Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!uupsi!njin!paul.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: @vm.cc.purdue.edu:ROSSJB@PURCCVM (John Ross) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: This Present Darkness Message-ID: Date: 8 May 91 08:19:03 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Purdue University Lines: 34 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu I've never posted on netnews before (hello all) and only infrequently view messages here. I've been following the discussion on Present/ Piercing Darkness with some interest, though, especially the comments on (to paraphrase) tossing church members out the door. Some people think it is harsh to "excommunicate" 'members' of the church. Which is harsher, to force the person in question to come to grips with their sinful behavior or to allow what happened to Ananias and Sapphira? "Then 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? Didn'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. When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. . ." His wife also dies. Acts 5:1-11 Seems to me that the Spirit of God was pretty harsh in dealing with these two sinners. . . more harsh than we've been dealing with our own, eh? I guess Peter should have said, "Now, now, that's quite all right -- it is not your fault that you lied. Here, here, now, go on out and tell your wife that it's ok, we allow people to sin within our church's doors. . ." Maybe it is better for a person to be severed from the church for a time so he or she can contemplate just how wrongful their actions have been. Maybe if they realize their sin, the will repent, before they are struck down by their own sinfulness. (Asbestos armor zipped up: Flame at will!) John