Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14

Leviticus 4:27-28

If a member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, he is guilty. When he is made aware of the sin he committed, he must bring his offering for the sin he committed, a female goat without defect.

With the exception of the specific animal being offered, sentences like these appear in this passage for the priest, the entire community and a leader as well. Sin is a very serious matter, even if committed unintentionally. These offerings, this attonement cost something. Not just the value of the offering itself. But it cost some pride in having to make such a public statement of going to the Tent of Meeting with your offering.

These verses also show that they were a connected community. There was accountability and an intent to keep pure and not let sins just slip by. They were responsible for one another. That kind of community almost seems anti-American because ours is a culture of individualism and it's impolite to get into other people's business.

I'm pretty good at being a lone ranger and keeping the things going on in my life to myself. But that doesn't really seem to be the design for God's people. I'll have to work on becoming more open and transparent.