I Keep Having to Question this "Merciful" God

In all my years as a believer, I was never aware of a story that is told in the fifth chapter of Acts, verses 1 - 10.

Acts 5: 1-10

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.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

What the hell?

In this story, the couple sold a possession and wanted to keep some of the money from the sale rather than turn it all over to the Apostles (they probably had bills to pay). Why they were obligated to hand over all their money is not described. So what does Peter do? He curses the guy and god makes him drop dead. A few hours later, Peter does the same thing to the wife.

God really wants your fucking money! Pay or die, mutherfuker! What is god, some loanshark? Some crimelord who will do you in if you owe him money?

I thought god was merciful. If you sin and make a mistake, you are supposed to be allowed to repend and right the wrong. Your punishment is only carried out after you die and didn't ever repent.

So what the hell is this? If you keep some of the money that is yours anyway, god will kill you dead right there on the spot?

I thought that the god of the New Testament was a loving, forgiving god. The god of the Old Testament could strike you dead for picking your nose crooked. It looks like the reformed god of the NT sometimes forgets and does a merciless slaughter now and then.

People, you worship a sick, demented being. What do we do with world leaders who mercilessly slaughter people? We remove them from power! Why do you continue to worship and fear this god who kills people whenever he gets mad? If I am supposed to emulate the example of god into my own life, I guess I'll kill my children the next time they lie to me.

Holy shit!! And atheists are supposed to be the barbarians...