Actually it was quite unusual because their Lord and Master was washing their feet, when usually it was the servants washing the master’s feet.
Jesus was doing something way out of the ordinary almost to the point that it was offensive.  Peter became vocal and request the Lord NOT to do it.

I was referring to the practice of “washing feet” in that society as a whole; not to the unusual aspect of Jesus doing it for the disciples instead of the other way around.

I think “foot washing” is one of those things that had a practical reason in Bible times but has taken on a ceremonial aspect in modern times.  So my point was that—in a society where everyone wore sandals, there was no running water, no paved streets and where people regularly got their feet dirty in the course of a day—yes, foot-washing was completely practical. 

When Jesus said “as I have done this, do this to each other”, he was referring to service in general.  I don’t believe he was literally telling Christians today to wash each others’ feet.

Tony

TonyRush - 16 March 2008 10:07 PM

Actually it was quite unusual because their Lord and Master was washing their feet, when usually it was the servants washing the master’s feet.
Jesus was doing something way out of the ordinary almost to the point that it was offensive.  Peter became vocal and request the Lord NOT to do it.

I was referring to the practice of “washing feet” in that society as a whole; not to the unusual aspect of Jesus doing it for the disciples instead of the other way around.

I think “foot washing” is one of those things that had a practical reason in Bible times but has taken on a ceremonial aspect in modern times.  So my point was that—in a society where everyone wore sandals, there was no running water, no paved streets and where people regularly got their feet dirty in the course of a day—yes, foot-washing was completely practical. 

Tony

It only took on a “ceremonial aspect” after Jesus did it. That is why we do it today. Breaking bread in rememberance and drinking of the cup is ceremonial as well. Would you suggest that we discontinue these practices in the name of practicality also?

ClearCreek, my point is that I don’t believe feet-washing to be an ordinance commanded by Jesus to be followed by future Christians.  As far as I know, baptism and the Lord’s Supper WERE ordinances laid down by Jesus Christ.

Tony

Nor do I believe it to be commanded. I do believe, however, we should follow more of the examples that Christ laid out for us.
Many people in this day and age think more highly of ourselves than we should. The Bible warns of this. Too much pride. In order to
wash another mans feet, you must put aside fleshly pride. This is good. Nowhere in the Bible will you find pride being a “good thing”.
Surely, we do not need anymore than Christ’s example, to spawn a desire in our hearts to humble ourselves, so we can become more Christlike .

I don’t think anyone here will say that being Christlike is a bad thing. This is a practice established hundreds of years ago by people( following His example ) desiring to humble themselves and to enrich their relationship with Christ. Unless we put away our foolish and earthly pride we will not enjoy the fulness of a right and true relationship with our fellow Christians nor with God.

I am not implying that you must wash feet.  But, it is a good way to show our dedication and willingness to our Brethren and Christ, if we can muster the courage it takes to exhibit this kind of humility in a right spirit.

I think you said it best when you said that it’s not commanded nor is it required for one to live in service to others.

I’ve participating in feet-washing.  I believe it served its purpose when I did it.  But, again, I don’t believe that Christ’s words regarding feet-washing were intended to be a practical directive to Christians today.

Tony

Clear Creek Singer - 19 March 2008 10:09 PM

I am not implying that you must wash feet.  But, it is a good way to show our dedication and willingness to our Brethren and Christ, if we can muster the courage it takes to exhibit this kind of humility in a right spirit.

I think a better way to carry out the spirit of the act Jesus did would be to practice serving others in today’s world.  For example, one of those “brethren” might be better served by you cutting his grass during a time of illness.  Or an elderly person might need a weekly ride to the grocery store.  Or a single mom might need someone to help her son do his math problems. 

We can “wash feet” without ever getting our hands wet, but most of us are too busy, too proud, or too religious to humble ourselves to those levels.  It’s a much easier way out just to get a bowl and some towels and “wash the brethren’s feet” once or twice per year, during normal service times of course.

I think a better way to carry out the spirit of the act Jesus did would be to practice serving others in today’s world.  For example, one of those “brethren” might be better served by you cutting his grass during a time of illness.  Or an elderly person might need a weekly ride to the grocery store.  Or a single mom might need someone to help her son do his math problems.

