Feet Washing.

Can you find any where on the net where there are 3 ordinances in a list of Baptist distinctives... I would be interested in reading it.

 

Those distinctives are man made as distinctives. They for sure do not encompass all that Baptist believe. I just gave you scripture where the early fathers, at least some of them considered it to be so.

I tell you something Tim. There is no man alive who tells me whether I am a Baptist or not, and that includes you also.

You ask, if I can google and find more than 2 ordinances. You want me to go to man's material and writings to find out about God's word. No thank you, you do that, as for me and my house I will serve the Lord. If that means I wash my brother's feet, then as the Lord said, as often as you do it to one of these my little ones, you have done it to me. That sure makes me feel good, that when I kneel down, that the foot I am washing, I can think of the Lord's foot. I am sorry for you Tim, you have missed out on a lot of your Salvation by just skipping this part, as if it don't matter. I can guarntee you, if you ever did it with an humble heart and mean it, you would rise off your knees with tear flowing down your cheek. God Bless you Tim,

We believe it to be a command of the Lord.

ARTICLE 8. We believe that the Lord's Supper is the command of the Saviour, and that by use of bread and the fruit of the vine, and feet washing should be kept up until his second coming by his believers.

BBob,

 

I googled "baptist distinctives foot washing" and low and behold a thread from BB came to the top..
One that Brother Bob started asking is it an ordinance..

I must have been out in lala land when this thread was alive because I don't remember it...

But Tom Butler gave an excellant example of why it cannot be called an ordinance..

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=32482&page=2

And with that I can say amen.

I do want to point out that I am not saying you shouldn't do it.. but don't elevate it to the level of Baptism or communion.

 

Tim,
Just so you know, I hold no offence to your opinion.
I am curious about some of the things you say. Maybe I take what you say wrong, but what it appears you are saying is that we have a "Holy than thou" attitude towards it.
I am simply saying that there is a wonderful blessing in doing it if you do it for the right reason. If you are not willing to do it, thats fine. Doesn't make you any more or less a Christian.

I am a Christian. My church membership is Baptist. You keep saying there are 2 ordinances, one of them communion.
At the last supper, Christ:
Broke the bread (Nobody has a problem with practicing this)
Drank the wine (Again, no problems)
Washed their feet (Now there is a problem)

He did all three, why do so many people insist on leaving off the third? You keep saying that we are ADDING it, but in fact, many are LEAVING IT OUT. I am curious to know why? Who has the authority to say communion is is only the first two when Christ plainly did all three?
It was an example Christ did, I see no reason why we should not dollow it.

Also:

He is teaching us to serve. The example is to wash feet. But even in your post you are saying that washing feet is something He taught. In other words, we are to wash feet, but not that only.

 

In my view, an act of serving others doesn't mean repetition of a one-time event. It means in everything we do, we are to humble ourselves to serve our fellow human beings. Jesus foot washing was an example of service, not a mandate to replicate the method.

 

What on earth is with the hostility? Good grief, Bob, I joke around, you know that. You're getting awfully mad over something I said in jest.

No sense in you getting all snippy. Have a sense of humor. It's allowed. It's the BB...no one takes me seriously! :laugh:

Or, you can stay mad.... My comments were meant to "lighten things up.

 

Well rbell, I got it, and it gave me a chuckle. BBob seems to be going out of his way to take offense.

 

BBob;
Being you mentioned my name in a thread I think you should of also, posted what I said.

Is it necessary to keep up the feet washing in the Church or was it just Jesus washing the Apostles feet?

John, chapter 13
"4": He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

"5": After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

"6": Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

"7": Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

"8": Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

"9": Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

"10": Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

"11": For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

"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. (This to me this is a very instructive verse in this feet washing, and think Jesus is saying If I did it, then so should you.)

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

Your thoughts? :wavey:

 

This sure sounds like an ordinance.

John 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

 

OK, my post directly above was after reading Brother Bob's angry post to me.

Now, I've read the whole thread.

Brother Bob, I've been part of a foot washing service. We don't do it often where I am, but we have done it. I found it meaningful. I have no theological problems with it. In a larger setting, I do see some logistical things that have to be done, but fine.


My larger issue is how angry you got. Boy, did you ever take things personally. Now...I can only deal with me, not others...so any comments between you and other posters is between ya'll.

But I was not making fun of the Lord. And I was not trying in any way to denigrate foot-washing. I was having fun and using the same sense of humor I always do. My "spin cycle" comment was poking fun at my Pentecostal brethren. None of them got upset...

