“Lay hands suddenly on no man…” – 1 Timothy 1:22a
Sorrowfully, I remember watching this verse being disobeyed more times than I wish to recall. On occasion I have seen hands laid upon a new believer, and even upon more than a few ‘untested’ young men. The results have been disastrous in almost every case, and though I have no intention of guiding you through the trauma ward of my memories, I do have a desire to understand at least a portion of the council of God on this topic, in order to confer to others a preventative against future disobedience.
Leviticus starts by giving us an understanding of what this means. “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, if any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.” –Leviticus 1:2-4
If you notice here, the laying on of hands did not make the bullock a bullock. The laying on of hands was rather a confirmation that the bullock was one indeed, and without blemish. One way it could be worded, is that the Israelite whom did this was confirming that this was a worthy sacrifice. This bullock would then soon become a sacrifice ascending to God in flame at the hands of the priests.
In Acts chapter 13 the Holy Spirit said, “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they (the church at Antioch) had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” The parallel between the two passages I have drawn attention to is pristine. The Church at Antioch did not make Paul and Barnabas who they were, any more than the Israelite made the bullock a bullock. The Church at Antioch responded to what God the Holy Spirit had determined them (Paul and Barnabas) to be, which was, “workers whereunto He had called them.” The church does not make God’s giftings and callings without repentance, it only confirms them. We see in Galatians 1:15-18 that Paul says, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mothers womb and called me by his grace, and revealed his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter…” The Church at Antioch had no authority whatsoever in the calling of God upon Paul’s life. It could only affirm it.
Laying hands on a lay-about will not make them a bond slave. The laying on of hands will not turn a man given to appetite into a temptation resisting compassionate man of Godly authority. Laying hands on a man whom never leaves his house for fear of a lion roaming the streets will not give him the courage to charge the gates of Hell with the stalwart courage of William Booth.
Though it is true that a “gifting,” may and ought be imparted through the laying on of hands (1 Timothy 4:14) by the elders. It will not change the quality or character of a person. The laying on of hands will not drag Jesus out of heaven to procure his unrepentant calling upon a man. Neither will it produce godly character, or godly maturity. It can only recognize that which is, “unblemished.” Or in our case, “unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)
I find it fascinating that Hebrews 6:1-2 says that the “laying on of hands,” is a “principle,” or beginning “Doctrine of Christ.” It is to be understood in Christian kindergarten, and yet this is so directly disobeyed, and un-apprehended. As a result I think it speaks profoundly as to the state of our maturity. If we cannot even grasp something as simple as this, I have deep concern for our direction and spiritual capacity as a body today. We have to stop being so utilitarian as Christians. We must stop offering to God un-worthy sacrifices. The book of Leviticus said to only lay hands on the qualified and unblemished bull.
