The Error of Simon and Gehazi
While Christianity was still very young, people began to use it for personal gain. Jude, in his epistle, tells us that "certain men crept in unawares" who "ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward." This is not unique to Christendom. As long as there have been religions, men have used them to their advantage. Priests, witch-doctors, gurus, and other religious leaders have used fear and faith to control the people, while they, themselves, profited both financially and politically. Disciples of Christ, however, are supposed to be above that.
Eliot Ness and his squad became known as "the untouchables," but two thousand years earlier, the apostles of Jesus manifested the same notable qualities in their ministry. In Acts 8, a sorcerer named Simon, declared by many to be "the great power of God," beheld as the apostles Peter and John laid hands on believers, who then received the gift of the Holy Ghost.
He was astonished and "offered them money, Saying, ‘Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.’ But Peter said unto him, ‘Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.’"
One might argue that, if Simon could impart the gift of the Holy Ghost, many would thereby be blest. The apostles knew, however, that Simon’s heart was not in the right place. Simon saw here an opportunity to appear even greater in the sight of the people, and that was worth the relatively small ‘investment.’ You have to spend money to make money, you know.
Today, as in the past, excuses are often made for abuses by church leaders, citing that, although what they are doing is wrong, people are being ‘blessed.’ "We see good fruit," they say. Based on this idea, one might question the veracity of the scripture in Luke 6:43, "A good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." If the man is corrupt, his ‘fruit’ no matter how succulent it seems, cannot be good.
A great shame has been brought upon Christianity in recent history by prominent ministers and so-called ‘Televangelists.’ By making outrageous claims or absurd statements, or being publicly exposed for fraud and/or misconduct, non-believers have come to see Christians as fools, hypocrites and phonies.
One televangelist would stop in the middle of speaking or singing, look up towards the sky, and say, "Now, Lord? What?" and proceed to notify the audience that God asked him to sing a different song. I believe that God talks to people, but the idea of asking God, "Now?" If God, indeed, should speak to you in a voice, during the taping of your show, it might be assumed that it was urgent.
Another prominent preacher claimed that a 900-foot Jesus told him to raise 8 million dollars, or he would be called home. What an odd ultimatum from our Lord: "Do my will or else you’re going to heaven."
Thus, I understand the widespread skepticism, for these are but two of many examples.
"Healing" ministries have been a staple of Christianity for as long as most people can remember. God has used healing throughout history to confirm His word, His people, and His prophets. But even Jesus, the great physician, did not have a "healing ministry." This may come as a shock to most of you, but Jesus’ ministry was "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!"
Truly, He performed many marvelous miracles: healings, resurrections, feeding multitudes with little food, changing water to wine, etc. This, however, was not His "ministry," it was God’s way of confirming His ministry.
Nevertheless, the absence of miracles does not imply that one’s ministry is invalid. John the Baptist, whose ministry, according to our Saviour, was from God, "did no miracle." (John 10:41)
God never changes. God’s ministers throughout the Bible were used to heal, but healing is, at best, a temporary blessing. All of those people who were healed by Jesus have long since died, and now await the resurrection with all others who "sleep." For this reason, God’s prophets’ ministries, throughout the ages, have been of true, life-changing substance: "Repent!"
The so-called "healing ministries" have been a gimmick, used by men to ‘prove’ that they are ‘anointed.’ Almost always, these ‘miracle workers’ are the biggest fund-raisers, claiming that you must sow your seed of faith to reap your healing (or your financial blessing). This is in stark contrast to Jesus, who often healed first and, in turn, was sometimes not even thanked.
I do believe that Christians should support their churches and ministers financially, but requests for such support, made in relationship to healing, are inappropriate and contrary to our Bible example. This example can be found in 2 Kings 5. There was a general of the armies of Syria named Naaman. He was highly respected and had the favor of Syria’s king. The Bible says that the Lord had used him to lead Syria to victory.
Now Naaman was a leper, and a plea for his healing was made to Elisha, the prophet of God. Elisha sent a messenger unto Naaman, commanding him to wash in the Jordan River seven times, and he would be cleansed. Although initially offended that Elisha did not personally see him, he eventually agreed to do what the prophet had said, and was healed.
Naaman was overjoyed, and returned to Elisha. He offered a gift to Elisha, but Elisha refused, and would take nothing. So Naaman left.
Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, thought that his master was merely being polite to Naaman, and determined to catch up with him and take the gift. Gehazi dealt dishonestly with Naaman, who then willingly gave twice what Gehazi had requested.
When Gehazi returned, Elisha asked him where he went. Gehazi said, "Nowhere." But God had revealed to Elisha all of Gehazi’s actions, and he rebuked Gehazi, saying, "Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?" As a result, Gehazi became leprous, being afflicted with Naaman’s leprosy.
You see, the gift of God may not be purchased. This truth, which both Simon and Gehazi learned the hard way, still seems to evade many ‘ministers’ today.
Let us learn from the examples in the Bible, lest we find ourselves examples of the same error.