When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” Acts 8:18-24
“5. Those who boast of having obtained a position in the Church by the expenditure of money, and who depreciate others who have been chosen because of their virtuous life and by the Holy Ghost without money, these shall, in the first place, be put back to the lowest grade of their order, and if then also they still persist (in their pride), they shall be punished by the bishop. But if anyone has given money in order to obtain ordination, the 30th apostolic canon and the 2nd canon of Chalcedon apply to him. He and his ordainer are to be deposed and excommunicated.”
Zonaras and Balsamon in earlier times, and later, Christian Lupus and Van Espen, remarked that the second part of our canon treated of simony, but not the first. This has in view rather those who, on account of their large expenditure on churches and the poor, have been raised (without simony) to the clerical state as a reward and recognition of their beneficence; and, being proud of this, now depreciate other clergy who were unable or unwilling to make such foundations and the like.”
Second Council of Nicaea (A.D. 787) in “Canon 5 and supplemental note” in History of the Councils of the Church, Volume 5; by Charles Joseph Hefele, 311.
I shot this header photo of the seventh of the seven councils in the cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv of this council. A primary topic of this council was the adoration of iconography.
Notice in the photo the presence of many images and icons. The council determined that icons should be treated with respect and veneration but not adoration, which should be reserved for God alone.
1. Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325)
2. Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381)
3. Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431)
4. Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451)
5. Second Council of Constantinople (A.D. 553)
6. Third Council of Constantinople (A.D. 680)
7. Second Council of Nicaea (A.D. 787)
Sadly the council also had to deal with issues like simony. People were using wealth to locate positions in the church structure. Simony got the name from Simon who engaged this practice in the biblical text above.
But does simony happen in our church and ministry settings today? In my global work, I hear it take many forms. For example, wealthy people may appear virtuous and demonstrate beneficence sometimes do it to receive power in return.
Remember when Barnabas sold land and set the funds at the feet of the Apostles implying that the gift did not aim to control the saint but contribute to their needs. I see the desire for control through giving in many places.
I also hear of the expectation of bribes. People in many cultures cannot even be considered for a position of service without paying a bribe to get their proverbial application into the hands of those who may give it consideration.
Ultimately, the council notes show that such behavior depreciates or devalues those who walk with integrity and exhibits pride and idolatry. Their spirit reveals the pride and their actions expose their idolatrous thinking.
Control, pride, and idolatry are three temptations Jesus resisted in the wilderness. We must resist them too. I wrote about this in The Choice: The Christ-Centered Pursuit of Kingdom Outcomes. Reply if you want a free PDF copy.