We can “wash feet” without ever getting our hands wet, but most of us are too busy, too proud, or too religious to humble ourselves to those levels.  It’s a much easier way out just to get a bowl and some towels and “wash the brethren’s feet” once or twice per year, during normal service times of course.

Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!

Well said,

Tony

FamilyMan - 20 March 2008 08:57 AM

Clear Creek Singer - 19 March 2008 10:09 PM

I am not implying that you must wash feet.  But, it is a good way to show our dedication and willingness to our Brethren and Christ, if we can muster the courage it takes to exhibit this kind of humility in a right spirit.

I think a better way to carry out the spirit of the act Jesus did would be to practice serving others in today’s world.  For example, one of those “brethren” might be better served by you cutting his grass during a time of illness.  Or an elderly person might need a weekly ride to the grocery store.  Or a single mom might need someone to help her son do his math problems. 

We can “wash feet” without ever getting our hands wet, but most of us are too busy, too proud, or too religious to humble ourselves to those levels.  It’s a much easier way out just to get a bowl and some towels and “wash the brethren’s feet” once or twice per year, during normal service times of course.

That’s like saying that a better way to carry out Communion is to buy somebody a meal. That’s missing the whole point of the act of Communion and Foot Washing. There is something about eating that cracker and drinking that grape juice that touches your spirit in a way that God intended to touch it. There is also something about washing another’s feet that touches your spirit with a humility that doesn’t come from cutting someone’s grass.

I don’t totally disagree with your point though, it would do us good to serve our brothers and sisters in ways like cutting their grass, fixing them dinners, helping with homework and a lot of other ways. I don’t think, however, that those things replace the sacraments of the Church.

Deon Unthank - 20 March 2008 01:32 PM

That’s like saying that a better way to carry out Communion is to buy somebody a meal.

Deon, I don’t understand that comparison.  Washing feet is about “being of service”.  Communion is not about service to others.  It’s simply a time of being consciously aware of the sacrifice of Christ.  I’m not sure the analogy fits.

That’s missing the whole point of the act of Communion and Foot Washing. There is something about eating that cracker and drinking that grape juice that touches your spirit in a way that God intended to touch it.

On the contrary, I can honestly say that I’ve had a much closer “communion” with God outside of the ceremony of the Lord’s Supper than I ever have during it.  While some might be offended by that statement, it’s authentically true for me. 

Is that okay with me?  I have no problem with it.  I don’t think God is more interested in structure than relationship.

There is also something about washing another’s feet that touches your spirit with a humility that doesn’t come from cutting someone’s grass.

Come on, Deon.  There’s a difference between “humility” and “embarrassment”.  Washing someone’s feet is about the most impractical thing you can do for someone else.  (Unless they’ve got some kind of health problem that doesn’t allow them to bathe.) Actually doing something of VALUE to someone is real service:  mowing a yard....cooking a meal....visiting people who are alone.....drilling a well in Bangladesh....these are examples of what Jesus was talking about when He said “When you serve someone else in my name, it’s as though you’re serving Me.” (paraphrase).

I respect anyone’s right to believe that feet-washing is a commandment.  But, no one is going to convince me that actually bathing someone’s feet is a more practical form of the kind of service that Jesus was talking about than something that actually does something for someone besides making the giver feel embarassed and humble.

I don’t totally disagree with your point though, it would do us good to serve our brothers and sisters in ways like cutting their grass, fixing them dinners, helping with homework and a lot of other ways. I don’t think, however, that those things replace the sacraments of the Church.

So, you believe that feet-washing is a “sacrament of the church”, as well?  Can I ask how often you wash someone else’s feet in your church?

Tony

I have to agree with Tony on this one. The epistles do not mention any foot washing taking place in any of the churchs. It is simply the way Jesus impressed on the diciples how important a servants heart is in God’s service.

Kelly Fogarty

TonyRush - 20 March 2008 01:49 PM

Deon Unthank - 20 March 2008 01:32 PM

That’s like saying that a better way to carry out Communion is to buy somebody a meal.

Deon, I don’t understand that comparison.  Washing feet is about “being of service”.  Communion is not about service to others.  It’s simply a time of being consciously aware of the sacrifice of Christ.  I’m not sure the analogy fits.

That’s missing the whole point of the act of Communion and Foot Washing. There is something about eating that cracker and drinking that grape juice that touches your spirit in a way that God intended to touch it.

