[politicket]

What about public sin ? When Ananias and Sapphira publicly lied about the money they contributed did Peter privately take them aside and speak with them ? No. He denounced them immediately in front of the entire church.

You, sir, are the one taking God's word WAY out of context.

Let's look at the text that you refer to (in Acts, Chap. 5):

Ananias and Sapphira

1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. 3Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

7About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."

9Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."

10At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

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If you read this passage in context you can easily see that Ananias appeared before the apostles, not the entire church. Ananias was appearing before his elders and lied to them. God responded to that by striking him dead. The same thing happened with Sapphira a short time later.

You will also notice that the entire church did not find out what had happened until later.

Please quit arguing with God's word just because you would like to have things happen your way...

[Sam the Sham]

Please stop wrapping yourself in the Bible in a way as presumptuous and self-righteously self important as Pat Robertson does.

When Ananias lied he lied to the leadership of the church which was in effect, lying to the entire church. They lied publicly and were punished publicly.