I am sorry that my statement hurt you. It wasn't in any way directed at you. Now...I must admit, your accusation that I made fun of the Lord...I didn't appreciate that. But you're upset, and what's said is said.

But there's no reason to be lobbing grenades at folks over this. That's something I would expect more out of the person that opened this thread.

 

Here is an article that sums it up... http://www.thewordteaches.com/The_Word_Teaches/whatisabaptist.htm


T-wo Ordinances

We believe the local church was given only two Scriptural ordinances.
1. Baptism - The Bible clearly teaches that baptism is to be the first step of obedience for any believer. It is to be an outward picture of what Christ has done for us.
2. Lord's Supper - The Lord's Supper is to be observed by the local church as a memorial of Christ's body and blood that was sacrificed for us (I Cor. 11:24-25).
The Scriptures teach no saving value with either ordinance.
We recognize only two ordinances based upon three logical arguments.
1. An ordinance must be instituted in the gospels.
2. An ordinance must be practiced in the book of Acts (2:41).
3. An ordinance must be instructed in the epistles.
Foot washing does not meet those criteria. If foot washing was an ordinance, we would see the model church in Acts doing it, and we would see instructions for it in the epistles.



Also, I want to say that the first two stages of communion point to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.. which Baptism does the same.. but feet washing doesn't therefore, I don't consider it an ordinance.

I am sorry if I gave you the wrong impression..
But I am being told by Bob that I am not a complete Christian because I don't call footwashing an ordinance...

I am simply pointing out that traditionally Baptists do not consider it so.. and if a person does they are not a typical baptist. (Which may be a good thing!!! :laugh: )

I am going to bed in a little while..
And before I do, I want you all to know, I love you all ,and respect your beliefs.. I just don't agree with them.

No animosity on my part. I don't feel I am a better Christian because I don't participate, and I hope you all don't feel you are better than me.



​

 

MP,

I do not disagree. We should walk the walk 24/7.
But do you take communion at your church? Do you brake the bread and drink the wine? If so, why do you do that? Couldn't that be a repetition of a one time event?
My point is everyone is willing to do that and say it means something. It is something we are supposed to do. He also, at the same time washed their feet. But we want to say thats not important, He is teaching us to be humble and serve. Yes He is, and we should. But He it is an example that He left for us. By doing it, just like the bread and the wine, it is in remembrance of Him.

 

My thoughts?
It was an example.. Jesus said it was..
So what was it an example of?

Servanthood.

He stooped down to the lowest status of slave to wash feet.

He exemplified the fact that we are to be servants to men.

It was an example of how to act...
But not an example of a religious service in church.

That is my thoughts.

 

I am interested to see if footwashing is practiced by baptists outside of Appalachia? Everyone arguing for it on here tonight is part of the Appalachian mountain range.

I just found this interesting.. why do you think it is so?

 

Good night brother. Same here, I love you and hope all is well at your home.

 

rbell;
If I had of known you were kidding to some Penecostal brethren, I would not of said anything. I took it as making fun of feetwashing period and felt that none on here should be making fun of it. If some don't believe in it, thats fine. It is their right and I do not question it. When someone has fun at my expense, then I respond. I do not want to be an enemy to you and it seems to be a misunderstanding. I don't know you well enough to know when you are making fun, or serious. I hope you will forgive me for that. We all are some different on here, but I try my best not to make fun of those who believe different than I. This is not just to you but a couple more who I felt thru some slang remarks. I love The Old Regular Baptist and will defend her as long as I am alive.
Maybe you and I will become more familiar with each other and know when one is kidding. I would hope so. What I do not get is when some make remarks and I respond, I am supposed to be mad. Most of the time I am not, I am just holding my ground.

Again, I pray we can be friends, who needs enemies. God Bless again,

BBob,

 

Well, would you consider from Michigan all the way to Flordia, out of the Appalachian?? If so, I could name you many churches. I tell you one thing we don't do Tim and that is ask for tithes (no scripture), sinners prayer thing (no scripture withour repentance), mourners benches (no scripture), infant baptism (no scripture), sprinkling ( no scripture) etc.

BBob,

 

What's a mourners bench? I have never seen that? I have heard the term before, but never seen one.

I am sure there are churches outside of appalachia that do foot wash.. It just seemed strange that tonight, only those from appalachia was debating for it.

ORBs, and Free Will do don't they?

 

We are cool. All is well.

It's easy with me. I only joke around on days that end in "y."

 

What does it mean when Jesus gives an example?

Why did the ancient church consider it to be a part of a church service?? I mean even Justin, that was back in about 100 AD?

BBob