# Laying On of Hands > [!summary] Our stance We practice the laying on of hands as part of praying for God's help, blessing, healing, and commissioning. The power is not in our hands. It's in God, who hears and answers prayer. ## A Practice That Runs Through Scripture The laying on of hands appears throughout the Bible and is even listed among the "elementary doctrine" of the faith (Hebrews 6:1-2). It's used in several ways: |Purpose|Examples| |---|---| |**Blessing**|Jacob blesses Joseph's sons (Genesis 48:14). Jesus blesses the children: "he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them" (Mark 10:16, ESV).| |**Healing**|Jesus "laid his hands on every one of them and healed them" (Luke 4:40, ESV). See also Mark 6:5; Acts 9:17; 28:8.| |**Commissioning for ministry**|Moses commissions Joshua (Numbers 27:18-23). The apostles commission the seven (Acts 6:6). The church sends Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:2-3). Timothy is set apart (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6).| |**Receiving the Holy Spirit**|Believers in Samaria and Ephesus receive the Spirit (Acts 8:17; 19:6).| |**Identification**|In the Old Testament, the worshiper laid hands on a sacrifice to identify with it (Leviticus 1:4; 16:21).| ## What It Means Laying on of hands is a physical sign that goes with prayer. It communicates: - **Presence:** We are with you in this. - **Identification:** We stand alongside you before God. - **Blessing and sending:** We commit you to God for this task. The power is never in the person praying. Healing, blessing, and gifting come from God alone (James 5:14-16; Acts 3:12-16). ## How We Practice It - **With prayer, always.** The laying on of hands is never a ritual on its own (Acts 6:6; 13:3; James 5:14). - **With care.** A hand on the shoulder or upper back is our normal practice. We ask before laying hands on anyone and respect anyone who would rather not be touched. - **With wisdom.** Whenever possible, men pray with men and women with women, and no one prays alone with someone in a private setting. - **With patience in commissioning.** "Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands" (1 Timothy 5:22, ESV). Before setting someone apart for leadership, we take time to know their character. - **For the sick.** We follow the pattern of James 5:14-16: elders pray, often anointing with oil, and trust God with the outcome. ## Other Views - **Some traditions treat the laying on of hands as a sacrament,** especially in ordination and confirmation, believing it conveys grace or authority through the church's leaders. - **Some believers see it as limited to the apostolic era,** especially when connected with miraculous gifts. - **Many Protestant churches** practice it mainly in ordination services. We see it as a biblical practice that belongs in the regular life of the church, done prayerfully, carefully, and in dependence on God. ## What This Means for Us When we lay hands on someone and pray, we're doing what God's people have done for thousands of years: bringing someone before the Lord, standing with them, and trusting Him to act.