You Can’t Buy God

It is a sickness of our wealthy society. We believe that all we need is to have money, and then offer to give it, that we will get what we want when we want it. When we don’t, we keep our money and complain we were treated poorly. Money can’t buy God.

This was the situation when Simon offered to pay for the ‘power’ of bestowing the Holy Spirit. Can you imagine someone offering to pay so they could give the Holy Spirit to people? This is essentially what happens in the Church every day. “Name your price,” is all too common.

In those days, when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power, that any one on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Acts 8.18-25

To be clear, I have never witnessed anyone offer money directly to ‘give the Holy Spirit’. I have many times been told, “But I give my stewardship,” as an excuse of why special privileges should be given to people. It might not be the Holy Spirit, but is it really that different?

The Church has nothing to offer except for God. The Church offers hope in Christ. The Church offers Light in the darkness. The Church offers communion with God through the Holy Sacraments. “If you won’t baptize me, I’ll take my money somewhere else.” I’ve heard it.

When we read today’s passage from the Acts of the Apostles, I invite you to consider the ‘price’ of claiming to be something you are not. Being Orthodox is not ‘just’ calling yourself Orthodox, no matter how much money you have.

There is a danger in treating the Church like any other institution we ‘do business with’ in the world. There is no profit margin for the Church. There are no stockholders to make rich in the Church. The Church is the Body of Christ and doesn’t need your money.

The warning to Simon from Peter is a warning to us. “Your silver perish with you because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money.” If you don’t want to BE Orthodox, then you won’t insult the Church, I promise.

Peter called Simon (and us) to repentance. Money isn’t evil. Money is used for many good things in the Church and throughout the world. That wasn’t Simon’s problem. His problem was wanting special treatment because of his money. Change the way you use your money.

Instead of demanding special treatment for your donation, offer your money to the Church with no strings attached. Allow the Church to determine the best way to use your money rather than demanding your way or the highway. It isn’t how much money you have, but how you use it.