There’s a strange smell in the church lately. It’s not incense or the dusty scent of old pews. It’s the smell of money mixing with things meant to be sacred. Scripture is clear about how offensive this is to God—this is simony, and it’s found a real home in the charismatic movement today.
The story of Simon Magus in Acts 8 is a shock. Here was a man who saw the Holy Spirit in action and, instead of being humbled by the mystery, saw a business opportunity. He tried to buy the power to pass on the Spirit. Peter shut him down, telling him his money could perish with him for thinking God’s gifts had a price tag.
That’s where we get the word simony. It’s an old warning that feels more relevant than ever, though the direction of the cash flow has changed. In the Bible, a man tried to buy power. Now, people claim they have spiritual power and sell it to anyone desperate enough to pull out a wallet.
Marketed Miracles
There is a genuine hunger for God in these circles. People show up wanting healing or breakthrough, and that hunger is good. But people also exploit it.
You hear it all the time: “Sow a seed for your breakthrough.” The message is that without money, you won’t get the spiritual result. Grace becomes a transaction, and God is treated like a vending machine. Then there’s “planting a seed” to break a curse. They say misfortune needs a financial sacrifice, skipping over the fact that the cross was supposed to be enough. When unconditional love is sold as conditional on giving, the “man of God” becomes a broker for commodities. The Spirit is treated like a product on a shelf.
Shepherds and Profits
The worst part is that this often comes straight from the pulpit. A leader using spiritual gifts to drain a congregation’s bank account is exactly what Peter warned about. Ezekiel spoke of shepherds who only feed themselves, and Peter warned of teachers who would use “fabricated stories” to exploit people out of greed.
It’s a tragedy when charisma or a way with words—gifts meant to help people—get prostituted for a bigger bottom line. The anointing becomes a business asset. The pulpit turns into a fundraising platform. And the flock, many struggling, are told their health or happiness depends on their next donation.
The Real Cost
Simony breaks the First Commandment because it puts money where God should be. It distorts how people see God’s character. If you’re told favor must be bought, you act like a debtor instead of a child. If healing is tied to a “seed,” the sick wonder if they weren’t faithful enough or just didn’t have enough cash.
The world sees this too. A generation already skeptical about faith sees preachers in private jets and decides the whole thing is a scam. It makes a mockery of the gospel when people start “peddling the word for profit.”
Drawing the Line
Asking for money in church isn’t always simony. There’s a big difference between a free-will offering and a mandatory fee for a “spiritual outcome.” It’s fine for a church to cover costs; Paul organized collections for the poor. But as soon as a gift is framed as the way to get a blessing—as the price for breakthrough—that line is gone. Grace is a gift, not a product. If a minister implies God’s blessing is unlocked by payment, something has gone wrong.
Staying Watchful
The smell of simony is subtle and can show up even in vibrant ministries. We don’t need to be suspicious of the Holy Spirit, but we do need to be careful how we handle these things. The rule is simple: “Freely you received; freely give.” That’s not a suggestion.
Leaders need to examine their methods. Are offerings actually voluntary? Are the promises being made ones only God can fulfill? Every believer must check their heart too. Are we coming to God as consumers, or as people grateful for grace we could never afford?
A Different Atmosphere
There is a better way—the way of Christ. He was rich but became poor for us. He didn’t buy His gifts, and He doesn’t sell them to us. He gives them freely, though they cost Him everything.
Let’s replace that marketplace scent with the fragrance of grace—generosity shared without a price tag or favoritism. The gift of God isn’t for sale. It never was meant to be.
Thanks for having the patience to read. May God’s Grace find you. Shalom and life to you dear.
By E.A. Randolph-Koranteng (Rev)
A Servant of Christ
