The laying on of hands is listed in scripture as one of the most basic, foundational, and fundamental doctrines of Christ. Yet, to many it is an obscure practice… you don’t hear about it in many sermons, nor is it a subject that a lot of people ask to have explained, or have questions about.Hebrews 6:1-2 here is the listing I just referred to. These are what scripture considers the foundational teachings. Therefore this is a list of what the Church of God considers the foundational teachings. In order to build the mature mind of Christ we must be sure that the foundation is firmly in place. Within the biblical and church context the laying on of hands is a physical act meant to picture a spiritual reality or spiritual event taking place. It is hard to provide a public witness and testimony to stuff happening on the spiritual level without a physical act. Human beings are simply not wired to commune with one another on a spirit level. We connect with one another through words and actions. God has limited human beings in this way… probably for our own protection.John 3:8 Jesus offers us an analogy: we don’t see wind, but we know the wind is there because we see the leaves are moving, or we hear the sound as it moves through the tree. In the same way the laying on of hands provides testimony to something spiritual happening.Here are 4 spiritual transactions accompanied by a laying on of human hands: Conferring blessings The transference of sin from one party to another. Acceptance of authority The receipt of the Holy SpiritConferring BlessingsGenesis 48:14 Jacob’s hands had no power to make these prophetic/future blessings happen. The power of the almighty God did that.Matthew 19:13-15 Jesus blessed them through the laying on of his hands and prayer. Even with Jesus it was not His flesh and blood hands that had power in them, or transferred power through them… it was the power and will of the Father at work. Jesus words and actions [specifically the laying on of hands] gave testimony to the blessings only the Father could give John 5:19-23,30.The Transference of Sin in Old Covenant Examples Leviticus 1:2-4 – the spiritual consequences of sin Leviticus 16:21 – the spiritual blame/guilt for sin The priest’s hands had no special power in them, nor is it necessary to think the spiritual energy had to flow through the priest’s hands like water through a hose or electricity through a wire. The laying on of hands is a physical act testifying to a spiritual event or transaction.Like the wind… you cannot see forgiveness, but you can see the sign God offers to testify to it.To Give Authority [Both Civil & Religious]God uses the laying on of hands to ordain/appoint His servants to positions of responsibility and authority within His chosen assembly.Numbers 27:18-23 it was not Moses who put Joshua over Israel. Moses laid hands on Joshua for all Israel to see with their eyes. A spiritual transaction is taking place. God was appointing Joshua to a position of responsibility within the congregation in the wilderness. The laying on of hands was a physical act, a symbol, of the fact that God placed Joshua in that office.New Testament ExamplesThere are many examples in the early records of the Church of God of official roles within the body conferred upon someone through the laying on of hands.Acts 6:4-6 deaconsActs 13:1-3 God chose these men and made it known through the prophets and teachers by the visible laying on of hands2 Timothy 1:6 it was God who gave Timothy the gifts but it was testified to by the laying on of hands1 Timothy 5:22 there is a human element in the process… God allows us to make choices & mistakesRecognition of [And Submission to] AuthorityWe saw that the laying on of hands was used to witness to a person being tasked with a responsibility and granted authority to carry it out. But the laying on of hands is also a public witness of submitting to authority. Their authority does not exceed what is necessary to get the