In Acts 8:18-24, we meet Simon the Sorcerer, a man fascinated by the apostles' power. When he saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of hands, he made a bold (and foolish) move—he offered money to buy that power.

Peter’s response was swift and sharp:

“May 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.”

(Acts 8:20-21)

Simon’s story is more than an ancient tale—it’s a warning. While we may not try to buy the Holy Spirit with cash, the temptation to turn faith into a transaction is still very real today.

The Temptation of Transactional Faith

In today’s world, faith is sometimes treated as a commodity:

➡️ Prosperity Gospel – “Give money, and you’ll receive blessings!”

➡️ Spiritual Tourism – Paying for experiences that promise divine encounters.

➡️ Personal Faith Practices – Treating prayer, giving, or church attendance as ways to earn something from God rather than worshiping Him.

But Scripture makes it clear: God’s gifts aren’t for sale.

Isaiah 55:1-2 reminds us:

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?”

Faith isn’t about transactions—it’s about trust. It’s not about buying spiritual power but about receiving God’s grace freely through Christ.

Counterfeit Transcendence: When Faith Becomes a Product

Simon wasn’t just after power—he was after transcendence, a way to connect with something beyond himself. That desire is universal.

📖 As G.K. Chesterton put it:

“When men stop believing in God, they don’t believe in nothing; they believe in anything.”

Many seek spiritual highs through:

• Emotional worship experiences
• Best-selling Christian self-help books
• Conferences with celebrity pastors

But Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5:

“My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

True transcendence isn’t found in hype or spectacle—it’s found in Christ alone.

Authentic Faith Over Manufactured Experiences

The danger of commodified Christianity is that it offers experiences rather than transformation.

⚡ It entertains rather than disciples.

⚡ It draws crowds but doesn’t necessarily create committed followers of Jesus.

📖 Paul warns in 2 Timothy 4:3-4:

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

Ask yourself:

• Are you drawn to Jesus, or just to the feeling of being near Him?
• Are you seeking relationship or just an experience?

How to Guard Against a Transactional Faith

1️⃣ Examine Your Heart

Ask yourself:

• Do I treat prayer, giving, or church involvement as ways to get something from God?
• Am I seeking spiritual experiences more than I’m seeking Christ Himself?

✅ Action Step: Spend time in prayer, repenting of any impure motives. Ask God to align your heart with His.

2️⃣ Pursue Simple, Everyday Faithfulness

True faith isn’t found in grand experiences but in daily obedience—prayer, Scripture reading, and loving others.

✅ Action Step: This week, focus on small acts of faith:

• Serve someone in need
• Pray without asking for anything
• Read Scripture without distraction

3️⃣ Build Authentic Relationships

One of the main reasons people leave the church is a lack of real connection. If church becomes just another event to consume, it loses its power.

✅ Action Step: Instead of chasing the next big conference or experience, invest in a local church community where you can know and be known.

Final Thought: The Gospel Can’t Be Bought—Only Received

At the heart of Christianity is a simple, powerful truth: salvation is a gift. You can’t buy it, earn it, or manufacture it. You can only receive it.

📖 2 Corinthians 13:5 challenges us:

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”

💭 Reflect:

• Is your faith built on Jesus—or on something else?
• Are you seeking the real, life-transforming Gospel—or a product that only imitates it?

Let’s reject a faith that can be bought and instead embrace the free, powerful, and authentic Gospel of Christ.

[This article was adapted from Jerry Cisar’s teachings.]