Feet Washing.

1 Samuel 25:
40: And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee to take thee to him to wife.
41: And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

If you will carefully read this passage and the rest, they washed their feet, when they arrived. Carefully read it.

In the case of Jesus washing His Apostles feet, He washed them as they were about to leave, after supper. You can't compare the two, it does not make sense.

I like Charles pray that someday you will see the scripture in its light.

BBob,

 

When did you ever ask for a complete discourse of my theology on the reason why Jesus washed the disciples feet. I pray that you will learn to not judge until you have heard all of the evidence first.

 

Remember that Scripture is interpreted in light of its historical context and applied today. I have asked you some questions about the applicability of it today. You have given me none. Foot washing is not a custom in America. I doubt if I did that as people came in the front door of my home that they would feel served. My point is that it is worthless in our nation. It is far better to mow my neighbors lawn and blow his snow. Not too long ago I helped one of my neighbors get up his ice. I can just imagine if I told him that I would rather wash his feet than help him get up the ice because that is what Jesus did. When we serve we take the servants position. That is what serving is all about.

He must increase and I must decrease. That is what the Christian life is all about.

Jesus turned over the tax gatherers tables too. Do you do that as well?

 

I totally agree with you that feet washing is not a custom anymore, but we are talking about something being a part of the communion, which is much different than the feet washing you speak of. What Jesus did when He washed His Apostles feet was not a "custom" thing. He made it so plain, that it was not a "custon" thing, by saying what I do now, ye know not, but ye shall know hereafter. Well, they knew all about the "custom" of washing feet, so Jesus had to be speaking of something else.
The following statement by you, tells me you don't have a clue what Jesus did when He washed His Apostles feet:

I hope I answered your question this time. I surely tried.

Feetwashing in the church of your brothers and sisters, is a part of the Communion and not mowing your neighbor's grass, or helping him get up his ice. Far from it.

BBob, :jesus:

 

Obviously there are folks that get some deep significance from this act. Others see it as pointless, and yes...even a bit odd. However, to each their own. That's what is great about religious freedom.

Now, where did I put that box of rattlesnakes?

 

You made my point exactly. Jesus illustrated the point of serving one another. He did not just wash feet. To focus on foot washing is to completely miss the principle Jesus taught. You cannot serve if you do not love.

Jn. 13:34,35, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Everything Jesus taught transended culture. How does foot washing transcend culture in America?

Again I ask you, How would you apply your dogmatism of foot washing in -30 degree weather? How would washing someone's feet in that kind of cold weather serving any purpose and cause one to focus on God?

 

I heard what you had to say about them washing each other feet because they where dirty. And that is the reason you do errr because it is your theology. As you said MY theology. And when I said that I pray god will bless you with the reason he did it was to bless you one day in partaking in it. If you have never had your feet washed then how do you know about it. That is the reason so many people are lost out there. It needs to be there way and not Gods way. I learn that when you put yourself out of the way there is alot you can learn from God. In my eyes you do errr from that point in the scripture. That is not judging you. That is me just standing for the truth. What am I to do, say amen to YOUR theology? He said ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. The point was in him washing there feet was not because there feet was dirty but they was clean all over. And what makes a man clean. It is not the flesh.Mt 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the CUP and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Mt 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the CUP and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Lu 11:39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the CUP and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Lu 11:40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? Lu 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. Lu 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. But Jesus knows who is clean and it is not the feet he is talking about.Joh 13:10 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.

 

So washing the feet symbolizes that Christ's blood was not strong enough to cleanse us all over? We need to periodically come back to him and be washed for our sins?

Maybe that's why the churches that practiced foot washing where I was raised believed you could lose your salvation.

I am interested in knowing if that is what you think Charles, Bob, and all others that wash feet...

Can you lose your salvation?

In my Theology, Christ's blood was strong enough to save me when I was saved.. It covered my past, present, and future sins. It washes me clean... ALL OVER.

 

But He gave us an example how to do it, and that was to wash your brothers feet. Why would you deny His example???

We have broke ice in the water to baptize, think we could not do it in feet washing???

I really hope you will meditate on these scripture of feet washing and you might learn what the Lord was saying.

BBob,

 

No that is not what it means. It mean Jesus Christ knows who was clean and who wasn't. he was telling them just because you get your feet washed doesn't mean your feet are dirty. But that you are clean all over. We do it because we are clean and saved. I explain what make you clean. The inside of the cup and plater which is by the blood of the lamb. Just because my feet are dirty does not mean I am unclean. That is what he was tring to say.You are not clean because I washed your feet but you are clean inwardly that is what makes you clean. Peter did not understand it then But I bet he did after he receave the Holy Ghost. It is a spiritaul cleaning .Joh 13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. You cannot lose your Salvation. No washing each others feet symbolizes that you been clean by the blood of the lamb. Get that right and stop twisting it.

 

You answer that Tim, can you lose your salvation by not taking the communion?? Washing feet is part of the communion.

So, you are one of those who does not need an advocate with God, if you sin?? Sounds as if you believe if you have the blood, you can commit all or any sin you want.

BBob,

 

funny......

 

NO... I NEED an advocate... Believe me I need HIM!! :laugh:

Charles' post just got me thinking...

All along I have been asking how washing feet symbolizes Christ's death...
And I thought you all were on to something...

For if it symbolizes us being washed by the blood... I can see how it could be used to symbolize Christ's death...

