I Beg Your Pardon?
I Beg Your Pardon?
In an earlier blog we were discussing words and phrases that are unique to Christianese – the ‘special’ modern day language of the ‘woke’ believer. 😊 I get to giggle and snark here because I use or have used some of this language myself and often in a tone of knowing a thing. With this blog, let’s talk about one that sounds aggressive without context. So that when I say I am going to ‘lay hands on you,’ your response will NOT be to raise your fists and ask, “I beg your pardon?”
In modern slang, there is a popular warning to do bodily injury or start a fight with another person that begins with ‘I’m about to throw hands’ or ‘you’re about to get these hands.’ It can make the request for a believer to ‘lay hands’ on another a bit cringe-worthy as the recipient could easily misconstrue your intent to PRAY for them!
The laying on of hands is recorded in both the Old and New Testaments. In the OT, it was done when someone was giving another person authority or a blessing. For example, the Book of Numbers records that after the Israelites left Egypt and God gives Moses the Law outlining how they are to conduct themselves as a society, in Chapter 8 the leaders of each of the Tribes put their hands on the newly appointed priests, the Levites. After being cleaned up and sacrifices made to atone for anything the priests might have done to offend the LORD, the leadership came together and set these men apart to serve God. The ceremony culminated with them putting their hands on them as an outward sign of conferring this honor and authority to act on behalf of each tribe to maintain the temple. The commitment on the part of the Tribes in return was to support the Levites so that they could focus on the duties of worship without worrying about what they would eat or where they would live.
Continuing through the Old Testament to where Moses is about to die and new leadership for the ever-expanding Nation of Israel is necessary, Deuteronomy 34:9 says: Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. Joshua received not only the authority to lead but was filled with wisdom to do it as well as Moses had led the people.
Arriving at the Gospel accounts, we see Jesus holding children in His lap and letting them sit at His feet. We read where He embraced those who mourned and grieved. He expressed His love for His people in physical, tactile acts of laying His hands on them. He even washed the feet of His followers! In these small ways, Jesus showed us that physical intimacy of a comforting and affirming manner were an everyday reassurance that we are to LOVE and care for each other as much as we do ourselves. Jesus most famously called Lazarus from the dead and embraced him when he came out of the tomb. Examples of Jesus healing sick, lame, and dying people by the laying on of hands are commonly known. Then there are examples of the Apostles doing the same in the book of Acts.
There is even a scripture that specifically speaks of receiving a ‘gift’ from God by the laying on of hands. In 2 Timothy 1:5-6, Paul reminds Timothy: I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. There is the implication that Timothy received a special ability from God when Paul put his hands on him and prayed.
All in all, the laying on of hands is an outward, visible, physical representation of an inward, unseen action taking place in the spiritual realm. You are praying together and participating in God bestowing an authority, an ability, a blessing, an encouragement, maybe even life itself on another. It is not the act of touching another person with your hands that does anything. It is just the symbolic act of God using our physical touch to convey love to another human being as He is imparting an anointing. Simple, but nothing to take lightly.
Until next time, I remain joyful, prayerful, and thankful. 1T5
<>< Cass
