Is Foot Washing For Today?

In light of the recent head covering thread I thought I would bring this up because it seems they are two similar types of issues on which some Christians disagree.

In John 13 we read of our Lord washing the disciples’ feet right before His last Passover with them. Verses 13-17 are what I believe to be the main portion of that passage to be considered:

"13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

So taken at face value it would seem that our Lord is giving a clear command not only to the 12 but also to every believer throughout all ages to follow literally this example of washing one another’s feet. And we cannot say that this was part of the Old Covenant because there was no such command given in the OT Scriptures.

From what I understand the vast majority of Christians throughout history have seen this as a cultural issue because in those days and in that culture people wore sandals and it was very common for people to wash others' feet after a day’s walking journey. Other groups have taken this passage very literally and apply it literally in their gatherings. So who’s right? I’d respectfully side with the first line of reasoning just mentioned as the correct interpretation, and would say that today we are to obey the spirit of that example and we are not commanded to literally wash each other’s feet.

There have been a couple of instances in the assembly in which someone who was teaching actually washed my feet.

Those were very memorable times. It is symbolic, but very meaningful. It isn't just tradition for traditions sake. I learned a lot from it.

We are not commanded to wash the feet of one another, however I grew up with an occasional foot-washing service. It did not happen often and as I look back on it, I am sure there was a real prompting of the Holy Spirit to do so as these were times of great humility, repentance to one another, and brokenness before God. I remember them as glorious times when the Holy Spirit really did a deep work in the hearts of all of us.

I think when Jesus said "you ought to wash one another's feet" he was using this statement as a way of stating they should be willing to lower themselves to serve each other. Jesus washed the disciples feet because the roads were dusty and their feet were dirty.

I heard the story about how Eric Liddell (chariots of fire) when he was imprisoned in China used to mop out the overflowing latrines on a regular basis. In so doing he was "washing the feet" of the brethren.

When a church has a foot washing ceremony peoples feet are probably the cleanest they will ever be... At least mine would be. So it really isn't needed and is only symbolic.

I think Jesus means for us to do real acts of humble service that are really needed. It might be visiting an elderly person with some fresh picked blueberries or washing someone's car or dog.

It might mean washing their feet if it is needed.

Double post

Double post

TMK writes:

I think when Jesus said "you ought to wash one another's feet" he was using this statement as a way of stating they should be willing to lower themselves to serve each other. Jesus washed the disciples feet because the roads were dusty and their feet were dirty.

I heard the story about how Eric Liddell (chariots of fire) when he was imprisoned in China used to mop out the overflowing latrines on a regular basis. In so doing he was "washing the feet" of the brethren.

When a church has a foot washing ceremony peoples feet are probably the cleanest they will ever be... At least mine would be. So it really isn't needed and is only symbolic.

I think Jesus means for us to do real acts of humble service that are really needed. It might be visiting an elderly person with some fresh picked blueberries or washing someone's car or dog.

It might mean washing their feet if it is needed.

Brothers,

at this point we need to be really careful.

Everything that was commanded of us is not just inwardly applied.

Should we just merely remember the cross and the sacrifice of Jesus, but never take the Lord's supper?

Should we just merely acknowledge our salvation, but never get baptized?

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God does indeed look at the heart; however, let us not love in word only. "Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

Hello havok-

I am in agreement we must be careful. Jesus did not tell the disciples to wash each other's feet in remembrance of Him. I think in the context of the passage it seems clear that Jesus was exhorting his disciples to humbly serve one another.

In other words, when the disciples heard Jesus's statement about washing each others feet, I am sure they understood that what he was saying that yes, they should wash each others feet if needed but that they should be willing to humble themselves and be a servant in ALL cases. Jesus stressed this throughout his time with his disciples and it was punctuated and perfectly illustrated when he took up the towel.

In our day and age of daily showers and shoes the necessity of feet washing just isn't there. Back then the lowliest servant in the house got the job of washing guest's feet when they came into the house. There was a practical reason- namely dirty and dusty feet. When guest reclined at a table as was the custom, one person's feet would be near another person's head. Thus the practical and appreciated requirement for feet washing.

As another example, my dad used to tell me to "keep my nose clean." He didn't mean for me to literally keep my nose clean, although it might need it- what he meant was to stay out of trouble.

I think Jesus's statement to the disciples was exactly like this. "You ought to wash one another's feet" was a vivid way of saying "be your brother's humble servant."

Now, once again, I have no problem with churches that have foot washing services. My mom grew up in a Brethren church and they did this when they had communion. But she said you better believe that everyone's feet who were there were in pretty stellar condition prior to the washing.

