People who secretly disobey church teachings.

[Josh]

Ananias and Saphira were not killed because they did not share the entire proceeds from the sale of their land but because they pretended they did share the entire proceeds when they didn‘t.

This is an assumption I see frequently made but where does the Bible actually say this?

[RZehr]

Ananias and Saphira were not killed because they did not share the entire proceeds from the sale of their land but because they pretended they did share the entire proceeds when they didn‘t.

This is an assumption I see frequently made but where does the Bible actually say this?

There might be a very small amount of assumption going on, but I think it is a fairly grounded and reasonable one based on what Peter says in Acts 5.

In verse 3 did Satan do two things, or one thing? If he did two different things, then keeping any of the money was wrong, and then lying was the second thing wrong.
But Peter in verse 4, gives indication that Ananias could have indeed kept all the money (was it not your own?), and talks about his heart condition (and does not focus on who should have gotten the money) and his lying.

Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

[Sudsy]

Say a nice family joins an ultra conservative church, with huge coverings tied under the chin, no internet, no music, the whole nine yards, as per the brotherhood agreement.

One spouse thinks what he does in his bedroom privately on his own time (movies, wine, whatever) is none of the church’s business, as long as he conducts himself properly the rest of the time…

I'd like to talk about this more generally.

Amongst seekers, some people join and blatantly break a rule or two. (I can think of someone in my own church circles who thinks photography is OK and regularly posts selfies and photographs of all kinds of things, and indeed does so on social media, which we also aren't supposed to use.) There is a certain amount of leeway given to such a person who simply lacks convictions in a specific area, but is also not sneaky about it and does not try to hide it.

Let's talk about the other situation. Someone joins a church and adopts very conservative practices and talks a good talk, but they are secretly doing things they would be ashamed for their brethren to know about. Amongst their closest associates, family, or spouse, or perhaps worldly friends, it is well known what they do. It could be drinking, it could be watching very worldly movies, or even something like pornography.

I have wrestled with what exactly this kind of person has going on in their life and what their relationshp with Jesus is. Is the Holy Spirit convicting them of sin? Part of the sin is not so much the act itself but the concealment of it. It seems Jesus had very harsh words for this kind of "religiosity".

My greatest concern for a situation like the one above is that the person does not have the grace of God operating in their life.

"Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

So, considering the verse you posted at the bottom, do you think you should have nothing more to do with this person ? I think there might be some advice in the Corinthian church letter, 1 Cor 5, about the man who was sleeping with his mother-in-law. Paul blamed the church for just ignoring it as even people in the world knew about it. I guess if a church is really ultra conservative they would be removing that person from their church for living a lie.

[Josh]

I would leave it up to my congregation to excommunicate someone for intentional lying.

As far as people in ultra groups… I’m not in very close fellowship with them and wouldn't even try to adjudicate who is and isn’t in the grace of God in those groups.