I agree that to take the foot-washing literally, now that people in the developed West do not walk in sandals from place to place, would be sacerdotal in the extreme. Funny, actually, if you try to picture it! What would be the point? But of course it still makes sense in many parts of the world where people DO walk from place to place, in sandals. In those places, it makes perfect sense to continue the custom of humble service that our Lord directed.
It's hard to find a modern parallel for such humble service here in America, ca 2005. I think one can find a hundred things, though, in the course of regular Christian social intercourse -- that would serve the purpose of selfless, humble service. Ironically, I think to make a rule of the thing (a list, if you will) kills the very spirit that Christ is trying to promulgate.
Here's one idea. When we are meeting with others -- whether Christians or non-Christians -- I like to do dishes. I do the same for my wife at home, and it's something I don't mind at all. Yes, it takes me from the conversation and fellowship for a while, but someone needs to do it, and I do it because I try to imagine the mess that will be left for the hosts when everyone leaves...not good! Most often, I am told in no uncertain terms, "No! David, don't do that!" But I just keep on, knowing that they will be glad I did, after everyone leaves.
I thought Jesus instructed us to carry on with certain examples of ceremonies he left for us. Do you think it is wise for us to decide they don't make sense any more and stop doing them?
What did Jesus say about foot washing? "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."
Also, Jesus was baptized for our example as well. He didn't need to be baptized.
In fact, Jesus' whole life was an example to us how we should live our lives. Don't you think it is safe to mimic Christ's life?
1 John 2:6, "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
What about communion, the Lord's Supper?
Personally, I belive foot washing is beneficial. It is very humiliating to wash another person's feet. You have to stoop before them and clean their dirtiest body parts--that aren't too private--and look them in the face doing it. A man and a wife are very intimate with regards to their bodies. This is intended to develop a bond between them. Likewise, foot washing can create that bond though less intimate.
It would appear by your original question that we have not yet come up with a suitable substitute. Should everyone choose their own substitute? What if mine is not humiliating at all? Am I still free to substitute? Do you see my point? We go off and start creating our own system of beliefs. Why can't we just do what Jesus said? It seems so much easier and if anyone asks we can simply say the Lord required it of me. And we have scripture to support us.
Even if we do decide as a group that some other menial task can be substituted for foot washing, how are we going to administer it? Do we publish it here so others will find it and copy our example and not Christ's? That doesn't seem right. Then they would be obeying us rather than Christ.
No, I think the best path to choose is to do as Christ has asked. He didn't make it so complicated that we couldn't understand. Why should we seek to change it?
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I agree with the Davids. I've been to a foot washing before and it was a bit redundant to wash someone's clean feet, they had just washed a couple of hours before coming to church. One thing that was strange was one woman said their previous church let the ladies keep their hose on. How weird to wash a foot with hose on it. It had become just another ritual.
I truly believe the point of Jesus washing feet was to show how to be a servant! He was God in the flesh and yet he stooped down to wash feet, a lowly job usually done in those days by the servants of the house.
I read a beautiful testimony about this but the board has lost it so I'll give the example. The lady had the opportunity to actually wash the feet and clip the nails of an elderly handicapped person. She came regularly to do this for the person could not reach to do it theirself. This lady had become a servant to the other person. I believe this is the principal Christ taught.
Washing dishes after a meal is an example I think. Anything we do with a servants heart for another would be an example. We are to do what is needed without worrying if it is our job to do it or beneath our position. Rather we place the other above ourselves and to that which is needful.
Let us not humble ourselves before men to be seen as in the rituals. Rather let us truly humble ourselves in the needful service to our fellowmen as the good Samariatan. After all how humble is it to wash feet once a year versus serving others whenever the need arises, maybe even daily?
Faith
-------------------- 1 Thes. 5:21 (KJV) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
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Jeff, I don't see how my simply inquiry above constitutes "going off and starting a new system of beliefs." That isn't me.
