You are Welcome to Reflect on this Message

From the First Baptist Church in America pulpit

October 8, 2006

“Some Things Money Can't Buy”

(Acts 8:9-24)

Dr. Dan Ivins, preaching

Statistics show the two professions with the most quacks are medicine and religion. In The Book of Acts, the apostles keep running into religious quacks, but not like pulling a rabbit out of a top hat. That’s just entertainment; circus stuff. Nor does it rearrange anybody’s understanding of how the world works. But quackery has a certain appeal, especially the kind that promises results. Like, following the four spiritual laws will get you to heaven. Or predicting the future behind the eight ball. Or the kind of magical religion that compels God to do what we want, so we can gain more control over the people and events of our lives.

Some folks are so starved for guidance, that they close their eyes, open a Bible and point a finger to a scripture verse, in hopes of a nudge. And some prayers I’ve heard are more like voodoo than Gethsemane. Millions are made on the “Left Behind,” a novel treated like Bible. Its pure fiction, speculating on the future and who’s in or out. But people are fascinated with it because they want to know and gain a handle on the future. And it isn’t always because being in-the-know lets you call-the-shots. Sometimes we just get tired of feeling helpless. We live in a complex, scary world. And God isn’t always as declarative as we’d like. That’s why magicians have never had trouble finding customers. And also why they can make a mint on The Apocalypse, when you couldn’t make a dime on the Gospel of Luke.

People are always looking for somebody tight with God. Or even better, who knows how to get around God. Somebody with the proper formula to make religion work for you. Maybe that’s why some people come to church. To get whatever “it” is.

One of the colorful saints during our days in the southland, had a mystical theology. We were enduring one of those nasty droughts in Dixie and she wanted me to pray that God would make it rain. She protested mightily when I suggested it was raining someplace right then. Undeterred, she said “But I want it to rain at my house, not over in the Philippines someplace!” I reminded her I was a pastor not a witch. So I don’t do rain dances for weather or sports. It’s unfair to the other team! But we like to think there’s someone, somewhere, who can give us a little more control over our lives. Or at least intervene on our behalf; grant us protection; have it rain where we want it.

Simon of Samaria had a large following when Philip arrived from Jerusalem because he practiced magic. He was so good at it that he was granted divine status. “This man has the great power of God.” Of course that’s a crock! But when they got a load of Philip de-possessing the possessed, the hair frizzed-up on their arms! It had such an impact on Simon, he shadowed the Christians like a detective, trying to figure out how they did it. So Simon kept watching. But he hadn’t seen anything yet.

When word got back to Jerusalem about their success in Samaria. The apostles decided to send Peter and John to pray for the new converts to receive the gift of the Spirit. They did it by laying hands on the convert’s heads. And what happened after that spooked Simon for sure! So Simon pulled cash out of his pockets, and pressed it into the disciple’s hands with a wink in his eye: “This is yours, if you’ll just give me your power.”

Now that folks, is just plain ol’ dumb! Like leaving a twenty on the bedside table on your wedding night. Or asking the Pope how much he’d take to let you wear his neat beanie. It was so bad that a brand new word was born. “Simony.” Named for somebody trafficking in sacred things. Poor Simon was one of those guys who thought money could buy anything. He needs to talk to George Steinbrenner! Or worse, he believed the Spirit of God was for sale. But Peter chewed him out. “May your silver perish with you, because you think you can buy God off with cash!” Like we do in politics or business or sports?

That’s when he asked Peter to pray one of those voodoo-prayers for him. But big bucks play a minor role in the story. Although money is perhaps the main way we try to make our lives more predictable. Magic is another. Money, magic, power and religion. What a combination! Everything but what matters most – God’s Spirit. Anytime we think we’re purchasing God’s protection by living moral, faithful lives–we’re practicing Simony.

Peter’s strong response to Simon stands as a reminder that God can’t be managed. The Spirit’s not for sale. And that’s not even remotely what church is about. Conversion has to do with risk not security. Because once you decide to follow Jesus, you give up the illusion of being in control.

Some things money can’t buy. Faith, security, time, health, wisdom, love – just to name a few. Because life’s a gift. And magic is no substitute for grace. Nor is church about getting, but sharing. Simon made a common mistake that people still make. Not just trying to buy the power of God. But being captive to the fireworks of the Spirit and not the Spirit itself.

