God’s judgment against Ananias and Sapphira had an effect beyond the fellowship of believers: “great fear came upon…all who heard of these things” (Acts 5:11). Verse 13 says unbelievers did not dare associate with them! This is precisely the opposite of the user-friendly philosophy that is so popular today. Instead of luring people to church by making them feel comfortable and secure, God used fear to keep unbelievers away.

The fear of God was a central doctrine in the early church. Believers and unbelievers alike were taught to fear Him. None but a rank fool would deal frivolously with God. It was that very fear that drew people for salvation and kept them obedient. Whenever the Holy Spirit is genuinely drawing someone to salvation, that person’s heart cries out for deliverance from sin! The gospel call is not an invitation to join the fun and end emotional pain.

The contemporary user-friendly movement seems to miss that vital point. Rather than arousing fear of God, it attempts to portray Him as fun, jovial, easygoing, lenient, and even permissive. Haughty sinners who ought to approach God in terror (Luke 18:13) are emboldened to presume on His grace. Sinners hear nothing of divine wrath. That is as wrong as preaching rank heresy.

As we learn from the account of Ananias and Sapphira, God’s wrath is not to be taken lightly. Peter wrote, “If [judgment] begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet 4:17).  Paul spoke of divine wrath as one of the primary motivations for evangelism: “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.” (2 Cor 5:11).