Furthermore, in most cultures, since females no longer wear their garments to the ground, foot washing could lead to big temptations and jealousy. Nuff said?
Rarely today would males or females in the West consider their feet to be dirty or in need of attention when they arrived at a destination as would have been the obvious case when Jesus spoke those words.
After viewing portions of the Pope's funeral, I am still persuaded that humans have a real propensity for the ceremonial. (All of which is not rooted in evil, I might add.) Many will settle for the cermonial without the substance as our Lord often pointed out.
One thing is certain: if we walked more we would be healthier and live longer.
I believe the question is more one of obedience than practicality. We know that Jesus came to redeem us and restore us to our unfallen condition. So what we need to look at and realize are his methods of doing just that. And, in order to recognize his methods we would do well to review how we fell.
The Lord gave Adam and Eve a very simple command to test their obedience. The tree wasn't poisonous and looked good for eating. So the command wasn't given so much to protect them from a bad tree but as a test of their loyalty. Would they obey the simple commandment of God or would they allow themselves to be deceived by trusting human reasoning? We know the outcome.
When Paul argued against circumcision of the flesh he said that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision was anything, so apparently their were legalists on both sides of that fence. Some arguing that they were saved by their circumcision and some arguing that they were saved by their uncircumcision. Paul said that neither of these mattered but concluded that what did matter and would profit man was obedience to God's commandments. So it is that by surrender of our will to the will of God we are retrained by the Holy Spirit to live godly, righteous, sober lives.
Man's nature became carnal through a very simple act of disobedience to just one of God's commands. God will restore man to complete obedience through a sanctified lifetime of obedience to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. At each step of our lives we are to submit our wills to the will of God. This is our sanctification. This is walking in the spirit--an attitude of complete surrender to the will of God. We can't surrender our wills to God without his help, but we can choose, all on our own, to not surrender to God's plan for bringing us into harmony with his will.
This may not sound like liberty, but if you delight to do his will it truly is liberty. God has promised that the truth will set us free. When we experience that freedom then we will also experience true liberty. Living without any restraint or rule is not really liberty. Living in compliance with every word of God is where we find true liberty. We were designed to serve the Lord and only in fulfilling our original purpose do we find our truest happiness and rest.
So I conclude that we should always do good works such as helping the disabled wash and trim their toenails and helping with the dishes, but that while we do these things we should not neglect to do everything that Jesus has instructed us to do. How else can we know that we have a clear conscience?
You remind me of those who told me I should go to their church or I'd go to hell.
My answer was, "Does God prefer me to spend time with him every day in prayer and study or only one day a week, sitting in a pew listening to a man tell me about him?"
Nuff said.
-------------------- 1 Thes. 5:21 (KJV) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
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Joh 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
This example of the Lord's holds deep meaning in each part and symbol. We really need to wash each others feet and have our brothers wash our feet.
In verse 4, We need to rise from supper, from feeding on the Lord, taking Him as the Living Bread, eating His flesh and drinking His blood, taking Him as the Wine, as true food, etc. Then we need to laid aside the outer garments, our flesh nature, the things of the world. To gird oneself signifies to be bound and restricted with humility (1·Pet. 5:5) and to be grid in the belt of Truth, the Lord is the Truth.
The "feet" in this example signifies our walk with the Lord in this world, on the earth, were the dust of the earth is.
In verse 5, Water here signifies the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), the word (Eph. 5:26; Joh 15:3), and life (19:34). The Lord pours the Living Water, the Word, and the Life into the basin, into the Church and into each believer. It is the washing of the Water in the Word, not only brothers (sisters are brothers too), but husbands your wives too.
