Ananias, and Sapphira

Quarterback

I always found this Bible acct to be puzzling. It's found in the book of Acts. It starts by mentioning that in Jerusalem a need arosed to care for some Christians who lived together as a community. Fields were sold to enable this. This was voluntary. Ananias and Sapphira sold their field, but lied when they presented their offering. They said that it was the full price, but it wasn't. So, they were caught in their lie and therefore God killed them. At least the deciples gave them a burial. So......What's up with this? People lie. I get it. But is lying a Capital offense??

I really struggle with this biblical acct. Can anyone make any sense out of this?

Oubliette

The recently leaked WTBTS videos instructing elders on how to handle a judicial hearing reveal the true reason for this account. In that video, the elders tell then penitent young man that a JW judicial hearing is NOT like a court of law. In a court of law, the defendant always pleads "Not guilty" and lies. (This of course is not true, but it is what the elders says in the video).

The elder then continues "helping" this poor young man by saying that in JW judicial hearings it is important to tell the whole truth so that the elders can offer spiritual assistance. They then clarify this by reading the account of Ananias and Sapphira to the young man.

The message is clear: Lie to us and God will kill you!

Isn't that nice?

sir82

The account in Acts was probably written for the same purpose as the WT training video.

In an attempt to instill fear & respect for authority, nothing like a little "if you lie to us, God will strike you dead!" story.

quellycatface

Crap.it's the bogeyman again.it belongs in the 1st century.

mynameislame

I always found that scripture a bit odd too. It just does'nt seem to fit with the new more loving god of the greek scriptures.

Seems more like a warning not to say you did more than you realy did rather than lying to cover up your mistakes.

I'd be very careful filling out my monthly time sheets if I was a JW.

Band on the Run

This account has bothered me my whole life. I should do a Google Scholar search to learn more. When I was about eleven, I was minding my own business in Ministry School when I noticed that the dumb dumb brothers had misread the paragraph. They were functionally illiterate. I did not know what to do. If it happened in school, I would raise my hand and politely tell the teacher. They were adult male JWs. I was a lowly sister. It made a difference in reading comprehension. The text states that the only sin that can't be forgiven is a sin against the Holy Spirit. Did I sin by noticing the reading comprehension error? Would eagles peck out my eyeballs after Armageddon? I wish I had never noticed. They were the Holy Spirit--according to the Witnesses.

There was no one in the KH to ask for guidance. I suffered severe anxiety for about six months.

When this text is part of the worship service at a normal church, regular people become upset. I've asked priests if they feel that the account shows the love and mercy of Christ. They acknowledge it is a very difficult scripture. It is problematic.

designs

Lesson: Just make damn sure your check to Jesus doesn't bounce :D

AndDontCallMeShirley

But is lying a Capital offense??

.

If it was, WT would've been dead a long time ago....

Pistoff

This story is a good reminder that the bible was redacted, edited, blue-penciled; it was assembled from a large collection of gospels and other accounts of Jesus.

Why was this story kept by the editors, instead of 20' tall men escorting Jesus body from the grave, or the account of the cross that spoke?

It makes for good dramatic reading, and reinforces the authority of the apostles, ergo the authority of the early church.

And, yes, the GB LOVES this idea, don't they?

Quarterback

Do you think that they are worthy of a resurrection?

Ananias, and Sapphira

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