What is this anointing, this laying on of hands, we see in Scripture as God's servants are appointed to God's service? Is it the hand that is important? Does it matter where you put the hands?
We see in the Old Testament the Lord uses his "hand" to make prophets, save Israel, make the heavens. What is this hand of the Lord? Is this the same way the Lord has people lay hands on people to anoint the to ministry? What do we make of Jesus? Nobody laid hands on Jesus to anoint him for ministry. And he called and named his apostles. He blew on them. He did not lay his hands on them.
In the Book of Acts we see the apostles laying their hands on people who are appointed for certain tasks. This has apparently become the norm in the early Church. It happens over and over. And when Paul instructs Timothy he reminds him of his receiving gifts through the laying on of hands. He also commands him about laying hands on others. It seems by this time there is not only an assumption that laying on of hands is important in appointing someone ministry, but that it confers some sort of power or authority.
Nagel traces the custom of laying on of hands through Church history. It is consistently used for ordination, and is consistently done by someone who has already been ordained. There is not an idea of self-ordination in the historic Church. And ordination almost always has included the laying on of hands.
Nagel asks if it is necessary that the laying on be of hands, whether it can be of other body parts, feet, fingers, maybe a hug. Yet this is not the example our Lord has given us. In Scripture we see a norm of the laying on of hands which seems to confer authority. It places the recipient of the laid on hands in the special position of a pastor, elder, leader in Christ who is able to exercise the gifts of ministry. This is something we should value. It was important enough to the Holy Spirit that he gave us many clear examples of it.
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com
2 comments:
The laying on of hands imparted the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans, which had not received Him through baptism or belief (Acts 8:12-18). Acts 19 records how Paul handled disciples baptized into John's baptism, not having received the Holy Spirit, by baptizing them anew in the name of the Lord Jesus and imparting the Holy Spirit with the laying on of hands. Clearly the laying on of hands is not reserved for ordination, but should one of the first things for every christian (Hebrews 6:1.2).
Toby brings up an interesting point. What is the impartation of the Holy Spirit? Obviously, believers have the Holy Spirit because he is the one who regenerates them and dwells in them. Yet it does appear in Acts 8 that there is something different happening.
The passage in Acts 19 seems to confirm the idea of baptismal regeneration - people baptized with John's baptism are baptized in a baptism of repentance but it seems there's an impartation of belief and life associated with Christian baptism.
Maybe a good question would be exactly what "ordination" is.
It's striking to see how the New Testament views simple elements and actions in a supernatural manner when people do them as directed by the Lord.
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