Put it this way- I would be more blessed to be surprised by a spontaneous humble act of service from a brother than to have my feet washed in a ceremony.

I recall a prayer time that a group of us used to attend early on Saturday mornings. The times of prayer were powerful. One morning we got there and the brother who led the group was standing outside the room. We saw the room inside was lit by candle light and there were simple place settings at the tables inside. As we entered, all the brother said to each of us was "There is a place prepared for you." I am telling you I melted. We went in and had a simple communion service together and it was one of the most spiritually impactful experiences of my life. That is because it was a SPONTANEOUS act of service on the part of that dear brother.

havok20x writes

Brothers,

at this point we need to be really careful.

Everything that was commanded of us is not just inwardly applied.

Should we just merely remember the cross and the sacrifice of Jesus, but never take the Lord's supper?

Should we just merely acknowledge our salvation, but never get baptized?

*********************

God does indeed look at the heart; however, let us not love in word only. "Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

I believe a key difference is that concerning the Lord's Supper and believer's baptism, there is ample scriptural evidence and authoritative teaching that supports the continual practice of those two ordinances.

In answer to your question,May I offer something for your consideration ?

As we look at many of the things that Jesus did while He was teaching,..
taking them into consideration,and the meaning that it represents / reflects for our day (and after His resurrection),both naturally for that day and Spiritual reflections.

How He :
Healed:
*The blinded eyes,/ wants to give us eyes to see,.. Spiritually.
*The lame/. ..our walk
* deaf / ears to hear,....through the Spirit
* Dead / Death.../ Life. Lazarus died,was bound from head to toe,..isn't that the way we were?

Jesus said,'these things shall ye do ( healing) ,and greater than these
Shell ye do...I believe He was talking about, ' Through the foolishness
of preaching ' the gospel of the kingdom of God many would be healed
Spiritually.

I have said all of that to say this,the washing of the feet that Jesus
demonstrated, to me it not only was showing us to humble ourselves ,but that our walk matters,...and reminding each other that we must walk with
clean feet ( Spiritually )

Just wondering....
Was Paul really washing Peters feet when he ask him the question on
his hypocrisy ?

Thoughts,
elizabeth

This is not new to SI, whenever there is a thread on Head covering someone will question foot washing. I believe in head covering as a God ordained symbol. But I do not believe Foot washing is literal command. I believe in the command.

So taken at face value it would seem that our Lord is giving a clear command not only to the 12 but also to every believer throughout all ages to follow literally this example of washing one another’s feet. And we cannot say that this was part of the Old Covenant because there was no such command given in the OT Scriptures.

In verse 12 Jesus himself said clearly that he is only giving an example. At that moment Jesus gave an example by doing a service that was much NEEDED for the disciples. He did not restrain from serving because he was a teacher, but wanted to set an example that in Church each one should have this attitude to serve. In the Church that I attend no one is paid to serve, we do more in a Sunday service than most Churches, we serve lunch as well which is completely cooked by the brothers. No one is paid, not even the elders who Sheppard us. Each of us serve one another.

There are brothers who take up the responsibility of Toilet cleaning in Church. Surely cleaning the toilet is much lower service than washing feet. We do not reject this ritual that Jesus did to his disciple because it is lowly or will look odd (unlike head covering which is rejected by most women because it looks odd). We do not do it because we do things that are more practical and much more needed in the Church.

I do not find any use in washing feet in an American Church in which everyone wears a shoe with socks. No one is benefited from this service. It is a service done just for name sake and hence a dead work. Jesus did not teach us to do a dead work, he came to cleanse us from dead work.

I do not believe that foot washing is an ordinance but you can't use it as a vehicle in which to tote the rejection of other commands.

It is abundantly clear from the text that it is an example or type, not a commandment.

Thank you Neal, that testimony was very edifying for me.

Sree wrote:
_____________________________________________________________

Jesus did not teach us to do a dead work, he came to cleanse us from dead work.
_____________________________________________________________

Sree, I appreciate your many posts and your insights but I would like to ask you a question: based on your quote, you would have to include baptism in this 'dead work', right? Baptism is purely a ritual, nothing more, nothing less BUT commanded by the LORD Jesus to do. When such is the case, it has meaning beyond our scope of comprehension...except maybe it is our modern day equivalent of eating from the 'tree of knowledge of good and evil': you either do it and sin or refuse and obey God - a test of our obedience.

What do ya think?

sermonindex writes:

Just also to mention there are 4 scripture passages that speak of a "holy kiss"

Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; and 1 Thessalonians 5:26.

