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Does the church you attend practice feet washing as an ordinance?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Old Union Brother, Nov 13, 2010.

  1. Old Union Brother

    Old Union Brother New Member

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    I’m curious does the church you attend practice feet washing as an ordnance? In our discussion about communion Convicted1 and I were the only ones that mentioned feet washing as an ordinance. I’m using the verses from John 13:

    [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.

    The church I attend practices feet washing as a part of our communion service which we conduct once per year in our home church.
    :praying:
     
  2. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    No, it has never been practiced at the churches I've attend, but I would not be unalterably opposed to it.
     
  3. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    All the Old Baptists in these parts practice ceremonial feet washing, and as your's, done at each Church's 'Annual Meeting'.

    We ought to pay attention to the 'ye oughts' of the scripture:

    If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another`s feet. Jn 13:14

    Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone. Mt 23:23

    In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

    Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk, --that ye abound more and more. 1 Thess 4:1

    For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 2 Thess 3:7

    For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that. Ja 4:15

    I was raised a Southern Baptist which, like most other denominations these days, spiritualizes the application of the passage referred to in the OP. When I joined the Primitive Baptists I still yet believed that feet washing 'ought to' be spiritualized and not taken literally; until I experienced my first ceremonial feet washing. It's hard for me to describe the spiritual blessing that I have derived from this solemn, humbling, ego-shattering experience. As far as I'm concerned there are so many these days that are missing out on a wonderful blessing to be had. But so many these days have a problem even with shaking hands with the Saints. It would take a miracle to bring them down to the level of washing the feet of the Saints.
     
    #3 kyredneck, Nov 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 14, 2010
  4. Old Union Brother

    Old Union Brother New Member

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    What an humbling experience and blessing it is to get down at the feet of the saints. This year the Lord blessed me to get down at the feet of an old elder that was 95 years old and wash his feet. Here I am a young man of 53 getting down and washing this brother's feet who had been preaching more years than I have been alive. You talk about a blessing, the Lord surely gave me one that day.
     
  5. Robert Snow

    Robert Snow New Member

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    We all wear shoes.
     
  6. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    and what is your point
     
  7. John Toppass

    John Toppass Active Member
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    I am not objecting to foot washing. I do not see it as an ordinance. Foot washing was a common practice in most households, it was not like baptism or the Lord's supper. These are unique to the belief and faith of the believer.

    IMO, Jesus did the foot washing to show that nobody is above doing the lowest of duties. Foot washing was usually done by the lowest of the servants in the house. (so I have read) Foot washing was needed at the end of the day because the roads were dusty or muddy (depending on the weather) and the feet were literally filthy with the grime of the road and needed to be washed so as not to contaminate the house especially if a meal was to be served. They sat or laid around a low table or sometimes just a setting on the floor and the participants would be coming into close proximity or contact of another's foot. Jesus was showing his disciples that they should not hold themselves higher than any other who is a believer.

    This can be done at today's church by pastors, elders and deacons being served last at church dinners. (oh the joys of pot luck dinners) Maybe, the fact that these men, in general are last to leave the church building after services. This is also done when we take care of widows and orphans or others in need without saying "I am too important to do such and such" or "Let someone else do it merely because I do not have too". Christians lead by serving and the more they serve the more they lead even if they do not realize they are leading.

    Like I said I do not object if someone wants to have a foot washing service (I have been to one) but, I do not think it is a ordinance or a command from Jesus to do so. His command is that we serve not just by washing feet when needed.

    Just my thoughts.
     
  8. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
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    Foot washing is not an ordinance of the church. Using it as such is the result of a grave misunderstanding of what Christ was teaching. He uses the priests of the OT to illustrate that, even though they were ministering in the beautiful tabernacle, the floor was still dirt and, even though their ceremonial robes remained spotless white, their feet got dirty. This was to represent that we, although clothed in the spotless white of Christ's righteousness, still live and walk in the fallen world and occasionally pick up dirt from that walk. Just as the priests were to periodically wash their feet to be completely clean, so also we are to periodically wash our feet to be completely clean, and, additionally, we are to forgive one another their occasional lapses in spiritual perfection as illustrated by the washing of their feet.

    We are not to wash each other's feet. We are to forgive one another's failings.
     
  9. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

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    I've never been in a church that did foot washing. I had an Aunt and Uncle whose Church of God did that.
     
  10. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    A grave misunderstanding? Are there some dire consequences to this practice that I'm not aware of?

    And it's not foot washing, it's feet washing. We actually wash both feet.
     
    #10 kyredneck, Nov 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 14, 2010
  11. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    How many feet do you wash if a brother is a double amputee?
     
  12. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    Baptism and the Lord's Supper picture the gospel. Baptism reminds one of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The Lord's Supper remembers his death on the cross, his shed blood and broken body.

    Footwashing does none of these.
     
  13. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    Jesus "ought to" was about the example of service and not of actually practicing foot washing as an ordinance.
     
  14. Old Union Brother

    Old Union Brother New Member

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    I understand that we are to serve one another daily and to forgive each other of our shortcoming. I realize that Jesus was teaching service to each other. We can say we serve but do we really serve one another. Once again I'll quote John 13:

    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.

    I know that our baptism is an example of the death burial and resurrection Of Jesus Christ and that the Lord's supper represents our Lord's suffering and death that he endured for us. I believe that feet washing is an example of his humility. He said that he gave us an example I want to follow his example. I know that when I partake of the Lord's supper and feet washing I'm happy in the spirit
     
  15. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    No we do not.
     
  16. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    How many of the footwashing brothers and sisters "pre-wash" at home?
     
  17. jaigner

    jaigner Active Member

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    You might get athletes hand.

    Seriously, I have no issue with the practice of this, as it can be a beautiful symbol. I don't see it as being an ordinance (even though I'm a little more toward the sacramental side than most folks here would be comfortable with).

    As a side note, some of you folks observe communion only once a year?
     
  18. Old Union Brother

    Old Union Brother New Member

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    Feetwashing as practiced in my home church is an act of humility and service. Not of cleansing the feet.
     
  19. Old Union Brother

    Old Union Brother New Member

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    Yes, we observe our communion and feetwashing service once a year in our home church, but we visit other churches in which we are in correspondence and take communion with them.
     
  20. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    I was going to ask that, because I am aware that some church of the Brethren churches just wash one foot.... I was curious.
     
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