lay your hands on me
Posted on October 31, 2007 by Bryan Riley
Filed Under Bible Study
Jon Bon Jovi, who has one of the best male voices on the radio, once sang a tune about the laying on of hands, but I think he was talking about something quite different than the subject of this topic. Growing up Southern Baptist in America, where people tend to have personal spaces and where my church was largely suspicious about anything that had the appearance of charismatism, the laying on of hands just didn’t happen.
But, when you think about those who have gone before us it seems that there must be something to a touchy-feely faith.
Think about the story of Issac, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau, with all the trickery that went into ensuring that Isaac laid his hands on Jacob, not Esau, so that the blessing would fall upon Jacob. Genesis 27.
Think of the interesting story of Jacob, now Israel, blessing Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, where he deliberately crosses his hands over so that his right hand is laying on the youngest son, Ephraim, even after Joseph tries to “correct” his father. Genesis 48.
The bible tells us that Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses laid his hands on him. Deuteronomy 34. When the Levites were set apart for the priesthood, the entire family was brought before the rest of the nation of Israel so that they could lay their hands on the Levites. Numbers 8:5-11.
These are just a few OT examples. In the New Testament, it goes beyond just being interesting that Paul reminds Timothy to keep the gift of God aflame, a gift that came upon him through the laying on of Paul’s hands. 2 Timothy 1:7. There is the difficult passage in Acts 8 where Simon the sorceror wants the ability to give the Holy Spirit by laying on hands just like the apostles did it. And, in Mark 6, Jesus couldn’t do many miracles in his home town except “lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.”
These passages really challenge me to rethink the laying on of hands. But the passage that really puts me over the edge can be found in Hebrews 6. There the author of Hebrews made me want to write this post. It is there that he or she writes the following:
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead,
and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.
Why is this so interesting? Because the author clearly considers the laying on of hands an elementary teaching about Christ. It is included in a list of “elementary teachings about Christ” with repentance, faith, baptisms, resurrection and eternal judgment. It is basic and foundational. It is primary. It is something upon which we build.
I suppose it is one of those things that I don’t need to understand how or why it works, but I need to believe in it nonetheless, and believing in it necessarily includes acting upon it. What do you think?
About Bryan Riley
Bryan is a 36-year old husband and father of three who left his profession as a corporate attorney to work full-time in missions with YWAM after God sent a big fish to swallow him up and deliver him from the idol of his own understanding. He blogs at http://charisshalom.fjministries.com and, with his wife, Tara, founded FJ Ministries, ministering to families by mobilizing them into missions.
Bryan's site: http://charisshalom.fjministries.com/
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3 Responses to “lay your hands on me”
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I have honestly never thought too much about the ‘laying on of hands’ - not theologically. I have grown up in a vast variety of denominations and where I am now it’s a relatively common thing to do.
One small bit of Dictionary.com mentions the following:
“Hand is used figuratively for a large variety of acts or things, in the doing, or making, or use of which the hand is in some way employed or concerned; also, as a symbol to denote various qualities or conditions, as: (a) Activity; operation; work; — in distinction from the head, which implies thought, and the heart, which implies affection.”
‘the doing of’? It’s an interesting concept. Maybe it’s an outward action of something that God is doing through someone?
I guess the interesting thing is that the ‘elementary teaching’ bit isn’t a ‘nothing can’t happen when there isn’t a laying on of hands’ because clearly Jesus heals and does miracles from afar.
What I think is most interesting is the:
“I don’t need to understand how or why it works, but I need to believe in it nonetheless, and believing in it necessarily includes acting upon it.”
this is a challenge that extends far beyond our minor theological fumblings be they imperative or otherwise.
yeah, I’m not sure what it is but I suspect it has something to do with the emphasis and maintenance of human relationships. And in light of our increasingly busy and connected but increasingly lonely world, it makes even more sense.
I’m also sure there are many cultural indicators there.
I often wonder, if we had our way, esp. with technology, if we’d all just completely forget to connect geographically much less physically.
So how much more subversive can we be as Christians than to continue this practice.
the “laying on of hands” and “anointing with oil” is often understood as a way to communicate a holistic approach to sickness (both physical and emotional). Oil and hands as both physical and spiritual connections to those who need our care.