Kiss Greek: philēma
the kiss with which, as a sign of fraternal affection, Christians were accustomed to welcome or dismiss their companions in the faith

In the culture one would kiss the cheek. In our culture we would embrace in a hug which in my mind would accomplish the same affection of love toward the saint.

This is not an ordinance setup by our Lord but rather a practice that saints just as they also called each other brother and sister.

Brothers,

How then do you go about determining which ones should not be followed?

IMO Believer Baptism and The Lords Supper are non negotiables.

In everything else there is freedom as each is led by the Spirit.

havok20x writes

Brothers,

How then do you go about determining which ones should not be followed?

http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-apply-today.html

I typed too quick. In the sense of ordinances that is what I meant. Of course I believe we are to do what Jesus commanded. Some of Paul's instructions are a bit more problematic because of the nature of his writings but for the most part we should abide by his instructions.

Okay,

So there is a man from Swaziland, who has no internet. Nothing but the Holy Spirit and a Bible and a body of believers who also have nothing but the Holy Spirit and the Bible.

Do they have everything they need for life and godliness or not? Or do we have to bring in all sorts of cultural this and that and jump outside the Scriptures to determine what is contained within the Scriptures? Do you see my point?

I agree with the article you posted, oracio, but that is not what is being advocated here by many of us (Christians in USA, etc--just to clarify).

I truly believe that "cultural context" is used to skate over just about anything that would set us apart from everyone else.

Do I like learning about the culture? Yes, it reinforces to what the Scripture plainly says. However, if it radically reinterprets what the Scriptures plainly say, then we need to say, "okay, maybe I need to search the scriptures more. Maybe I don't know enough of them or don't remember enough of them to know what this truly means. Shoot, I'll go ask a godly man or woman who's been walking with the Lord for 40 years and knows the Scriptures." But don't say, "oh! The culture was different. This verse doesn't apply to me!" I'm sorry. That isn't true for even 1 verse of the Bible. It wasn't written for them only. It was written for us!

havok20x writes

Okay,

So there is a man from Swaziland, who has no internet. Nothing but the Holy Spirit and a Bible and a body of believers who also have nothing but the Holy Spirit and the Bible.

Do they have everything they need for life and godliness or not? Or do we have to bring in all sorts of cultural this and that and jump outside the Scriptures to determine what is contained within the Scriptures? Do you see my point?

Lets consider this hypothetical person in regard to the issues of foot washing and a holy kiss. If that person reads those scriptures he may interpret them as timeless commands to obey today and may try to apply them as such, as some have indeed misinterpreted and misapplied them throughout church history. And that person may become guilty of placing legalistic and unnecessary burdens on others.

Please note: I am not arguing. So don't read angry tones into what I am saying. Thanks!

***********************************

The fallibility of man is not the core issue here. Yes, people can make mistakes. That's no reason to accept extrabiblical stuff in order to reinterpret scripture.

Has God failed to fulfill His promise to them because they don't have the internet or a library?

Lets consider this hypothetical person in regard to the issues of foot washing and a holy kiss. If that person reads those scriptures he may interpret them as timeless commands to obey today and may try to apply them as such, as some have indeed misinterpreted and misapplied them throughout church history. And that person may become guilty of placing legalistic and unnecessary burdens on others.

Is everything legalism? I feel like hardly anyone actually knows what that means. It comes from the books of Galatians and Colossians. It is a term that refers to those who proclaim that we must keep old testament law in order to be saved. If someone were here at SI saying that you have to be circumsized in order to go to heaven or to earn favor with God, they are a legalist. If salvation and favor with God is not being juxtaposed with OT law, it is not legalism. It might be something else, but it isn't legalism. We aren't talking about salvation here. We are talking about customs and the interpretation of scripture in regard to them.

If I try to imitate those men who came before me who walked with the Lord, as the Scriptures tell me to, am I a legalist? If a church decided to greet one another with a holy kiss or wash one another's feet in rememberance and for a reminder that we are to love and serve one another, are they legalists? No.

You know what? I have freedom NOT to wash another brother's feet or to NOT greet them with a Holy Kiss, but if I do it and I am not exalting myself over others, why am I judged?

Who in their right mind is going to say, "You know what, brother, it is such a burden for me to greet you with a Holy Kiss. I absolutely hate it."

Who is going to say, "You know what, brother, it is such a burden for me to wash your feet."

If I say that if you don't kiss people and don't wash their feet you're going to hell, then yes, I am terribly mistaken.

havok20x writes:

Please note: I am not arguing. So don't read angry tones into what I am saying. Thanks!