In chapters 1-12 Life came and brought forth the church, composed of the regenerated ones. In their spirit the regenerated ones are in God and in the heavenlies, but in their body they are still living in the flesh and walking on the earth. Through their contact with earthly things they often become dirty. This frustrates their fellowship with the Lord and with one another. Hence, there is the need for the washing with the Holy Spirit, the Word, and Life. This is the washing away of their dirtiness, the dust of the earth, that their fellowship with the Lord and with one another may be maintained; it is not the washing away of their sins by the blood (1·John 1:9). This is why, after chapter 12, there is a need for such a sign in this chapter. Since this Gospel is a book of signs, what is recorded in this chapter should be considered a sign, having spiritual significance.
Foot-washing should not be taken merely in a physical sense, but rather in a spiritual sense. In ancient times the Jews wore sandals, and since their roads were dusty, their feet easily became dirty. If, when they came to a feast, they sat at the table and stretched out their feet, the dirt and the smell would certainly frustrate the fellowship. Hence, for the feast to be pleasant they needed foot-washing. The Lord washed His disciples' feet to show them that He loved them to the uttermost (verse 1), and He charged them to do the same to one another in love (verses 14, 34). Today the world is dirty, and we, the saints, are easily contaminated. For us to maintain pleasant fellowship with the Lord and with one another, we need spiritual foot-washing, with the washing Holy Spirit, the washing Word, and the washing Life, carried out both by the Lord in His love and by one another in Love, by the Lord. This is absolutely necessary in order for us to live in the fellowship of the Divine Life together, which is revealed in John's first Epistle, a continuation of the Gospel of John.
In verse 7, as we walk with the Lord we realize more and more how He is constantly washing our walk, how by the Lord the brothers are washing our walk, and how we at times wash the brothers walk in our fellowship with one another.
In verse 10, "He that is washed needeth..." here signifies the washing of regeneration (Tit 3:5; Joh 3:5).
Yet in verse 11, it is a fact that not all among us are clean, the many are false.
If we focus on the outward, the earthly, we will be caught up in the outward practices of religion. We will debate over whether we should actually physically wash each others feet. This would be an outward practice that may appear good, but often the appearance of things in Christianity is false. Usually there is a reality behind the false appearance of religion, yet even knowledge of this reality, is not enough. We need to have the reality manifested in our lives and in the church life. To see the things of God, His spiritual reality, we need to read what is of Him (the scriptures) in Spirit and not with just our minds, only the Spirit of God knows the things of God. To receive it we need to be in Spirit, just as John received it in the Spirit. Once we see the reality, that reality needs to be the manifestation today. We need the real practice of foot washing today in our lives and in the church life for the fellowship.
We need to wash our brothers feet as the Lord commanded us by the Living Water, the Living Word, and Living Life. And we need to have our feet washed by the Lord through the brothers. We do all for building up, yet we do not do, He builds, it is the Spirit. To Christ (the Anointing) be the glory in the church, He alone will build His church and make ready His bride. We like to think we do, we love one another, but truely God is Love. If God is Love, then Love is God. Look at Joh 13:34 again. Think about it, did Jesus love us or did Jesus God us?
A person telling you to attend a particular church or you would go to hell immediately signals trouble to me. "We ought to obey God rather than men."
I don't want to push the foot washing thing to the forefront. I don't believe it is an important enough issue. I offered my opinion in this matter. I think you know where I stand. The important thing is that we avoid legalism while still remaining obedient in every regard. We need to be doing what Jesus asks because we have experienced him as our Savior. But for him to save us he must first be Lord of our life.
I am reminded by our discussion of something that bothered me for a long time. It troubled me that Jesus told those folks who were doing all those good works to depart from him because he never knew them. Then I discoved why Jesus didn't know them. They were doing things they determined were good--and they demonstrated that by their self justification in the context of the passage--but Jesus said he didn't know them. And this is what bothered me. Why would Jesus tell them he didn't know them? Then I found this scripture. "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." How can we tell if we know Jesus? "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."
So obededience is very important. We come to know Jesus by experiencing him through obedience to his word. As we experience his forgiveness of our sins we are to forgive one another. However, if we do not forgive others then we will not be forgiven either. If we do not forgive then we haven't believed nor experienced the forgiveness of God so how can we know him in that respect? It goes on...
