Is the Laying On of Hands Magical?

In this regular feature Dave and Tom respond to questions from listeners and readers of The Berean Call.  Here is this week’s question:Dear Dave, I recently read your book Occult Invasion and I found it to be very informative.However, it made me think of some practices that come right out of the Bible that seem little different from what you wrote about.For example, can you explain to me the laying on of hands and how such a method or technique is supposed to be a conduit of God’s grace or gifts?

Tom:

Well Dave, first I want to point out this question was addressed to you.Alright?So I’ll just sit here and take it all in.

Dave:

Well I’m glad he didn’t ask about a lot of other things.

Tom:

I was thinking of a few myself!But this is a good one.

Dave:

Laying on of hands.

Tom:

Well before you start—I just wanted our listeners to know, as I’ve gone through a lot of the verses that talk about the laying on of hands.It’s a very mundane statement.In some cases, it’s talking about just taking hold of people and moving them from one place to another.For example when some of the disciples were arrested, they laid hands on them and put them in jail.I can think in the Old Testament, Nehemiah looking down from the wall at those who were problematic, those who were setting up shop and he said he was going to come down there and lay hands on them.

Dave:

Right.Well of course Tom, we have to read the Bible with intelligence.We know the difference between laying hands on someone for blessing when for example Jacob is blessing the sons of Joseph and Joseph brings them before him with the eldest on the right hand and the youngest on the left and he knowingly crosses his hands and brings the blessing in a different way.But you laid hands on the sacrifice to identify yourself with the sacrifice.That was what they did in the Old Testament times.Laying hands on someone for blessing was just identifying yourself with them.You touch people when you have some affection.You put your arm around someone or you’re sharing a grief with someone.So laying hands on, I think is showing sympathy, identification.The elders lay hands on someone when they pray.I think it shows they are seeking to bless them, impart a blessing from God.Not that there is power—

Tom:

Well that’s the question.

Dave:

—In the laying on of hands, there isn’t.But in the occult techniques there is power in itself.Also Tom, I’m sorry, but in Catholicism, you know, you’re the ex-Catholic.You know the term exoperieoperato.It’s a Latin term that means “in the act itself” and the anathema is upon those who deny that in the very act of the sacrament there is spiritual power communicated.Now the Bible never indicates that for laying on of hands.

Tom:

Well Dave, let me challenge that.It says, Acts:8:17-18 [17] Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. [18] And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
See All...—and you make a distinction here.“Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost.”And of course when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money.Now were not going on Simon’s interpretation of this, but still, time and time again, the laying on of hands, a gift could be imparted.How is that different?

Dave:

Paul does talk about it to Timothy.That he imparted a gift by the laying on of my hands.

Tom:

Which was given by prophecy.

Dave:

Right, but again, it comes from God and the putting your hands upon someone is not that there is power automatic power, although there were times when God worked that way in the early days of the church.Just Peter’s shadow going across—

Tom:

A handkerchief sent from one person to the other.

Dave:

Right, would bring healing.I think the Lord was putting his approval on these men in an amazing way at the beginning of the church.Now I don’t know of anything like that happening today.

Tom:

Lots of claims to that, but—

Dave:

Well, but we don’t see it.These weren’t just claims.It actually happened.When Paul and Barnabas were sent forth, the elders prayed and laid their hands upon them and sent them forth.But once again, I don’t believe that it indicates some magic power.There’s no magic power in the laying on of hands, but it’s an identification with the person.Now in the case of laying hands upon them and they received the Holy Spirit, I believe that was a very special case.The gospel had been brought to Samaria by Philip, and the authority of the apostles was being established and there was for example, when Peter preached to Cornelius household, they received the Holy Ghost.They began to speak in tongues.There was no laying on of hands of Peter at that time.So I would have to say that I think that was special case showing the identification of what was happening in Samaria with the revival that was taking place in Jerusalem, but no where does the Bible indicate that there is some magic power in this.

Tom:

Dave, we’ve got about a minute left.I want you to just address Hebrews:6:2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
See All..., “Of the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.”Now the reason I mention that verse is because it sounds like it’s a doctrine.I mean there is a teaching about it, but it seems to be abused big time.

Dave:

These are all things that come at the beginning and what you didn’t read in that verse—it says, “Not laying again the foundation…” so this was something that happened once.Did it happen once in history?Some people argue for that.I think they could make a good case.Did it just happen once in a person’s life at the beginning?But we’re going on now to perfection, it’s what it says in Hebrews 6, so that would indicate that there’s no magic.I mean otherwise why don’t we just lay hands on people all the time if there’s some power?So that scripture itself says this does not have some magic power, but this is something at the beginning of the faith.Well Tom, it’s not an occult technique that’s for sure.

Tom:

Of course.There’s no power in the act itself as there is in the occult.