Plus, I was curious to know if there is a link between the belief in losing salvation (WHich I don't believe we can do) and foot washing...

Like I said the churches that practice foot washing where I was raised also believed that if a Christian dies with unconfessed sin in their life, they will go to Hell.

I have never met a person (that believed in footwashing) that didn't also believe that if a person was drunk and died, even if that person was saved, they would go to Hell.

Everyone I have met growing up that believed in footwashing, also believed that in order to go to Heaven, they had to stay "prayed up"

That is another reason I never participated in it. As I see this type of theology (Prayed up in order to go to Heaven) as a works theology.

Bob, I think you even believe that if a Christian is committing adultery and dies in the act they will go to Hell, right?

See, I don't... Adultery is a sin, but Christ paid for it as well as he did my past sins... that doesn't give me a license to sin, but I am eternally safe.

Please correct me if I am wrong about your beliefs...

This has just been my experience with foot washing advocates... they all beleive it is possible to lose their salvation...

Of course, I could broaden my horizens and get to know a lot more people!!! :laugh: :wavey:

 

Tim,
Why do you have communion? If a Christian elects to not brake bread and drink wine does that mean he is not a Christian?
Christ set the example. He instructed us to do these things in remembrance of Him.
When we brake bread we do it in rembrance of His body.
When we drink the wine, it is in remembrance to His blood.
When we wash feet, it is in remembrance of His service.

If you do all three but you don't apply it in life, it is worthless to you.
If you apply all three in life but do not take communion, you are better off.

If I wash my brothers feet and do not help my neighbor I am worse off than someone who helps their neighbor and doesn't wash feet.

No matter if anyone accepts it as a part of communion or not, Christ still did it as an example to follow. It was not a customary practice in the fassion He done it. He taught a point when He did it. We see this when Peter did not want Him to do it.
If someone has never done this, all I can say is I wish you would consider it. Does not make you anymore of a Christian if you do or don't, just as if you do or do not drink the wine.
From experience, the first time I did it, I was a little like Peter. I was skeptical and truley saw no real point to it. But after I kneeled before my brothers and humbled myself to do this, in remembrance of Christ and what He done, I cannot perform communion now without it. There is a big blessing in it if you do it for the right reason.

 

Magnetic Poles:
I got 'nuther box of rattlers in my den here somewhere. I could send them over to ya.
Be mighty kerful 'bout the short one, though.
He's mean.
Jist bit one pinky offa one of our members here.

Tiny Tim:

You just met somebody who washes feet but don' believe a true, blue child of God by virtue of God's sovereign electing mercy will go to hell for smashing his head on the pavement after tripping while the Officer was givin' him the ole, walk-this-straight-line-one-foot-front-of-the-other test......me.

Who are those churches, anyway ?

 

It was just the Free Will Baptists in the area I grew up,
and a couple community churches (non denominational)

And as I think about it, the one community church had a pastor that was originally a Free Will Baptist.

There were no ORB.... or even Primitive Baptist.
the Closest ORB was about 3 hours away in southern WV.. and the closest Primitive was over an hour away, also in a southern WV county.

 

I think I am sure Brother Bob would agree with me on this is that you cannot commit adultery as a Christain. And they will go to hell if such a person like this does these things. A Christain is a Christ like person and Christ has never commited Adultery therefor how can you calll someone a Christain that has done this deed. So how can you tell me such that do these thing can go to heaven saved or not saved as the way you beleive when the bible clearly says that they will not.Ga 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Ga 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Ga 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which DO such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. So if you think someone who is doing all these things are being Christ like then you are very blind.

 

So let me get this straight...

IF a person has been saved, born again... He can never commit adultery?

EVEN though Christ said to lust after a woman is committing adultery?

Is this what you are saying?

What about getting drunk? Can a born again, child of God get drunk?

And if so, then what happens if they die drunk?

 

You must live in a warm climate. You would not break any ice where I live. It is too thick right now.

Jesus' example sits within a historical context. Take into consideration that it was in much the same context as Yuma, Arizona. Yuma is dusty and dirty as well as hot and seldom gets below cool.

The gospel works in every culture. Yet you refused to answer my question twice. Why? If you truly believe that foot washing must be practiced then you must agree that it must be practiced everywhere at all times in every culture. So it must be practiced in -70 degree weather too. If foot washing is always serving one another then certainly you could claim that frozen feet would honor God.

You mentioned that you do not foot wash in the context outside of the building. Why not? Is your God confined to a building? If it is good in a building then why not outside of the building?

Whether we agree on foot washing is of little value. We know that Jesus commanded his disciples to make disciples. Making disciples is the real issue.

I see serving as anything that will help bring people closer to God. It is both pragmatic and spiritual. If foot washing would do that then great. I have washed the feet of the elderly because they liked it and it met their need. Some people will not let you serve them. However, I have always found ways that I can serve people after praying awhile and given the opportunity. I see Jesus washing feet as meeting a need, serving, and allowing someone to serve you. If you put water on the feet of someone in very cold weather it would be painful very quickly. I cannot see how that would bring them closer to God or serve them. If someone wanted to put water on my feet in very cold weather I would not let them.

 

I would not be so sure that Bob would agree with you.

Adultery is anything that would deviate from God's perfect plan, not just sexual immorality with a married person.

1 Jn. 1:8, "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us."

What would say about Noah getting drunk? What about Peter cutting off a man's ear and denying Christ? History tells us that when peresecution came along many in the early church denied Christ and later repented.