Possessions.

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.

I thought about calling this post "God-inspired communism" but I think several of my relatives would un-friend me without even reading it. I'd also like to leave it at that but the monkey wrench got thrown into this arrangement before it was even really off the ground. Enter Ananias and Sapphira. For some reason, they decided to lie to Peter about how much of the money they were giving away. The story that follows is kind of creepy, actually, and gives me a case of the "you're freakin' kidding me"s in a bad way.

1 But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2 with his wife's knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 "Ananias," Peter asked, "why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!" 5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6 The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him

.

Somebody please remind me never to lie to some and say I'm giving a percentage of my income to the church! I won't bullshit any of you guys, I have no idea what percentage of my income pledge is. I just know it's what I can afford without giving up cable or internet. Technically, I don't need cable or internet, or coffee or soda pop. I just really really like them.

A lot.

So if you do this thing they were doing in the beginning, it's going to unravel fairly quickly. Why? Human greed. They ended up with this couple dead on the floor because they wanted to look like they were nicer people than they are. Also, apparently God was in a smiting mood that day. I think part of the problem these two had is that they wanted to look like they were more generous than they were willing to be. That sort of thing is catching. Generosity being catching is a good thing if people are honest with themselves about how much they can give without getting angry or irritated about it.

I'm not saying we shouldn't be generous to the point where it hurts. It should cost you something. The line that those two crossed though, was trying to look like they were willing to let it all go when they were only willing to let part of it go. If you can't let go, be honest about it.

I'm still horrified that (at least the way Luke tells it) they end up stone dead on the floor.