Simony in the Church

Some weeks ago, a friend of mine, who had just returned from his local church's leaders' retreat sorely displeased, came to my office to blurt out his displeasure with how things went down at the retreat.

Apparently, the guest speaker at the retreat was one of those self-styled prophets/evangelists. Having just "returned" from one of his "mountain trips," the 'man of God', peddled an anointing oil, which he claimed to have gotten from the feet of an angel on the mountain. For, just five thousand naira (₦5,000), anyone who desired anointing for success, would get a plop of the oil on the palm or forehead.

To my friend's dismay, not a few leaders trooped out for the 'sacred' commodity, with some pastors, who "should know better" leading the troop. My friend's 'ordeal' evokes the story of Simon Magus, also called Simon the sorcerer, who attempted to exchange money for the 'miraculous' ability to transmit the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands (Acts 8:9–24).

For so long, Simon swindled the Samaritans, earning himself fame and fortune on account of his gimmickry. Captivated by the spell of his sorcery, the people of Samaria, both great and small, dignified and even deified him.

Thinking the power of God was for sale like magic, Simon offered the apostles money in exchange for God’s power. Peter harshly condemned his act and put him in his place. It was from Simon’s act that the term ‘simony’ was derived, which denotes, the buying and selling of ecclesiastical privileges, a practice that became popular in Christendom from the 4th Century A.D.

Unfortunately, many like Simon, are on the rampage in the church today. Simon Magus typifies those who Paul described as hucksters who preach for personal profit (2 Cor 2:17, NLT). Their motivation for ministry is often rooted in greed and monetary gains, and so they resort to underhanded methods (2 Cor 4: 2, NLT).

Peter’s unreserved rebuke of Simon is a strong indication that the church should not condone or encourage those who have infiltrated the church to make merchandise of the Gospel. The Christian faith must not indulge or permit charlatans to rubbish the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 3) in faithfully living out the Gospel and in resisting those who make a mockery of the Gospel through distortion and deception.

Christians must take cognizance of Paul’s warning in 2 Thess.2:9-10 of the end-time activities of the messengers of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.