Julio

[Acts 5:1-11]
I have confronted Christians with this crime against two innocent members of Peter's Primitive Church.
They tell me they were killed by the Holy Spirit.
It's not possible!
And there is enough internal evidence elsewhere against such an accusation.
I need to resolve this problem satisfactorily.
Can you please help?
Thanks.

yalla

The author of Acts wants believers to give all their money to the Church or they will die ...immediately.

Its a protection racket.
"Pay up or die".
Don Corleone would have been proud of the threat[the author Acts is the consigliori].

aa5874

What a fantastic way of collecting "taxes" (offerings and tithes). Just read Acts 5.1-11to the converts and you should see an increase in revenue.

jgreen44

But it must have happened. It was the Apostolic Age. The one and only magical mystery tour.

Toto

I think liberal Christians who accept this story as historical think that Ananias and Sapphira died from their own guilty consciences, for trying to deceive their community.

Conservative Christians think that God Will Not Be Mocked. The two were struck down for their deception.

I see no reason to think that this story is historical, anything other than a cautionary tale about bad things that can happen to bad people.

yalla

Who do you think were the bad people Toto?
Those who wanted to keep some of their property or those, Peter/god who killed them for that wish?

I regard this little story as disgraceful.
Its murder.
Christians ought to disown it.

Transient

It may be murder in our eyes but for christians it's all good - "who are we to judge god" gets dragged out of the closet and rammed at the questioner.
Besides, "god" ordered the massacres of men, women, children and babies in the OT so it's all good.
Total crap if you ask me but them I'm heathen so what I say doesn't count.
If the "holy spirit" tells a christian to pull the trigger then they must do it or go to hell.
Of course these bible stories are just crap written by people seeking to explain events and to keep the people under their control and the money flowing in - hmm sounds like stuff today - cough - Benny Hinn, Copeland etc etc etc - all creeps like those who wrote the bible.

aa5874

Catch 22. Once you are a believer you will become a victim of your belief. Pay up or die in your sins.

Julio

Great statement!
"Once you are a believer you will become a victim of your belief."

Toto

This question doesn't make any sense. They weren't real people, just actors in a drama meant to make a point.

The point might be that you can be a reasonable good person, but the wrath of god will strike you down when you least expect it, so stick to the straight and narrow.