withhold a portion of their profits. This act, in and of itself, may have been frowned upon by the church community to which they belonged, but it was not actually a violation of God’s law. What was sinful, was their hypocrisy. When Ananias presented their profits to Peter, he presented their gift as the entire proceeds from the sale of their property. This pretense of whole-hearted giving was an affront to God, and Peter saw right through it.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)

Unaware of these events and her husband’s immediate demise, Sapphira was later asked whether the funds presented by Ananias constituted the full price of the land sold: “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” (Acts 5:8). She was buried alongside her husband.