yes
what that man said to you was a profound comment on the institutionalized church! i'd have never forgotten such a thing either.
it's true that the whole machination of what transpired is not explained in the text, and it's also true as you say that there are a number of object lessons for us in the account.
what i'm seeing in this though, is that there are clues in how Peter describes what they've done, using the word 'conspiracy' and clues in the placement of the account directly after the run-in with the Sadducees, and the context of what was going on in the city as the Spirit was working drawing together the church. the odd mention of a Levite who sold land. the detail of the young men who carried the bodies away. the significant display of the power of the Spirit and the authority with which Peter spoke.
it's not uncommon for the Bible to give scant information about an event which, if we were writing a history book or a newsreel, we'd include much more detail - for example here:
how did Er err? ((see what i did there lol))
the Bible doesn't say. the thing significant to the purpose of the narrative isn't Er's error, but the fact that Er erred.
here, the depth of Ananias & Sapphira's plot isn't explored. the most significant thing is that they lied, that they conspired together to do so, and that the Spirit was in no way deceived by it. but putting this together with all the surrounding text there's actually a lot of information for us to piece together what may have been happening. God wants us to study, to think, to dive into the word and swim in it, to seek Him out in it -- there are certainly moral lessons taught by this event, but treating it like it's 'just about greed' is IMO like only sticking our toes in the water.
it's similar, in a way, about the sabbath, and the Law, where you and i have spent a year throwing sparks. i've never said anyone should not keep it -- just that no one should be judged over it, whether for keeping or for not. observation of it by resting from physical labor is just like sticking our toe in the pool; it's only the surface, and i figure we ought to get all wet. i guess your point has been that we have to get our toes wet before we can get the rest of ourselves in, but you know, if i went ahead and dove, my toe would actually be the last thing that touches the water
ain't it funny how now that we're talking about Sadducees instead of Pharisees we're basically on the same page together hahaha
♥
what that man said to you was a profound comment on the institutionalized church! i'd have never forgotten such a thing either.
it's true that the whole machination of what transpired is not explained in the text, and it's also true as you say that there are a number of object lessons for us in the account.
what i'm seeing in this though, is that there are clues in how Peter describes what they've done, using the word 'conspiracy' and clues in the placement of the account directly after the run-in with the Sadducees, and the context of what was going on in the city as the Spirit was working drawing together the church. the odd mention of a Levite who sold land. the detail of the young men who carried the bodies away. the significant display of the power of the Spirit and the authority with which Peter spoke.
it's not uncommon for the Bible to give scant information about an event which, if we were writing a history book or a newsreel, we'd include much more detail - for example here:
Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life.
(Genesis 38:6-7)
how did Er err? ((see what i did there lol))
the Bible doesn't say. the thing significant to the purpose of the narrative isn't Er's error, but the fact that Er erred.
here, the depth of Ananias & Sapphira's plot isn't explored. the most significant thing is that they lied, that they conspired together to do so, and that the Spirit was in no way deceived by it. but putting this together with all the surrounding text there's actually a lot of information for us to piece together what may have been happening. God wants us to study, to think, to dive into the word and swim in it, to seek Him out in it -- there are certainly moral lessons taught by this event, but treating it like it's 'just about greed' is IMO like only sticking our toes in the water.
it's similar, in a way, about the sabbath, and the Law, where you and i have spent a year throwing sparks. i've never said anyone should not keep it -- just that no one should be judged over it, whether for keeping or for not. observation of it by resting from physical labor is just like sticking our toe in the pool; it's only the surface, and i figure we ought to get all wet. i guess your point has been that we have to get our toes wet before we can get the rest of ourselves in, but you know, if i went ahead and dove, my toe would actually be the last thing that touches the water
ain't it funny how now that we're talking about Sadducees instead of Pharisees we're basically on the same page together hahaha
♥
