Addressing Evasions - Conley Owens

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.info(00:00) Opening(00:18) What zeal is appropriate for laymen in the church and elsewhere, and what does it look like in practice?(01:33) Elisha doesn't rebuke Naaman for bowing in his master's temple. Is he approving of sin? (2 Kings 5)(05:04) What first brought each of you to a deep conviction about this, before you became a Doreanist?(15:34) Someone said copyright wasn't needed before the printing press existed. How do you answer that?(16:45) A subscription app teaches you to sing your part in mostly public-domain hymns, for a fee. Where does that fall?(24:40) Should we get back to setting up theological libraries? (online question)(25:14) If an author pays for printing and shipping, why not charge to recoup it? How do you fund a book without simony? (online question)(27:19) Would you be comfortable calling that “hyper-Doreanism”?(29:21) Is Christian political commentary that warns the church about political trends “Christian work”?(33:18) Young people expect things free without being generous. How do you encourage receivers of free materials to give?(43:54) If copyright is a perversion of justice, when is it appropriate to break copyright law? (online question)(46:00) How did you create the songs we sang at the conference? (online question)(48:04) Share a time you stepped out in faith and God answered your prayer and met your needs.(52:30) Is there a place for raising this in secular media? Don't unbelievers deserve to hear it too? (online question)(54:38) Advice for someone convinced of this principle whose church sells Jesus and whose leaders aren't convinced? Keep giving, or withdraw? (online question)(1:00:23) 2 Corinthians 8:3 says they gave beyond their ability. How do you apply wisdom to generosity? Does Scripture teach giving foolishly?(1:03:59) Closing remarks and prayerLearn more:https://2026.doreancon.org/https://simony.info/https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.infoConley Owens explains why the church has called simony a heresy since Gregory the Great: it prices the priceless and makes the Spirit a servant. He weighs whether it can be forgiven, traces its fruits in judgment and false teaching, and calls for zeal with knowledge.(00:00) Why simony has always been called a heresy(02:31) In what sense simony is a heresy(08:27) It prices the priceless(20:34) Can it be forgiven?(23:46) Its fruits: judgment and false teaching(35:01) The cure: zeal with knowledgeLearn more:https://2026.doreancon.org/https://simony.info/https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.infoAndrew Case takes us into Jan Hus's world, where bishoprics were bought and every payment had a respectable name. Reading Hus's On Simony, he shows how the sin starts in the heart and spreads through counsel and silence, and calls us to examine our own hearts.(00:00) A personal confession(01:48) Bohemia, 1401: buying a bishopric(12:59) Hus on simony: it begins in the heart(25:09) The little demon: don't question the celebrities(42:35) Sharing in simony by counsel, consent, and silence(55:26) The Council of Constance, and examining our heartsLearn more:https://2026.doreancon.org/https://simony.info/https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.infoKyle Fitzgerald preaches 2 Kings 5, where Naaman tries to pay for his healing, Elisha refuses, and Gehazi runs after the gift. He traces eight sins of Gehazi to their modern parallels and urges the church to freely give what it has freely received.(00:00) Reading of 2 Kings 5 and prayer(08:36) Naaman thinks prophets can be bought(19:43) Why Elisha refused the gift(24:52) Eight sins of Gehazi(39:46) Prophets for hire belong to false religion(48:28) Three exhortationsLearn more:https://2026.doreancon.org/https://simony.info/https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.infoConley Owens examines the excuses people give for selling spiritual things: necessity, charity, custom, and plain silence. He shows why modern simony is hard to see and calls Christians to stop treating these excuses as reasonable.(00:00) Welcome and Psalm 119(03:35) The most common response: silence(05:55) Excuses: necessity, charity, and custom(09:42) Why modern simony is hard to see(13:11) Implied consensus and conflicts of interest(16:22) Time to go on the offensiveLearn more:https://2026.doreancon.org/https://simony.info/https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.infoMany say they aren't selling teaching, only their labor. Conley Owens shows how medieval theologians, Hus, Wycliffe and the Puritans rejected that excuse, and argues that ministry should be supported, not sold: honor and sustenance for the minister, not a wage for services.(00:00) "I'm just selling my labor"(01:25) Four views of how ministers are supported(09:19) Hus and Wycliffe: "Simon's little cap"(13:21) Labor is only valued for its fruit(17:15) The Puritans: not wages but honor(21:48) Support as sustenance of the laborerLearn more:https://2026.doreancon.org/https://simony.info/https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.infoNine short talks from Doreancon 2026 (Tuesday, September 29), the conference on simony and on giving the things of God freely. Speakers share the free tools, translations and resources they are building for the church: Bible translation tools, AI and Scripture, an open English Bible, a watch list of Bible organizations, free sermon hosting, catechisms and Bible games, and a free hymnal. Conley Owens closes with a word on AI and the future of the movement.(00:00) Case Johnson - Friendship, Community, and Reform(04:12) Andrew Case - Global Bible Tools(12:17) Sang Tian - Can We Free Scripture with AI?(25:20) Robert Hunt - A Free and Open English Bible Translation(34:41) Jon - Bible Org Watch(46:52) Ken Powers - Let's Church(56:54) Michael Coughlin - All My Free Stuff(1:11:10) Jason - Free Hymnal Project(1:13:38) Conley Owens - Closing: AI and Our MovementLinks mentioned:Global Bible Tools: https://globalbibletools.com/Open English Translation: https://oet.bible/Bible Org Watch: https://copy.church/watch/Let's Church: https://lets.church/Michael Coughlin: https://michaelcoughlin.net/linksLearn more:https://2026.doreancon.org/https://simony.info/https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.infoConley Owens tells how 13th-century friars took over the University of Paris, preaching and begging outside the church's offices. Following William of St. Amour, Wycliffe and Calvin, he argues that the right to support belongs to the office, with lessons for today's parachurch ministries.(00:00) The rise of the friars in 13th-century Paris(05:13) Friars take over the university chairs(08:06) Apocalyptic fears and William of St. Amour(10:51) The right to receive comes with the office(20:36) Wycliffe, Tyndale, and Calvin carry the argument(23:57) Today's parachurch ministriesLearn more:https://2026.doreancon.org/https://simony.info/https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.infoConley Owens shows how the first universities treated theological teaching as something that could not be sold. From medieval Paris to Aquinas, Wycliffe and Luther, he argues that charging tuition for the teaching of theology is simony, and only recently became acceptable.(00:00) Seminary tuition is simony(01:33) The first universities and Lombard's Sentences(05:38) Paris: selling teaching licenses(10:07) Teaching theology must be free(14:43) Aquinas, Paludanus, and Auriol(18:16) Wycliffe and LutherLearn more:https://2026.doreancon.org/https://simony.info/https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.infoConley Owens explains why the sin of Simon Magus is still with us: biblical teaching is words taught by the Spirit, so selling it is simony. He applies this to counseling, conferences, seminaries, and books sold under copyright.(00:00) "Simony doesn't exist anymore"(02:35) Recap: what a spiritual thing is(03:53) Why selling biblical teaching is simony(07:25) Stewards of the mysteries of God(11:41) Counseling, conferences, and seminaries(13:52) Books and copyrightLearn more:https://2026.doreancon.org/https://simony.info/https://sellingjesus.org/