You missed the context. The apostles were setting up a *voluntary* community where those who joined gave up all they had to the community to enter, and in return, were granted to the community resources.
Ananias wanted to have access to the benefits of belonging to that community without actually meeting the stated requirements.
As the apostle pointed out, he could have kept everything for himself. He could have given half to the community and kept half for himself. Neither one of those would have lead to the dire outcome. (The new testament is full of wealthy people giving to the poor, and to the support of the church leaders. None of them were condemned for how little they gave!)
But Ananias wanted to *look* like a team player without actually being one. Christ's harshest condemnations were spoken against those who claimed to be holy, but used the very rules of their religion to abuse others (including their own parents).
I agree that it is impossible to *successfully* lie to God. That doesn't seem to stop people from trying to get away with it. It's one step beyond lying to yourself. You can deny reality all you want, but it always wins in the end.
And yes, I do object strongly to someone labeling Jesus a Socialist.
Regardless of what the philosopher's debate about socialism (small "s"), Socialism (capital "S") has been the means causing immense suffering and death in the 20th century. The most powerful "Socialist" governments of the 20th century caused more deaths than any other philosophical system in history.
People seem to forget that:
Those Socialist systems all claimed that they would benefit the poor. Instead they have created enormous misery and death.
Capitalism certainly has problems. It can also lead to concentrated money and power.
Small communities that work on the basis of sharing (socialism with a small "s") have been success to one extent or another (for example the kibbutz in Israel).
We don't seem to have any examples of large communities based on sharing. It seems that as soon as a community gets too big for people have personal relationships with all of the other members of the community it breaks down. It also seems to be essential that those who don't want participate have the option to leave.
I suspect that at our current level of civility, only small family-like groups can successfully practice communities based on sharing.
Jesus was NOT a socialist.
Socialism (and Communism) are systems of GOVERMENT that take goods from some individuals to give to others, by force if necessary.
Jesus, on the other hand, emphasized that INDIVIDUALS should choose to love, bless, serve, and give to others. This is very explicit in the sermon on the mount in Matthew Chapters 5, 6, and 7
The account of Ananias and Sapphira in Mark 5 also focus on the choices of INDIVIDUALS. In specific, it shows the stark consequences of lying to God and his servants out of greed.
Both Socialism and Communism have more in common with the actions of Ananias and Sapphira than they do with the teachings of Jesus. Just pay attention to who ends up with the wealth in any socialist or communist society,
You can write a small letter to Grandma in the filename. -- Forbes Burkowski, CS, University of Washington
