Do you still believe in/practice foot washing?

[n david]

Our church just had a communion/foot washing service a couple months ago.

[MawMaw]

Yes, I do.

[houston]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Yes. It is a Bible command, just like repentance is a Bible command, and baptism is a Bible command. Why wouldn't you do this?

it is not a command.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by houston

it is not a command.

Your right, it's not. It was a situation that Jesus turned into a spontaneous object lesson on humility. If those adamant on ceremonial foot washing were to be honest, they would only do it with women washing the feet of men, with their hair.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Simple question: do you still believe and practice actual, literal footwashing?

No

[seekerman]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Simple question: do you still believe and practice actual, literal footwashing?

Yes, still believe in it. No, haven't practiced it in a very long time.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Your right, it's not. It was a situation that Jesus turned into a spontaneous object lesson on humility. If those adamant on ceremonial foot washing were to be honest, they would only do it with women washing the feet of men, with their hair.

Doesn't have to be a woman and it doesn't have to be with hair.

It is a command, but I will submit that while it is on par with baptism and communion, it is not on par with repentance and I wish I had corrected my original post immediately as this is what I believe.

[Nitehawk013]

How in the world can anyone say it is a command as important as baptism? Good lord people.

[Esaias]

How people cannot see this as a command is amazing to me.

After washing His disciples' feet, we read:

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.

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

He washed their feet, said He did it to give them an example. The purpose of the example? "That ye should do as I have done unto you'. He said 'ye also ought to wash one another's feet'.

So then they were obligated to wash one another's feet (that is what 'ought to' means, it means they had an obligation to do it, based upon his example). He said they should do as He had done, that is, they should wash one another's feet.

He then said they were not geater than He. If they knew this, then they would be blessed if they DID this (that is, washed one another's feet).

Furthermore, we read the great commission which says:

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus commanded the disciples to wash one another's feet, to do to each other what He had done to them, and then commanded the disciples to teach all converts to do likewise, to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded the original disciples.

Thus, the practice of foot washing is given not only by the example of the Lord himself, but by His express command.

To suggest that foot washing is symbolic of something and therefore is not to actually be done, is no different than saying baptism or the Lord's Supper is symbolic of something and therefore is not to be actually done.

Jesus did not 'accidentally' wash their feet. He intentionally did it, specifically to teach them to wash one another's feet as an act of service and humility to one another.

Jesus also taught them to eat the Lord's Supper as an act of remembrance. Do we do away with that too? After all, it's the thought that counts, right?

[Nitehawk013]

So you think the actual foot washing was the important part rather than what it signified. Ok...gotcha.

I think the point was humility and to serve your brethren, to be humble enough to serve even in the jobs that are somewhat distasteful. You thinkit was literally about feet.