Go to church... and drop dead!
Trinity Life Church of San Diego
Pastor Marc Peña
July 2009
I'm sitting in my office reading the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) in preparation for this Sunday. Have you ever read that one? Now that's a spooky story!
So this couple shows up with some money from a property they sold. They bring the money to the apostles to share with the community just as many of the early Christians were doing. There was one problem though... they kept back part of the proceeds.
It's clear from the story that the issue wasn't money (Peter tells them this in verse 4). What was at issue was Ananias and Saphira's integrity. The money was always theirs to do with as they pleased but in an attempt to give the appearance of spirituality and generosity they lied and kept back part of the money.
Did you get that?
They lied.
They lied and then they died... right in church (see v.11).
There is something about being "fake" and inauthentic that really upsets God.
I know that for many of us "integrity" seems to imply some kind of moral perfection. But the truth is that it simply means being "genuine" or "whole." Kinda like "what you see is what you get." At least that's where integrity starts, I believe.
It's not easy being a person of integrity. It requires a willingness to admit your weakness as well as your strengths. It means admitting you have bad habits and attitudes not just good ones. It means admitting when you're wrong and seeking forgiveness and grace with no preconditions or excuses.
It means stop being "fake."
Let me let you in on a little secret... God wants you to be real.
In fact, He loves the real you.
He may want to change some aspects of our lives (which usually means some course corrections and attitude adjustments), but He delights in working with who you really are.
So go to church this Sunday with "integrity."
Worship with integrity. Sing with integrity. Give with integrity....
for without it something dies.
Pastor Marc Peña
July 2009
I'm sitting in my office reading the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) in preparation for this Sunday. Have you ever read that one? Now that's a spooky story!
So this couple shows up with some money from a property they sold. They bring the money to the apostles to share with the community just as many of the early Christians were doing. There was one problem though... they kept back part of the proceeds.
It's clear from the story that the issue wasn't money (Peter tells them this in verse 4). What was at issue was Ananias and Saphira's integrity. The money was always theirs to do with as they pleased but in an attempt to give the appearance of spirituality and generosity they lied and kept back part of the money.
Did you get that?
They lied.
They lied and then they died... right in church (see v.11).
There is something about being "fake" and inauthentic that really upsets God.
I know that for many of us "integrity" seems to imply some kind of moral perfection. But the truth is that it simply means being "genuine" or "whole." Kinda like "what you see is what you get." At least that's where integrity starts, I believe.
It's not easy being a person of integrity. It requires a willingness to admit your weakness as well as your strengths. It means admitting you have bad habits and attitudes not just good ones. It means admitting when you're wrong and seeking forgiveness and grace with no preconditions or excuses.
It means stop being "fake."
Let me let you in on a little secret... God wants you to be real.
In fact, He loves the real you.
He may want to change some aspects of our lives (which usually means some course corrections and attitude adjustments), but He delights in working with who you really are.
So go to church this Sunday with "integrity."
Worship with integrity. Sing with integrity. Give with integrity....
for without it something dies.
Posted by Pastor Marc's Blog at 7/22/2009 1:23 PM 
Categories: Church
Tags: Trinity Life Church of San Diego Pastor Marc Peña
Categories: Church
Tags: Trinity Life Church of San Diego Pastor Marc Peña
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