Are we allowed to bless others?

[mc1234]

Hi,


I have friends who do bless people, but I figured - hang on, maybe the apostles and christ and ( obviously God ) blessed people, but are we as humble servants of God allowed to bless people?

By what authority do we do this? Scriptures please...

Are there limits to what or who we can bless?

I'm just concerned I dont want exceed the wonderful authority given us in Christ.

Cheers,

MC.

 

[Peripatetic]

Here's my take: It depends on how and why the blessing is done, and what is expected as an outcome. If someone expresses sympathy or sensitivity by saying, "may God bless you", I'd say that's fine. It's essentially a quick prayer to God on that person's behalf.

However, when blessings become superstitious, it raises a red flag for me. There is no power in the words themselves, and no human can cast a blessing on someone like a spell.

In other words, If a person is asking God to bless another person... great! If a person is independently blessing another person... probably not OK.

 

[berachah]

Romans 12:14, 1 Corin 4:12, Luke 6:28 and especially James 3.
God spoke things into existance and we are made in his image. People have the power to bless and curse people through their words.
Through the Spirit of God we indeed have the power to bless others.

Just as the devil seeks to establish his will through a curse (and an accusation), God seeks to establish blessing through the lips of His children.(Isaiah 44:26) Other scripture confirms the power in our words. (Matthew 21:21)

What is the living Word of God? It is the Spirit moving us to make utterances in this natural on behalf of the heavenly Father.
If God moves you bless wherever and whomever you can.

 

[heron]

Gesundheit?

You can safely assume that if Jesus sent disciples out with authority, then that's your right too. Jesus sent out seventy people -- not the closely trained apostles -- with the authority to heal, cast out demons, and preach the good news.

We all have "authority" to pray for people. God is the one who works through us to heal, and He is the one who answers our prayers. Be cautious of man-based teachings where people are not reliant on God for the power and ability. The efforts might work, but in the long run people relying on themselves could push God away.

Remember the tower of Babel. People had aspirations to reach higher and higher toward where God was, to excel and do great things. Great things are not bad in themselves, but we humans have a tendency to muster and pull all the control toward ourselves.

Like the people who tried to cast out demons in Jesus' name, who did not follow Him.

If you are really blessing someone, then great. If it is just a new religious mumbojumbo, then steer away. Or at least keep researching the concept and praying about how God wants you to deal with it.

There were early references to blessing people, and these related to declaring inheritance to a son. (Come closer, so I may bless you.) The word used was transliterated Barak. (-;

Genesis 27

I don't think the Genesis blessing was a spiritual phenomenon, though. I think it was a formal family statement, building up the child in confidence and responsibility. At our deathbeds, we would want to say uplifting things to our kids too.

 

[Illawarra_Christian]

Absolutely we can bless. Christ gave us all authority on Earth.

 

[1cor1013]

God is sovereign over everything and everyone. Once the veil is removed from our eyes, we can live to glorify God. It is then God can use us to bless people. It's not anything we have done, but what the Lord does through us as we walk with him and are obedient to him.

 

[Incariol]

Hi,


I have friends who do bless people, but I figured - hang on, maybe the apostles and christ and ( obviously God ) blessed people, but are we as humble servants of God allowed to bless people?

By what authority do we do this? Scriptures please...

Are there limits to what or who we can bless?

I'm just concerned I dont want exceed the wonderful authority given us in Christ.

Cheers,

MC.

I believe that it is the place of the bishops and priests, as ordained clergy and icons of Christ, to deliver blessings.

 

[1cor1013]

I believe that it is the place of the bishops and priests, as ordained clergy and icons of Christ, to deliver blessings.

We as believers are all saints and equal but at different points in our sanctification. Therefore, we should all be able to be used by God to bless other people. But then again, i guess the question is what is your definition of blessing?

 

[Incariol]

We as believers are all saints and equal but at different points in our sanctification. Therefore, we should all be able to be used by God to bless other people.

Except I'm not ordained in Holy Orders...

But then again, i guess the question is what is your definition of blessing?

The priest or bishop, the icon of God in the Church, forms his hand into the christogram, makes the sign of the cross with it, and places it in our hands to kiss.

 

[1cor1013]

Except I'm not ordained in Holy Orders...

The priest or bishop, the icon of God in the Church, forms his hand into the christogram, makes the sign of the cross with it, and places it in our hands to kiss.

I am guessing you are Catholic.

 

[Incariol]

I am guessing you are Catholic.

And you'd be wrong. Was that relevant in some obscure way?

 

[1cor1013]

And you'd be wrong. Was that relevant in some obscure way?

Well then how about you tell me a bit about your denomination and where you stand theologically, since you seem to be talking to me on several different discussions. And yes, it was relevant. Seeing as you are a complete stranger, I must work with what you have given me.

 

[paul1149]

We're authorized by Scripture to bless others...

• bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Lk 6.28
• Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rm 12.14
• With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. Jm 3.9

... because Jesus gave us His authority (Mt 28). But that authority is delegated, so we need to have the right attitude about it. If we think we are the source of the blessing, we're deceived. But if we're functioning as Christ's ambassador, and blessing what He blesses, we're on solid ground.