Maybe there’s a bit-of-the-magician in all of us. Simon was a religious entrepreneur who tried to manipulate the secrets of the Spirit. “Follow this Rx and throw your arthritis medicine away!” “Practice prosperity thinking! Get to know Jabez.” “Invest ten dollars and watch it grow to a thousand!” Stuff like that’s fine, as long as you bear in mind it doesn’t have anything to do with God. There’s no limit to what Simon could do if he learned how to bottle-up God’s power. But that’s what religion is to a lot of people, wanting to possess God’s power, instead of letting it possess them. It’s a common sin church-goers commit. And a nasty reminder that nobody serves God for nothing. Except Jesus, and a few other saints.

We’re slow to accept that the fireworks are only by-products. Anybody caught up in the signs and wonders will never have them, because they’re all smoke. The only way to receive the Spirit is to renounce all control of it. God’s Spirit is inoperative unless we care more about the gospel than the gospel goodies. God could care less about us getting the benefits. He’s much more interested in us being a benefit to others. That’s why we have church. Think of what a difference it would make if people came to church, not for what they can get out of it, heaven and assurance and free rides. But what we can share; what our contribution might be. So who might you be a benefit to? Too many see faith as “religious welfare,” and what we stand to gain from it. But God won’t tolerate us loving anything more than him. Not even the church, its benefits; not power, nor fireworks, nor magic. Going to church ought to make us quit playing around with that kind of stuff. That’s Peter’s message.

That and this. It’s hard to talk about the Spirit without making it sound like a religious recipe. There are still people around who think there’s a formula to follow. They’ll bottle it up and call it “Dr. Feel Good!” Then sell it for cash. And there are plenty of buyers. If you proceed in the proper order, or perform a ritual just right, then you’ve got the Spirit in your hip-pocket. You know and I know that’s just hocus-pocus. All we can do is invite the Spirit – not coerce. The minute somebody promises results where God’s concerned -- get suspicious.

Depending on your perspective, the surface of the earth is smoother than a billiard ball. The heights of Mt. Everest and the troughs of the Pacific rim are staggering, if you’re close by. But from the view of Andromeda, those differences can’t be detected. From God’s perspective, the earth is a perfect sphere. That’s what we see in people when we see through the eyes of grace, where the Everest-of-rules amount to a molehill. We can’t earn God’s acceptance by climbing. All we can do is receive it or reject it.

The early church preached that God’s love is so perfect, nobody can achieve it on our own. But God’s grace is so great, we don’t have to. And maybe that’s why Luke doesn’t tell us how the story ends. He just has Peter blasting away at Simon, who’s begging to be remembered in prayer for protection. It would be nice if we learned from Simon’s experience that magic and grace are two different approaches to life. And people live on either one or the other.

Magic is about controlling things that can’t be controlled. Grace is about relinquishing it. Magic promises success. Grace involves risk. Magic loves fireworks. Grace faces reality. Magic relies on tricks to entertain. Grace depends on faith to serve. Every day you and I get to pick which one we’re gonna live on. While the Spirit of God hovers ... waiting to see which one we choose.

Prayer: O Lord, enable your church to be the Body of Christ, in reality not just talk; a voice to speak his words; hands to perform his mission; feet to walk in his ways. Cleanse our church from all that would deter us from our calling to do his will. Keep us centered on what unites us instead of what divides us. From any coldness that weakens our devotion, from lethargy that paralyzes our purpose. Grant us courage in our convictions and winsomeness in our witness.

Show us the wisdom of laying aside our pride that deludes us, our prejudice that blinds us, our hate that destroys us. Enable us to be generous in our giving. Faithful in our worship, diligent in our serving, Christ-like in our caring, patient in expectation and tolerant in disagreement. As you have forgiven us, may we forgive one another.

We remember all who are enduring sorrow in the Amish country, or Iraq, or here in Providence. Enfold them in Thy everlasting arms.

When life is uncertain, clarify our vision. When we procrastinate, light a fire under us. When we are tempted to hurt somebody or ourselves, infuse us with determination. Grant us strength to serve, respect for differences, and grace to encourage and build up the church, so that Thy kingdom will come, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.