The Disguise of Commendable Behavior

Wednesday morning, April 30, 2008
The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 should make everyone quake in his/her boots, especially in light of the fact that it is such a perfect example of how Satan enters the “congregation of those who believe” under the disguise of commendable behavior. This is how the Holy Spirit chose to preserve the story: “But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 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” (Acts 5:1-2).
You are familiar with the context of this story so I won’t repeat it (if not, read yesterday’s perspective). On the surface, there is nothing wrong with a man and his wife selling a piece of property and giving a portion of it to the church and keeping the rest for themselves—nothing at all; however, there is a bit more to this story. This couple was pretending to be doing the same thing that those in the last part of chapter 4 were doing—selling houses and land and bringing ALL of the proceeds to the church (actually, laying them at the apostles’ feet) for the apostles to distribute, as the need arose. As you remember the consequence for their lying to the Holy Spirit was rather severe—immediate and sudden death.
Now before you jump to some religious, Pharisaical conclusion, allow me to remind you that there is nothing in this passage that even hints that they lost their salvation; instead, they simply died. Admittedly, however, that was a rather severe consequence by anyone’s standards, especially in view of the fact that we have no record of it happening again (not one that I can remember, anyway). Interestingly, as a result of their death, great fear came upon all who heard about it (see vs. 5)! I wonder why—
This is another of those truths that, spoken to most local churches, would not go over very well. Go ahead and give it a try. This Sunday morning get you pastor’s permission (if you are the pastor, do it yourself) and warn the congregants (from Acts 5) that the consequence for hiding oneself under the disguise of commendable behavior is immediate and sudden death. You might also want to remind them that the Holy Spirit will, indeed, find them out. I might add this: It would prove dramatic, should several of the folk fall over dead in the pews! Yes, great fear would come upon the church!
I feel certain that those of you who love being religious, who love living under the disguise of commendable behavior, love this story and equally love telling others how they should live-up to the standard of behavior you have achieved—the correct standard, of course. If this is true for you, then allow me to remind you that the enemy is using YOU to enter the “congregation of those who believe” under the disguise of commendable behavior.
For those of us who have long-since learned that there is nothing commendable about our behavior, even when it is at its best, the freedom from having to pretend is, well it is incredibly freeing! The freedom from having to do anything simply because someone else is doing it and others are commending it, is even more freeing! The freedom to live in undistracted devotion to Him is the grandest freedom of all!

Blessings and love,