Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. – 1 Timothy 5:22
The laying on of hands was primarily a practice used by the early Church to ordain Overseers and Deacons. Those who would serve the Lord in a capacity such as this was treated as a holy thing and considered a “noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1). In our day it seems people want to do whatever they feel is best or that even they are feeling God is calling them to do but with no verification by prior Christians or current believers in Churches. Such thinking can be esteemed good such as the Apostle Paul did not confer with flesh or blood but obeyed the voice of God. Yet even himself after seeing Jesus calling him, he still ended up ensuring he was not a renegade apostle doing his own thing, he sought verification of his gospel and calling with other Apostles (Galatians 2:2). To be a believer in the Lord is a holy thing in itself, God calls each of God’s people holy using the english word “saints” throughout the New Testament.
Early Church Overseer, Clement said, “Laodicea, Peter ordered the people to meet on the following day; and having ordained one of those who followed him as bishop over them, and others as presbyters, and having baptized multitudes, and restored to health all who were troubled with sicknesses or demons.” It is clear throughout early Church history that ordained was considered a holy thing. At one point it is stated later on that at least 3 Church leaders need to be present to ordain a bishop. This was for the reason that they desired to see a purity and holiness in those who would be called as under-shepherds of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. When we are hasty in decisions for Church leaders sin abounds. When someone is ordained to the place of a pastor without the true call of God on their life, they will cause much havoc and hurt to the Church. Those ordaining also have a responsibility for their actions before God and share in a sense in the fruit of those they call. If God has a call on your life as an leader for the body of Christ, pursue this gifting before God and in time it will be recognized by men.
