William Willimon on Acts 5
I am preaching the ever dreaded passage on the death of Ananias and Sapphira this week: Acts 5:1-11.
At the risk of giving away some of the big points of my sermon on sunday, let me share this quote from Willimon,
“If money is some how linked to our idolatrous attempts to secure immorality for ourselves, it is also the occasion for much self-deceit. There is something quite natural about the lies of Ananias an Sapphira, for we all know the way we rationalize and excuse our own covetousness, acquisitiveness and greed. “I am not really that well off,” we say. “I have all I can do to just make ends meet.” “I worked hard for this and deserve it.” Our lies are a correlate of our materialism, for both our materialism and our self-deceit are our attempts to deal with our human insecurity, our human finitude, by taking matters into our own hands. Luther once called security the ultimate idol. And we have shown time and time again that we are willing to exchange anything - our family, our health, our church, the truth - for a taste of security. We are vulnerable animals who seek to security and establish our lives in improper ways, living by our wits rather than by faith. This “self securing mentality” is at the heart of all failures to live by faith in God.”
Whoah. I think i could jsut read that then sit back down again. (But I won’t).
ed c said...
102/21/08 10:05 AM | Comment Link |
There are so many directions you can run with that.
National security.
Job security.
Financial security.
Personal security.
Perhaps the American dream has more to do with being secure than being successful…
Tim said...
202/21/08 9:53 PM | Comment Link |
You know the sad thing about this story is that they did not have to give all the money to the Apostles. They could have given what they wanted. No one said they had to sell their land. The made money off God though - perhaps that is an area you could hit on. How many people make money off God? I have been thinking about that lately (Christian “worship” music, etc..)
Tom said...
302/22/08 6:48 AM | Comment Link |
Love this quote, Todd. Just wondering, is this from Willimon’s commentary on Acts? The one phrase that really arrests my attention and, frankly, convicts me is, “…living by our wits rather than by faith.” Oh, and I do think you could read the story from Acts, read the quote from Willimon, and then sit down, but only after saying something like, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The Spirit can do the rest.
Todd said...
402/22/08 7:30 AM | Comment Link |
Yes Tom, this is from his commentary on Acts. Its part of the Interpreter’s Commentary. I actually was able to read it online somehow. Half tempted to try out your idea!