As an addendum to yesterday's post: it turns out that the gunman killed himself (after he'd been shot a few times by the security guard).
As far as my answer to my own question: I am reminded of the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). Feel free to read it if you'd like, but the gist of the story is that this husband and wife team was struck dead for lying to a group of Believers. Can you imagine how much worse would it have been for the pair if they'd been killing Believers (as our gunman was doing)? To answer this question, I am reminded of the story of Saul (i.e., Paul) who had been throwing Believers in prison and killing them--and he was given Life.
You caught me: it's a riddle. Let's live the best lives we can.
9 comments:
So what you are saying is something like we need to live the best Life we can live?
Shoulda, woulda, coulda...
Listen up and live right...
Did you see what happened to them and they tithed and everything?!?!
We had discussion in church last night over the issue of armed guards in a church service. One member said that it "didn't sit right" with her thinking about Christianity. It made me think about the value of life and protecting it from evil men or not protecting yourself and depending on God to allow you to live or die. Weighty stuff this faith thing...
I don't believe those two were struck down for lying. They were struck down for something far worse. Selfishness. Their lie was the cover for their sin. They needed His Blood to cover their sin, which they did not accept.
Whatever. Just don't forget who loves you, and always return that love to others, no matter who.
I certainly agree with your last point. However, if you look closely at the passage (specifically, Acts 5:3-4), selfishness doesn't appear to be the central issue: Ananias and Sapphira could have just kept their money and property--they weren't under any obligation to give. Although lying is central to the story, there appear to be some underlying issues as well: (A) trust (as in, they kept some money because they didn't trust that God would provide), (B) pride (as in, they wanted to look good in front of their friends but didn't really want to give away all their money), and (C) unification (as in, Ananias and Sapphira weren't committing wholly to the purpose of the church). These points actually go back to Acts 4, where it states that all the believers were of one heart and mind, and the members worked to make sure each of the others had his/her needs met. This is where selfishness would come in; however, as Peter said in Acts 5:4, Ananias and Sapphira weren't even asked to give in the first place.
It is an interesting thought, and selfishness is certainly spoken against elsewhere, I just don't see it in this particular passage...
Ohhh...I love it. Thinking about what God desires of us all and pursuing the Scriptures with determineness for the Truth. How do we know Him if we do not search for Him. Dialouge about the disciples, their teachings, the meaning of life...
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the hurrican blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on Daulfin Island. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the hurrican blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
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