pentecostals?

Question

i am 24 and was raised pentecostal. currently i do not attend church, but i am curious as to why the pastor puts his hand on your head for prayer. it kinda makes me think of a "and your healed" procedure. i am asking honestly and no silly answers please.

Answer 1

It is an example in the Bible.

Acts 5:12, "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people".

Acts 6:6, "and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them."

Acts 8:17, "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."

See also 9:17 when Saul was healed of blindness. Acts 11:30 might also fit, with Saul and Barnabas as with 13:3, "And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." Acts 14:3; 19:6, 11; and 28:8 continue that.

In 1 Timothy 4:14 we have a description of church practice, "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." And there is Paul's personal reminder in 2 Timothy 1:6, "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands."

Hebrews 6:2 mentions some common teachings, or doctrines, "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." It may not make sense to you, but it was a common and Scriptural pattern, something especially appreciated in Pentecostal circles where the minister or believer is making a point of contact with the object of their prayer, that this person I touch may also be touched by God and that God would do something special (healing, new job, healthy baby, runaway kid come to his senses, etc.). It is a point or sign of agreement.

Answer 2

Because the Bible says so in James 5:16. Also in the OT, the people laid hands on each other. Also in the Book of Acts chapter 8. There is some energy transfer when we do this. Science proves that there is an energy aura that surrounds our bodies. Although I believe that the Spirit leads us to operate differently with different people. I usually like to just hold hands while I pray for someone, but a lot of times, I will anoint the person's forehead with olive oil, the symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 3

The Pentacostal denomination believes firmly in the hands-on approach to healing. I was saved at a Church of God nearly 3 years ago, and my husband and I attended there until these recent months...it is time to find a new home. We never converted to the Church of God (which is very Pentacostal in practice), because we are non-denominational. So we are hunting for a new church home...but as I digress...it just all comes down to the fact Pentacostals believe firmly in the laying of hands approach to prayer and healing.

Read this site, I actually found it to be more explanitory than I could go into detail wise.

http://www.africanaquatics.co.za/_christian/_articles/layingonhands.htm

Answer 4

um.. you were raised pentecostal and you don't know why the pastor put his hand on your head for prayer?

yikes.. 'cause that's like the only thing done in service, other than offering and testimony service.

okay, well.. there's a scripture in the bible that talks about "the laying on of hands" during prayer. it's kinda like transferring the anointing from one body to another. the power of touch is super important in mankind and it just kinda developed from that.

i am ambivilent on whether or not i truly believe in it. i've been touched (grew up pentecostal also), and most of the times i just felt like the pastor was trying to push me down, as proof that the Spirit was flowing through him and into me. there've been other times when i actually felt a move of God, but that didn't mean that i had to be literally touch by someone's hand.. the touching kinda just seals the deal, as far as i'm concerned, but it's not always necessary, at least not literally.. to me, touching could also be a form of agreement (like when you and someone on the telephone are praying in agreement, you're touching, but not literally).

Answer 5

Ive been looking for the scripture and cant find it but I will. The BIble speaks about the laying of hands on another and healing them through God. Some place there hands on your head and some on your heart, some on the affected part of the body if there being prayed for, for healing of a body part. It varies in every church. Dont ya just love the smell of that Holy Oil?

Answer 6

Called "laying on of hands". It is a religious tradition that dates back as far as the book of Genesis (very beginning of the Bible). Jesus also practiced it. It is felt that the human touch helps to transfer the blessing of God. There is just something about touching a person that somehow makes it more intimate and personal. That makes it easier for them to receive the blessing.

Today, where any and everything can somehow get twisted into a "sexual abuse", pastors have to be overly careful about where they place their hand on anyone. So far society has not decided that the top of the head is inappropriate, so that is where most pastors choose to lay their hands.

And like you, I have thought "be healed" also. :-)

Answer 7

Depends on the pastor. But yeah, a lot of them do pray that way. Some take your hands in theirs, or put their hands on your shoulders. I think it is considered the 'laying on of hands'. Lots of times the pastor will annoint the person with oil [usually just a drop] as in the book of James. I don't think there's a set way to do that though.

Answer 8

Praise the Lord! the book of James says in chapter 5:14 Is any sick among you let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him,anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,and the Elder is usually a pastor or minister in the church.Also in Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe in my name they shall cast out devils and shall speak with new tongues,they shall take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them: THEY SHALL LAY HANDS ON THE SICK AND THEY SHALL RECOVER

Answer 9

There are a couple of NT Scriptures that refer to the "laying on of hands " as a medium for healing. I can't recall where they're located (much to my chagrin), but I know this is the reason this observance is kept.

Answer 10

Because they believe in the "laying on of hands" as to impart something from their spirit to yours. They claim to be imparting something from the Holy Spirit, but I believe most pentecostal pastors are imparting something from their flesh. If you believe your pastor to really be a holy man of God I do not see a problem with it, but if it gives you a funny feeling just quote to him, "do not be hasty in the laying on of hands." You do not want an impartation of any kind from some less than holy man....