Foot washing: an ordinance?

[JonC]

I tbink it would be difficult- probably impossible, - for any believer to say there is something wrong with the ceremony of foot washing. Or even doing it twice (feet..... @kyredneck. ).

So it can be an ordinance of local churchs or even implemented as part of the Supper. Nobody should fault a church history for doing so.

At the same time it is different from Baptism and Communion (the Supper).

It is not commanded to be observed.

Foot, foots, or feet washing was not a type of communion in Scripture.
It may be for us as it is foreign to our culture. It may bring, to us, feelings of closeness snd fellowship with one another (which is communion as we are the Body).

But in Scripture it was common practice, it was not a ceremony. Servants washed feet. But most did not have servants. Foot washing was a cultural norm. In Scripture Jesus washing the feet of the Disciples did not express the degree of humility that it may in our culture. It expressed serving.

A Christian should not condemned the practice, but neither should a Chriatian condemn those who do not observe the ceremony.

 

[timf]

If you wear sandals while walking narrow village streets in the middle east where most commerce is conducted using donkeys, you will understand that foot washing is not a ceremonial action. The foot washing was a necessary and useful function that was traditionally performed by the lowest ranking servant of the house.

I consider it possible that this was done while the disciples were arguing about who was going to be the greatest.

 

[JD731]

As always, the answer is to be found in the scriptures. It is "no."

1Co 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

The apostle to the gentiles, Paul, did not mention foot washing as an ordinance in his 13 letters to us then it is not expected of us.

Ro 15:17 ¶ I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

If Paul did not mention it as an ordinance of the church of Jesus Christ, then neither should we.