Another clue as to the nature of the good works of these folks that Jesus didn't know is found in Jesus' closing remarks to them. He categorizes all of their so-called good works as sin. Isaiah tells us that "all of our righteousness is as dirty rags." Anything we do comes short of what God requires of us. Jesus called these folks "workers of iniquity." These folks thought they were doing what was good in God's eyes but they failed to do those things that God required of them. He called them "workers of iniquity." They were actually breaking God's law when they thought they were pleasing him. "Sin [iniquity] is the transgression of the law."
Had they faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior and believed his promises they could have entered into his rest and thereby kept his commandments. "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt." They thought their good deeds were sufficient. In reality they were legalists, weren't they? Every act we take that is independent of God is sin. And, if we think our acts are pleasing to God then we decieve ourselves. Every false religion is based on works that men can do to save themselves. Let's make sure we are doing what we do because we love the Lord. It is better to be obedient than to confess. "To obey is better than sacrifice."
The point I was trying to make was legalism. Foot washing is not a command but an example of humility and servanthood.
Jesus also showed us how we should pray, the Lord's prayer. However, he didn't mean we had to repeat it word for word everytime we prayed. It was an example. Many churches repeat it in unision outloud every sunday and thus, loose the purpose of the example making it a ritual.
I believe foot washing is the same. It was an example of how we should serve others when needed not a ritual to do.
The same happens with going to church. It is good to meet with like minds but a weekly ritual is never commanded.
It is good to rest on the Sabbath; but Christ gave us an example of how we are not under legalistic rules of how to rest.
Faith
-------------------- 1 Thes. 5:21 (KJV) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Sadly, it is true that we can become ritualistic about anything religious, even our prayers. Stop and listen to yourself pray over your food, over a trip you are making, before bed. We can even become ritualistic about kissing our spouse or telling them we love them.
And, you are correct that Jesus worked against traditions of men and legalism. He desired for all men to come to him and be saved. And, I agree that the example of foot washing was an object lesson in humble service to others regardless of how degrading it may be to our own ego. And, again, I agree we are not under legalistic rules of how to rest. Christ would not institute a legalistic rule which he fought so hard to overthrow in his life on earth. And verse 15 in Col 2 tells us why we should not let other judge us for not keeping those traditions and rituals and ceremonies.
Colossians 2 13 ¶ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
All things were to point to Christ. If we will dwell upon Christ and why he had to die upon the cross then all others things will be illuminated so that we can see clearly. Amen to that!
I didn't mean to infer that you personally were going off to create your own system of belief. The point I was trying to make was that we are not free to do so. I will try to make my position clearer realizing that this is mostly nothing new to you. Yet, allow me to test my understanding. Sometimes talking it out or, in this case, writing it out helps us gather our thoughts together.
I strongly believe that God gave us commandments for our happiness, our wisdom, our learning, and our salvation. We fell from grace when we as a race disobeyed just one command. Now it is a struggle for us to surrender every point in our life where we are out of harmony with God. The race in general has grown further away from God since Adam and Eve. So we have further to return.
It is because of our sinful natures that we cannot trust our own judgment. While God has promised that we are his children, we must exercise faith in a very pragmatic way to take advantage of all the means God has graciously provided to restore our natures into full harmony with himself.
Paul said he died daily. Every day Paul had to die to self and surrender his will to God. It was a daily battle of faith. Yet today many think they have arrived, are better than Paul, and lean to their own understanding, trusting their own feelings as a leading of the spirit. But what they fail to do is search the scripture to see which spirit is leading them. For many false spirits have gone out into the world.
I would hate to see our family here start to cross off the list things that Jesus has told us to do. I am not encouraging anyone to be legalistic in that they make a list and do what Jeff or David tells them. What I am saying is that we need to be doing what Jesus has plainly told us to do. It is the only safe course to follow. And by doing those things which are plainly revealed we may learn the lesson of humility and be able to apply it in other areas. Then it becomes more organic and less mechanical. But we need to start somewhere and this is a good example. And, not too repulsive since we are washing clean feet.