On the contrary, I can honestly say that I’ve had a much closer “communion” with God outside of the ceremony of the Lord’s Supper than I ever have during it.  While some might be offended by that statement, it’s authentically true for me. 

Is that okay with me?  I have no problem with it.  I don’t think God is more interested in structure than relationship.

There is also something about washing another’s feet that touches your spirit with a humility that doesn’t come from cutting someone’s grass.

Come on, Deon.  There’s a difference between “humility” and “embarrassment”.  Washing someone’s feet is about the most impractical thing you can do for someone else.  (Unless they’ve got some kind of health problem that doesn’t allow them to bathe.) Actually doing something of VALUE to someone is real service:  mowing a yard....cooking a meal....visiting people who are alone.....drilling a well in Bangladesh....these are examples of what Jesus was talking about when He said “When you serve someone else in my name, it’s as though you’re serving Me.” (paraphrase).

I respect anyone’s right to believe that feet-washing is a commandment.  But, no one is going to convince me that actually bathing someone’s feet is a more practical form of the kind of service that Jesus was talking about than something that actually does something for someone besides making the giver feel embarassed and humble.

I don’t totally disagree with your point though, it would do us good to serve our brothers and sisters in ways like cutting their grass, fixing them dinners, helping with homework and a lot of other ways. I don’t think, however, that those things replace the sacraments of the Church.

So, you believe that feet-washing is a “sacrament of the church”, as well?  Can I ask how often you wash someone else’s feet in your church?

Tony

What can I say, Tony, you just don’t get it. Feet Washing is NOT about service, it’s about humility. Pride would certainly bring embarrassment by washing a brothers feet. I certainly do consider Feet Washing as a Sacrament of the Church. Does everybody, No, but aren’t you the one always harping on us about thinking for ourselves. I come to that conclusion after my studying of it in the Bible. So, to answer your question , yes we do have Feet Washing in our church. You should try it sometime, you might accidentally get blessed. You don’t get that Feet Washing is not just a simple act of rinsing water over someone’s feet. It has to do with you humbling yourself to do a menial act while at the same time praying for that person whose feet you are washing. It is you, humbling yourself and ALLOWING someone to touch and wash your nasty ole feet. It is about receiving the prayer of the person washing your feet. I agree with you though, no one will ever “Convince” you of something that you see as simply splashing water on someone’s feet.

BTW, not sure I’m following you with your Communion experience.

I have practiced foot washing most of my life. It is a blessing, and I agree with Deon that being embarrassed by it would come from pride. The more embarrassed we feel, the more we probably need it!

It is a very moving sacrament and I have seen people who had harbored bad feelings towards one another have their hearts softened and bury their differences and come back into fellowship.

There’s not a doubt in my mind but what Jesus expected us to follow this.
Of course I agree that acts of service should be performed too, but that’s a different subject.

Deon Unthank - 20 March 2008 01:32 PM

I don’t totally disagree with your point though, it would do us good to serve our brothers and sisters in ways like cutting their grass, fixing them dinners,

Now that right there makes me wish YOU were MY neighbor.

TonyRush - 20 March 2008 01:49 PM

Washing someone’s feet is about the most impractical thing you can do for someone else.  (Unless they’ve got some kind of health problem that doesn’t allow them to bathe.) Actually doing something of VALUE to someone is real service:  mowing a yard....cooking a meal....visiting people who are alone.....drilling a well in Bangladesh…

Tony

Tony you aren’t washing their feet to clean them. Get that?You are washing them to clean YOU! To strip away selfish pride. You also wouldn’t be washing them for the same reasons as these other things that you have mentioned. How can you be humbled by mowing someones grass? Yes these things are good to do for others. But, are you sure you would be doing them for the right reason? Would you be helping these people out of love ? Or mearly trying to pay for your ticket to Heaven? Could it be so that you would appear generous? To feel good about what you have done? So your neighbors will think more of you? So you can have more PRIDE?
Wash someones feet, in the spirit that we should, and you won’t have to ask yourself these questions.

TonyRush - 19 March 2008 10:29 PM

I think you said it best when you said that it’s not commanded nor is it required for one to live in service to others. Tony

I didn’t say that. Maybe I am not reading your statement correctly, so I will leave it be.

Many things we do are not commanded. The book of proverbs is full of things we should do and don’t.