Amen brother. I also do not post to argue with an angry attitude at all. I think this has been a good civilized discussion thread so far. May we continue to keep that kind of respectful attitude.

Is everything legalism? I feel like hardly anyone actually knows what that means. It comes from the books of Galatians and Colossians. It is a term that refers to those who proclaim that we must keep old testament law in order to be saved. If someone were here at SI saying that you have to be circumsized in order to go to heaven or to earn favor with God, they are a legalist. If salvation and favor with God is not being juxtaposed with OT law, it is not legalism. It might be something else, but it isn't legalism. We aren't talking about salvation here. We are talking about customs and the interpretation of scripture in regard to them.

If I try to imitate those men who came before me who walked with the Lord, as the Scriptures tell me to, am I a legalist? If a church decided to greet one another with a holy kiss or wash one another's feet in rememberance and for a reminder that we are to love and serve one another, are they legalists? No.

You know what? I have freedom NOT to wash another brother's feet or to NOT greet them with a Holy Kiss, but if I do it and I am not exalting myself over others, why am I judged?

Who in their right mind is going to say, "You know what, brother, it is such a burden for me to greet you with a Holy Kiss. I absolutely hate it."

Who is going to say, "You know what, brother, it is such a burden for me to wash your feet."

If I say that if you don't kiss people and don't wash their feet you're going to hell, then yes, I am terribly mistaken.

when we say that we MUST do those things in order to please or obey God

You're right. The Father's pleasure in me is found in His Son. It's not about performance.

Let me quote something our sister followthelamb posted that I think is incredibly profound.

...it has very little to do with men at all but rather the invisible reality which will one day overtake the vain things of this world and bring us all to stand before His throne.

Anything we do--even if it is absolutely biblical--if it is done with the "I'm gonna be the best christian ever" mentality, is total failure from the start. What should motivate us is the glory of God--that's in everything.

God's mercy, grace, love, etc toward me is found in Christ not performance.

Hence galatians 6:14--" But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

By havok20x

Let me quote something our sister MaryJane posted that I think is incredibly profound.

...it has very little to do with men at all but rather the invisible reality which will one day overtake the vain things of this world and bring us all to stand before His throne.

__________________

Greetings havoke20x

I just wanted to say I did not write that, followthelamb wrote that. I do agree with you, it is very profound. :)

God bless
maryjane

I will make the necessary corrections. Thanks!

And then there is faith: "without faith it is impossible to please him."

The study of faith teaches us that people obeyed the LORD's commands that made little sense to them. You cannot believe without doing, obeying. Hebrews 11 teaches us that.

Some things defy common sense, culture, but we do it as an act of faith - we believe and so we do.

Sree, I appreciate your many posts and your insights but I would like to ask you a question: based on your quote, you would have to include baptism in this 'dead work', right? Baptism is purely a ritual, nothing more, nothing less BUT commanded by the LORD Jesus to do. When such is the case, it has meaning beyond our scope of comprehension...except maybe it is our modern day equivalent of eating from the 'tree of knowledge of good and evil': you either do it and sin or refuse and obey God - a test of our obedience.

Sister I think I was too harsh on calling Foot washing in a western environment or in well developed nation as Dead Work. Thank you for pointing out. There is always an excuse of youthful zeal!

I was referring to Hebrews 9:14- how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The purpose of the Jesus washing the feet of his disciples is to set an example to serve one another. I am sure you will agree on that. The service is important here.

If a person does not have this serving mentality, sits in a Church every Sunday where he tithes, gives 2 hours of time and practices the ritual of foot washing which is not at all a needed service in his country (because people are rich enough to come in car with shoes and socks), just because their Church takes it as a literal command. To me this action is a dead work. There is no use to anyone here. It will give them a feeling as if they have served one another, but with a useless service. To serve one another is to keep looking into Body of Christ and see the need and be quick to respond with service. Jesus saw the feet of disciple dirty and he responded with a service.

Now if there is a Church in which everyone puts their service to build the body of Christ and apart from that they also practice foot washing because they do not want to miss even a single command from God then I do not call it a Dead work. It is like people who greet me with kiss because it is commanded, but I will in response shake their hands. As long as you greet one another and welcome them it is good enough.

Regarding Baptism it is a symbol of a person dying and raising with Christ. Just like Head covering it is a symbol for both men and angels. Angels rejoice in heaven when they see a sinner repent and take baptism. But foot washing is not a symbol, it was a service done by Jesus. Jesus asked us to serve without others knowing it whenever possible. I do not believe Jesus will ask us to have symbol for serving. I find them contradicting. What do you think?

I agree with you Sree. Well stated.