It may be called the strait path but we know the true path is very narrow and few will find it. I am not suggesting that we should wash feet and do nothing else. All I am suggesting with regard to foot washing is that maybe it would be good for us to include it in our home church experience. If done with the right attitude and presented in a way that people understood they were not bound to do it but that doing so was according to Jesus' desire for his disciples, then I think it could be beneficial rather than harmful.
The people must be brought to understand that we are obedient because we desire to be obedient. God has placed in our hearts that desire. And, we obey him because we love him. They must understand that Jesus provided their salvation but there was a purpose to his act of redemption. He desires to elevate us to a place where we rejoice to do his will. We are to come unto him for our rest but we still have an easy yoke to bear. The yoke of service we bear is made light because we love the One who has given us the burden.
And, those who faithfully perform their duty will receive a reward. Not because they deserve a reward, because, afterall, they are only doing what was their duty to do. They receive a reward because God has ordained that our service should be rewarded. Think of it as rewarding a child who cheerfully, faithfully, and timely performs his duty to take out the trash. It is his job to take it out so he should NOT be rewarded for doing his job. Yet, a loving parent appreciates his willing spirit and heaps rewards upon him. (BTW, that tends to grow the child because by nature a child loves to be praised by their parent. They all naturally love to please their parents and it is good to encourage that behavior.)
So, in summary, there is a way that seems right unto a man. But the only right way is to follow and do every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. I think if we more fully understood sin we could appreciate God's tools even more. Scripture tells us that "sin is the transgression of the law." Therefore, when we break God's law that is sin. Yet, sin is not cultivated in the heart by temptation. Temptation only exposes the sin that already exists in the heart.
Whenever we sin it should bring to light the fact that in that particular area of our life we are not in harmony with God's will. It exposes something that still lies in our hearts that is still at enmity with God and not subject to his rulership. But we should not despair. Jesus is our hope. We do not trust our own merits or works for our salvation. We trust the merits of Jesus. We should never be discouraged. But, we should learn from our mistakes and study God's word for a way of escape, with much prayer. By so doing we grow spiritually and walk more and more in the spirit and less and less in the flesh.
When we abide in Christ we cannot sin. "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him." But we are at times drawn away from Christ by the lusts of our flesh. "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." And because of a weak faith, induced by misunderstandings of God's promises or misapprehensions of God's character, we are overcome. The enemy uses friends and acquaintances to tempt us to sin when "they allure through the lusts of the flesh."
Well, this is getting long but I hope you were able to read it and to have gained a better understanding of where I am coming from.
(BTW, we have already receive payment for our works. The greatest gift has already been given to us. Because of the blood of Jesus spilt for us we receive sustenance from God--air, water, food, etc. It all belongs to him and he gives it to whom he will. We surely don't deserve it so by Christ's offering the world is graciously receiving mercy and long-suffering of God.)
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I am of this mind set "Jesus said it, I believe it, Nuff said" just in the same manner as I believe the elements of communion are His body and blood, why? because He said they were. Don't care how or even seek a "logical meaning". He said, I believe it. Wanna argue the point? take it up with Him. lol. Having said that I must say that I am relevantly new to embracing the practice of foot washing, although I have known of it for some time. While I do agree with the practice I do not think its modern practice has the same meaning or point that it was entended. What humility is found in washing clean feet in expectation? What I wouls love to see is those same people that come to chuch expecting to participate in the washing of clean feet go out into the streets and offer , whole-heartedly, to wash the feet of the homeless. This , I believe would fully embrace the meaning of Our Lord's directives as well as knock the hypocracy(sp) right out of the general administration of foot washing as it is practiced today.
With the Love of Christ +Br. Thomas
-------------------- "...Contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered unto the saints" Jude 1:3
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