Foot washing

[rgcraig]

Vital - don't think so.

I personally do not like it - I can show humility in other ways.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Vital - don't think so.

I personally do not like it - I can show humility in other ways.

Oh c'mon Sis! Grab the pumice stone and git ta work on these har calloused dogs of mine!

[Sam]

My personal opinion is that Jesus gave us an example of service.
He taught that we should serve one another by love.
I don't think His words mean that we should literally have regular "foot washing services."

I've been part of churches who practice foot washing. I've participated. I've never heard it mentioned in the church where I have been going since spring of 2006 and we have (open) communion about once a month. I have no problem washing a brother's feet. I think washing feet is symbolic of serving one another. I think Peter was thinking back to that night in the upper room when he wrote these words years later:

1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Peter 5:1-6

Verse 5 reads:
"put on the apron of humility" Moffatt, ISV"
"wrap yourselves in the garment of humility" NEB
"wear the overall of humility" Phillips
"Clothe (apron) yurselves, ... with humility --as the garb of a servant" Amplified

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Sam

My personal opinion is that Jesus gave us an example of service.
He taught that we should serve one another by love.
I don't think His words mean that we should literally have regular "foot washing services."

I've been part of churches who practice foot washing. I've participated. I've never heard it mentioned in the church where I have been going since spring of 2006 and we have (open) communion about once a month. I have no problem washing a brother's feet. I think washing feet is symbolic of serving one another. I think Peter was thinking back to that night in the upper room when he wrote these words years later:

1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Peter 5:1-6

Verse 5 reads:
"put on the apron of humility" Moffatt, ISV"
"wrap yourselves in the garment of humility" NEB
"wear the overall of humility" Phillips
"Clothe (apron) yurselves, ... with humility --as the garb of a servant" Amplified

Sam,
Your are such a seasoned voice of reason, at the risk of your reputation, I agree with you.

[Theophil]

Originally Posted by Sam

My personal opinion is that Jesus gave us an example of service.
He taught that we should serve one another by love.
I don't think His words mean that we should literally have regular "foot washing services."

I've been part of churches who practice foot washing. I've participated. I've never heard it mentioned in the church where I have been going since spring of 2006 and we have (open) communion about once a month. I have no problem washing a brother's feet. I think washing feet is symbolic of serving one another. I think Peter was thinking back to that night in the upper room when he wrote these words years later:

1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Peter 5:1-6

Verse 5 reads:
"put on the apron of humility" Moffatt, ISV"
"wrap yourselves in the garment of humility" NEB
"wear the overall of humility" Phillips
"Clothe (apron) yurselves, ... with humility --as the garb of a servant" Amplified

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[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Theophil

bump

Footwashing MAY be symbolic of many things no argument. However Jesus took literal water put it in a literal basin and washed literal feet and said this was for an EXAMPLE and told them to DO THIS. It is so simple.
Here is a thought the Lord's supper is to symbolize his death think about this
the host becomes a servant in feetwashing to cleanse his disciples. God took upon himself the form of a servant to cleanse our walk.

[Sam]

One of the most memorable footwashings I participated in was quite a few years back when I was going to a UPC church. I was in my thirties and I washed the feet of an old man. He was the father of a man who was a deacon in the church and of a daughter who was a missionary. He had been serving God for many years. I think he was an officer in the church but I don't remember now. His hands and feet were very deformed from arthritis. As I washed his feet I thought, "What if the rapture happened right now and I saw those gnarled feet transformed and straightened in my hand in the split second before we ascended to see Jesus?"

I have no battle or problem with footwashing. I just don't believe it was meant to be a ritual that we perform literally. If the church I am going to now had a footwashing service I would participate.

The only time I have seen footwashing in the couple years I have been going to this church was one Sunday morning when a young man was leaving Ohio to go to Florida for ministerial training. He was called up before the congregation so we could pray for him as he entered this new phase of life. He had his mother and father come to the front and he washed their feet. It was very touching.

Water baptism, communion, anointing with oil, laying on of hands, and foot washing are all old customs/traditions/rituals in the church which can carry messages and deep meanings for us today but I do not consider them salvational (just my opinion).