Simon the sorcerer and the priesthood

In the book of Acts, a story is told about Simon the sorcerer who wanted to pay The Apostles money so that he could receive the power to give the gift of God's Holy Spirit to people. Peter told him that his heart was not right with God, and for Simon's money to perish with him.

What is the difference between Simon's story and those who pay money to someone at a seminary or a bible college to get a degree written on a piece of paper that makes them eligible to give the gift of God to people. Doesn't it seem to be the same thing, only in different clothing? Isn't that where the organized, religious, institutional priest-hood comes from?

Do you wonder what would have happened to the Apostles if they would have accepted the money?

I also have to wonder .....What if the apostles would have decided, on their own, that it would be a real good idea

to set up a school where they could charge people money to learn how to give God's gift to others.

Think about it.

Isn't the "institutional priest-hood" sort of the reproductive organ of religion? Maybe circumcision is a picture of the removing the "hood" from "that priest-hood"

Maybe it is also a picture of those uncircumcised "wolves" who come in sheep's clothing.

Maybe that's where the "love of money is the root of all evil" gets it's foundation.

Maybe that's why Solomon said " I was almost in all evil when I was in the midst of the congregation and assembly".

It's something to consider. It's something to seek God about in prayer.