False doctrine of anointing

The word "anointing" simply means "refreshment after bathing". In the Old Testament, it has also been used in the religious sense of consecrating some thing for God. In the New Testament, it has been used in the context of anointing with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is depicted in the New Testament as the "Anointed One" meaning "Christ".

Two Purposes in Old Testament:

There are at least two purposes for anointing in the Old Testament. One is consecration and the other is coronation.

(i) Consecration: Jacob anointed a stone pillar (Gen.28:18). This is the first anointing mentioned in the Bible. He did it either to consecrate or for a memory. He did this before 'law' was given.

Moses also did anoint the things to consecrate for use in the holy tabernacle. He did the anointing with the "oil of Holy ointment" and not with the Holy Spirit (Ex.30:23-26).

(ii) Coronation: In the Old Testament, persons were anointed with oil to be set apart as kings and priests. The anointing of oil was the symbol of endowment of the Spirit of God.

Anointing of the Holy Spirit in New Testament

The next subject we have to understand is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Before studying this subject, let us understand a few truths about the "Holy Spirit".

Holy Spirit is the Third Person in the Trinity. He is a Person, and not an abstract power. He took active part in creation at the time of creation by God and today He takes active part in new creation/new birth. Jesus Christ was conceived in virgin Mary of the Holy Spirit (Matt.1:20). The Holy Spirit descended from the Heaven like a dove and lighted upon Him (Matt.3:17). Jesus Christ went on doing good by the Holy Spirit. Under the New Covenant, the Holy spirit was sent to us on the day of Pentecost and the 120 disciples who were gathered in the Upper Room were anointed with the Holy Spirit for witnessing and service. Similarly, we are anointed with the Holy Spirit for witnessing and service (ministry). The same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is dwelling in us (Rom.8:11). In short, the Holy Spirit is a Person who creates and gives life.

Lord Jesus was known as Anointed One. The Holy Spirit dwelt in Him. In Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col.2:9). A believer is said to be filled with the Holy Spirit, when the Holy Spirit indwells in Him. The Holy Spirit takes abode in the heart of the believer on his/her rebirth. The believer is said to be anointed with the Holy Spirit, when the Holy Spirit later anoints him/her for a ministry. Anointing of the Holy Spirit means "Indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit for witnessing and ministry". Under the Old Covenant, the kings and priests were anointed with oil for ministry. In a similar manner, we are anointed with the Holy Spirit for witnessing and ministry. Anointing means, in other words, possession of or control on our lives, by the Holy Spirit for fulfilling the will of God.

Difference between Holy Spirit and evil spirits

Evil spirits work through mediums which can be non-living things or subhuman beings such as animals, birds, etc. But the Holy Spirit work through the saints with perfect conscience and mind.

Some questions answered:

Question 1: Can we anoint car, dollar, etc.?

Answer: No.

Lord Jesus did not anoint any non-living things with the Holy Spirit. The apostles also did not anoint any non-living things. They did not teach us to do so. Neither did they teach us to pray for anointing of any non-living thing with the Holy Spirit.

It is a false doctrine. It is like an act of heathens. Heathens think and believe gods or evil spirits dwell in non-living things and in the nature. But the Bible teaches us that the Living God has revealed Himself in the nature and that He does not dwell in the nature.

There is no instance mentioned in the Bible about the anointing of non-living things by the Holy Spirit.

Anointing of car is unscriptural. If it is argued that the anointing of a car with the Holy Spirit would prevent the car from breakdown or accident, Paul could have anointed the ship in which he traveled so that it might not sink. We can very well pray for the anointing of all cots in our hospitals so that no patient may die. All this is unscriptural. of course, we can pray for God's blessings upon our cars and for our protection from accidents or breakdowns.

Question No.2: Were the bones of Elisa, the hand kerchief of Paul, the apostle and the shadow of Peter, the apostle anointed with the Holy Spirit?

Answer: No. It is true that the dead body who was put in the tomb of Elisa revived and stood on his feet when it touched the bones of Elisa.(2 Kings 13:20-21). It is not written that the dead bones of Elisa were further used for reviving the other dead bodies. God did a special miracle to demonstrate the importance of the prophetic ministry of Elisa to the people who lived at that particular point of time. It is not a fact that the hand kerchief of Paul was anointed by the Holy Spirit. However, we can say that the blessing of the Lord was upon the kerchief of Paul and upon the shadow of Peter.

-Job Anbalagan