Sufjan Stevens...a writers favorite evangelical artist...but don't worry, the non-judgemental kind
if there's something we really like in a guy, it's a lack of judgement.
lots of kindness, lots of understanding.
limits on this kindness and understanding?
people won't usually admit to it, but they get plent mad at their spouse/relational person
"i'm not a judgemental person, but that's just wrong"
god has already clearly declared that he is very much the judging type however.
not to imply that god is without kindness/love/patience/compassion.
but he does does judge and condemn evil.
32. And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed
that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.
33. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and
abundant grace was upon them all.
34. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell
them and bring the proceeds of the sales
35. and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
36. Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated
means Son of Encouragement),
37. and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
1. But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2. and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion
of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet.
3. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep
back some of the price of the land?
4. "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under
your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
5. And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.
6. The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
7. Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8. And Peter responded to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?" And she
said, "Yes, that was the price."
9. Then Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to
the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well."
10. And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found
her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11. And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.
12. At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they
were all with one accord in Solomon's portico.
13. But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.
14. And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added
to their number,
15. to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on
cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.
16. Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people
who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.
Restated...
A>>> The church was "of one heart and soul", and they cared for one anothers financial needs.
financial needs...huge. this wasn't minor stuff, this was hunger level.
more on that in a few chapters.
B>>> Church members sold property to help pay for some needs in the church.
they laid the money at the apostles feet...
i think that's the origin of the IRS rule against 'specified giving'.
C>>> Evidentally, this was looked well upon...as a couple decided to join the trend and sell some of their property.
Ananias and his wife Sapphira.
D>>> Except...they decided to lie about it; they kept some of the money said they were giving it all.
E>>> When he gives the money, Peter confronts Ananias and he dies.
some folks drag him off to bury him...
F>>> Sapphira shows up and she repeats the lie...she's struck dead as well.
some folks drag him off to bury him...
G>>> Miracles abound in the church - so many so that people began to try to lay the sick where Peter's shadow might fall.
it doesn't say that peter's shadow is sufficient for their healing, but it does say that people are doing so,
and concludes with "they were all being healed."
just a note on God's style...when he wants to clearly convey a message, he does.
in this case, the miracles were strong validators of the apostles authority.
this was in sharp contrast to the lack of the miracles by jewish leaders...the only game in town.
The inevitable question asked is, "Why such a severe punishment?"
- yes, they lied...
we know god hates lying:
prov 12:22. Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
rev 21:8. "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers
and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will
be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
but...this doesn't seem normal.
lots of people lie. they don't usually end up dead.
Nadab And Abihu
Lev 10
1. Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after
putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which
He had not commanded them.
2. And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
3. Then Moses said to Aaron, "It is what the LORD spoke, saying, `By those who come near
Me I will be treated as holy,
And before all the people I will be honored.' "
So Aaron, therefore, kept silent.
4. Moses called also to Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Aaron's uncle Uzziel, and said to
them, "Come forward, carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary to the outside of the camp."
5. So they came forward and carried them still in their tunics to the outside of the camp, as Moses had said.
6. Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, "Do not uncover your heads nor
tear your clothes, so that you will not die and that He will not become wrathful against all the
congregation. But your kinsmen, the whole house of Israel, shall bewail the burning which the LORD has brought about.
7. "You shall not even go out from the doorway of the tent of meeting, or you will die; for
the LORD'S anointing oil is upon you." So they did according to the word of Moses.
8. The LORD then spoke to Aaron, saying,
9. "Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the
tent of meeting, so that you will not die--it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations--
10. and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean,
11. and so as to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them through Moses."
Gehazi's Rebellion
2 Kings 5
Elisha heals Namaan the Syrian...Namaan offers money as a gift and acknowledges God, Elisha declines the cash.
Elisha's servant however opts for the cash (financial pressure?); he runs after him and says that Elisha
changed his mind...
When he gets back...
2 Kings 5:25 And Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant
went nowhere."
26. Then he said to him, "Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot
to meet you? Is it a time to receive money and to receive clothes and olive groves and vineyards
and sheep and oxen and male and female servants?
27. "Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever." So
he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
Jesus To Galilean Cities
Matt 11:20-24
20. Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.
21. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred
in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22. "Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.
23. "And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for
if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day.
24. "Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of
judgment, than for you."
Also, Aachan in Joshua, 1 Cor 11...
1. Christ links stricter judgement to increased revelation
20. Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.
21. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred
in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
2. Christ specifically mentions miracles as the type of revelation.
20. Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.
3. Christ seems to indicate that the distribution of miracles isn't even.
why god does what he does is up to him...but it seems that he frequently performs more 'miracles' when
he is validating a message or messenger.
e.g, in the future, this will be the case for the 2 prophets in rev 11...
assuming that theory, that would make a lot of sense in this context.
The strict, visible, and immediate judgement of Ananias and Sapphira makes sense given the context of
revelation and miracle.
9. Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
10. Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11. Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.