“And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” (Matthew 8:3, ESV)
I was officially Licensed as a Pastor in 1986. I was ordained as a Full Time Pastor in 1988. During the interceding years, some big changes have come into the churches. Being a pastor is not like it was when I began my ministry. Even in my college years, I began to see changes in not only the role of a pastor but in the ministry of the church. What you may not have noticed has become clear to me. Things have changed in ministry.
During the 1970’s and 1980’s, people began to see pastors more as business professionals. In fact, many seminaries adopted a theme of putting out “professional pastors” who were trained not only in the Bible but in counseling and business and practical ministry matters. Along with this change, people began to see the church and ministry with more of a “business model”. As a consequence, people also began to see the possibility of treating churches as businesses only, and pastors as business leaders. This led to changes in the tax codes as well as changes in business practices in churches. This also brought a rise in suing churches and pastors.
One church I served was sued by a family who was upset that their relative had left a large sum in his will to the church. Several other churches close to me were threatened lawsuits for not having elevators and ramps for the disabled and elderly. However, the biggest legal lawsuits were reserved for pastors. People began to sue the diocese for pedophile priests. Pastors who had affairs with counselees were sued. Inappropriate business practices led to churches going through audits for the first time, lest the church be liable for embezzlement or shady business practices. These trends have only worsened with time. Did you know that I was required to be covered by my churches with more than a million dollars of insurance for liabilities related to ministry in case of lawsuits?
However, the one area that changed the most over the years lie in the area of counseling. In my denomination, leadership asked that pastors be trained either not to counsel people of the opposite sex or to adopt worldly standards for counseling. Many other denominations followed suit. Even now, there are men in the pulpit who are chastised if they perform counseling with a woman alone. Some pastors have even adopted a model that if a person needs counseling, they must go to a “professional”, i.e. a secular counselor! I now know of pastors who NEVER do one-on-one counseling with people in their congregation. Some even refrain from home visits. They are advised to do this by lawyers and denominational Human Resources Specialists who have been trained in worldly business practices.
Along with these changes in counseling practices, many pastors and church leaders are urged to never touch another person lest there be a charge of harassment or sexual assault brought against that religious leader. Yes, you heard that right. It is frowned upon in many denominations, pastors groups, churches, and religious organizations for a pastor to hug a child, hold the hand of a person of the opposite sex, or put your arm around another person while praying for them. Some pastors and priests will not even hold a baby during baptism or offer a handshake to visitors. In “Training Seminars”, pastors are taught ways to never touch another person while fulfilling their duties. In essence, the ministry of touch is frowned upon by more than a few lawyers, denominational leaders, Human Resources specialists, Bishops, Counselors, etc. As a pastor friend of mine who finished a training course for new pastors recently told me, “I learned never to touch anyone for any reason.”
Contrast these new business practices and religious practices with the scripture for today. In Matthew 8:3, Jesus “reached out His hand and touched” a leper. This was unheard of in New Testament times! Leprosy was highly contagious. Jesus could be seen as unclean by other religious leaders! Still, Jesus touched the man to heal him. Why? Because something special happens when a person of God touches another during prayer or in love. It is not just a holy moment. That touch carries healing powers! Without the touch, the healing is not as effective, poignant, powerful, and loving.
Two decades ago, I read of several studies done by scientists who investigated the power of prayer. What they found was that prayer had antibiotic types of properties. The brains of those praying lit up in the MRI machines. Whole areas of the brain that often remained dormant lit up with activity! I remember a medical examination of nuns in an MRI. When they prayed, their brains were highly active in ways not seen in the normal MRI scan. Prayer changes the brain. Prayer also affects people in significant ways that science cannot explain. The scientific evidence is there. The results have been proven over and over for centuries. Prayer alters situations. And the ministry of touch, praying while touching another, enhances the effects.
When healing, Jesus often laid His hands on another. When the woman with the flow of blood needed healing, all it took was one touch upon Jesus to secure her wholeness (Mark 5:27). When the disciples and apostles prayed with others, they often “laid their hands upon them” to “receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17). The laying on of hands or ministry of touch was used to exorcise demons, heal the sick, anoint kings, impart the Holy Spirit, and ordain church leaders. Jesus never refrained from touching others, even when there were dangers involved (like healing a leper!). Disciples used the ministry of touch to bring God’s grace and power to bear. The Holy Spirit works powerfully during holy moments when people are hugged, hands held, or prayed over.
In the book, Just Like Jesus, this is written:
“Oh, the power of a godly touch. Haven’t you known it? The doctor who treated you, or the teacher who dried your tears? Was there a hand holding yours at a funeral? Another on your shoulder during a trial? A handshake of welcome at a new job? … Can’t we offer the same?
Many of you already do. Some of you have the master touch of the Physician himself. You use your hands to pray over the sick and minister to the weak. If you aren’t touching them personally, your hands are writing letters, dialing phones, baking pies. You have learned the power of a touch. But others of us tend to forget. Our hearts are good; it’s just that our memories are bad. We forget how significant one touch can be.…
Aren’t we glad Jesus didn’t make the same mistake?”
(Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment, p. 103)
Who might benefit most from a holy touch today? Who might need your hug, your hand, your love?
During the 1970’s and 1980’s, people began to see pastors more as business professionals. In fact, many seminaries adopted a theme of putting out “professional pastors” who were trained not only in the Bible but in counseling and business and practical ministry matters. Along with this change, people began to see the church and ministry with more of a “business model”. As a consequence, people also began to see the possibility of treating churches as businesses only, and pastors as business leaders. This led to changes in the tax codes as well as changes in business practices in churches. This also brought a rise in suing churches and pastors.
One church I served was sued by a family who was upset that their relative had left a large sum in his will to the church. Several other churches close to me were threatened lawsuits for not having elevators and ramps for the disabled and elderly. However, the biggest legal lawsuits were reserved for pastors. People began to sue the diocese for pedophile priests. Pastors who had affairs with counselees were sued. Inappropriate business practices led to churches going through audits for the first time, lest the church be liable for embezzlement or shady business practices. These trends have only worsened with time. Did you know that I was required to be covered by my churches with more than a million dollars of insurance for liabilities related to ministry in case of lawsuits?
However, the one area that changed the most over the years lie in the area of counseling. In my denomination, leadership asked that pastors be trained either not to counsel people of the opposite sex or to adopt worldly standards for counseling. Many other denominations followed suit. Even now, there are men in the pulpit who are chastised if they perform counseling with a woman alone. Some pastors have even adopted a model that if a person needs counseling, they must go to a “professional”, i.e. a secular counselor! I now know of pastors who NEVER do one-on-one counseling with people in their congregation. Some even refrain from home visits. They are advised to do this by lawyers and denominational Human Resources Specialists who have been trained in worldly business practices.
Along with these changes in counseling practices, many pastors and church leaders are urged to never touch another person lest there be a charge of harassment or sexual assault brought against that religious leader. Yes, you heard that right. It is frowned upon in many denominations, pastors groups, churches, and religious organizations for a pastor to hug a child, hold the hand of a person of the opposite sex, or put your arm around another person while praying for them. Some pastors and priests will not even hold a baby during baptism or offer a handshake to visitors. In “Training Seminars”, pastors are taught ways to never touch another person while fulfilling their duties. In essence, the ministry of touch is frowned upon by more than a few lawyers, denominational leaders, Human Resources specialists, Bishops, Counselors, etc. As a pastor friend of mine who finished a training course for new pastors recently told me, “I learned never to touch anyone for any reason.”
Contrast these new business practices and religious practices with the scripture for today. In Matthew 8:3, Jesus “reached out His hand and touched” a leper. This was unheard of in New Testament times! Leprosy was highly contagious. Jesus could be seen as unclean by other religious leaders! Still, Jesus touched the man to heal him. Why? Because something special happens when a person of God touches another during prayer or in love. It is not just a holy moment. That touch carries healing powers! Without the touch, the healing is not as effective, poignant, powerful, and loving.
Two decades ago, I read of several studies done by scientists who investigated the power of prayer. What they found was that prayer had antibiotic types of properties. The brains of those praying lit up in the MRI machines. Whole areas of the brain that often remained dormant lit up with activity! I remember a medical examination of nuns in an MRI. When they prayed, their brains were highly active in ways not seen in the normal MRI scan. Prayer changes the brain. Prayer also affects people in significant ways that science cannot explain. The scientific evidence is there. The results have been proven over and over for centuries. Prayer alters situations. And the ministry of touch, praying while touching another, enhances the effects.
When healing, Jesus often laid His hands on another. When the woman with the flow of blood needed healing, all it took was one touch upon Jesus to secure her wholeness (Mark 5:27). When the disciples and apostles prayed with others, they often “laid their hands upon them” to “receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17). The laying on of hands or ministry of touch was used to exorcise demons, heal the sick, anoint kings, impart the Holy Spirit, and ordain church leaders. Jesus never refrained from touching others, even when there were dangers involved (like healing a leper!). Disciples used the ministry of touch to bring God’s grace and power to bear. The Holy Spirit works powerfully during holy moments when people are hugged, hands held, or prayed over.
In the book, Just Like Jesus, this is written:
“Oh, the power of a godly touch. Haven’t you known it? The doctor who treated you, or the teacher who dried your tears? Was there a hand holding yours at a funeral? Another on your shoulder during a trial? A handshake of welcome at a new job? … Can’t we offer the same?
Many of you already do. Some of you have the master touch of the Physician himself. You use your hands to pray over the sick and minister to the weak. If you aren’t touching them personally, your hands are writing letters, dialing phones, baking pies. You have learned the power of a touch. But others of us tend to forget. Our hearts are good; it’s just that our memories are bad. We forget how significant one touch can be.…
Aren’t we glad Jesus didn’t make the same mistake?”
(Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment, p. 103)
Who might benefit most from a holy touch today? Who might need your hug, your hand, your love?