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by jriccitelli » Thu Jul 24, 2014 10:37 am
I do not believe ‘laying on of hands’ (choosing the elders, and leaders) was meant to be a doctrine (of spiritual transmission of office) at all, but choosing elders came to be institutionalized as the 'giving a person authority in the Church'. And the minute this happened the Church became the church.
(Christ's body is the 'Church', lower case for the church 'institution')
Mormons, like the catholic church, have interpreted this to mean there was a special anointing that happened when the elders lay hands on one for church leadership. The truth is that the true Church should be selective and in agreement on officers in the Church, and that they should be all of one heart over the responsibility and integrity of church leaders (laying on of hands is also for healing and prayer, although misused as a 'special' authority and power in doing so sometimes). The lie and the problem is that this implies a ‘God ordained’ selection and position, unshakable, without question. And worse a special anointing above others, an 'unquestionable' giving of the Holy Spirit. And worst of all; authority on par with scripture.
The abuse is officially from the Catholic tradition, and the abuse primarily is in the form of abusing scripture. Because the Catholic traditions made ‘laying on of hands’ the open door to their circular argument to authorize their own authority, this paved the way for their own abuse of true doctrines i.e. salvation by grace, sola scriptura, and the implementation and addition of false doctrine i.e. the institution of the priesthood, popes, celibacy of church leaders, doctrines of Mary, purgatory, and I might add eternal torment.
The abuse of this doctrine; ‘The laying on of hands’ began the ritual of abusing people.
People have interpreted and ‘supposed’ and imagined the laying on of hands to a level meaning God Himself was ordaining an individual to office. Religious leaders, the Catholic church, even Calvin held to this ‘electing’ of individuals to a position that has been the cause of more abuse than kings, tyrants and political leaders. I don’t know how it got missed that it was the man appointed religious leaders that put Christ on a cross. Moses and the Prophets were proven by signs and wonders, as were the Apostles.
The first problem (in the church) is supposing the title was proof positive of God hand selecting a person, just because it is in a ‘church’ setting.
Two; is supposing the ones selecting (or laying on of hands) were themselves hand selected by God.
Three; is supposing the title is for life, irrevocable, immutable, unquestionable, etc.
Four; is supposing that Elder, Bishop, Teacher were positions that were ‘necessary’ to have Church, rather than what they were; only necessary ‘if’ they were necessary to have ‘order’.
Five; is supposing that Elder, Bishop, Teacher were positions that made them more godly, pious, spiritual, enlightened, higher, specially anointed, and worst of all more important.
The appointing of elders and bishops were appointed for the care and order of the larger groups of believers, that is ‘churches’, but it was not a law or requirement by God to have such offices or rule.
The Holy Spirit was given to ‘all who would believe’, and no longer would one man rule over them. God gave them a king because of the hardness of their hearts. The priests and kings were often led astray and corrupted. Plain reading of the bible makes this clear, and scripture also reminds us man will ‘continue’ to reject God and put his faith in man and himself. This lesson repeats itself throughout the life of the Hebrews, throughout scripture, and has repeated itself throughout the church again.
The laying on of hands was no more a rule, law or spiritual transmission of authority than the washing of ones hands. It was only a gesture of order, given to those within your own group, who demonstrated integrity, wisdom, experience, kindness, hospitality or some trait that would benefit the group or assign some to specific task of ministry. Nothing more nothing less, and like in a household or assembly, some order was beneficial, but man went right back to giving himself special anointing and positions of honor.
Last edited by
jriccitelli on Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:22 am, edited 2 times in total.