Is Feet washing an ordainance that Jesus put in the Church.

Personally, I don't think that was Jesus' point, so I don't see it as an ordinance. Washing the feet of travelers was the duty of the lowest slave in the household. You can only imagine how dirty the feet would get in the first century.

Jesus is telling his disciples and us to be servants of one another. Put aside your own wants, and serve others, especially those in the church. That was the example He gave to the disciples and us.

I see it as a command to have an humble attitude of selfless service; not as an ordinance.

peace to youraying:

 

No, I do not believe Jesus was establishing an ordinance for foot washing. He was commanding us to have an attitude of service toward one another.

I explained to you the 1st century background for footwashing. Widows that washed the saints feet are those who served those traveling Christians by providing for them on the journey. This would have included foot washing in the 1st century. Today, it might be providing a place for a shower, or a love offering from the church.

The command is to serve one another. To "Wash someone's feet" in the church, as an ordinance, creates an artificial environment of "service". Most church members (in the U.S. anyway) don't need a bath. We have shoes, so our feet don't get as dirty as they would for a traveler in the first century.

peace to youraying:

 

You are welcome.

peace to youraying:

 

I don't know how many still practice it. I do know it is practiced in some churches.

I once went to a homeless shelter and washed the feet of the men there (that would let me). While I washed their feet, I shared the gospel. I didn't consider it an "ordinance", but I did want to show those men I didn't consider myself any better than they were. We were separated only by God's Grace.

I had a young man break down as I washed his feet. He told me how his life had been ruined by drugs. He had been a high school football star, but had dropped out his senior year. I gave him the gospel, and encouraged him to come to Jesus, and live his life for the cause of Christ.

He seemed so happy afterward, and promised he was going back home and make a new start. I occasionally think of him, and pray things are well with his soul.

peace to youraying:

 

I think the foot washing was an example act that Jesus was doing to teach His disciples servitude. Because people wore sandals at that time and walked, it was a custom that when a guest entered a house, a servant in that house would wash the guest's feet to keep the floor from getting dirty. Jesus was showing that as He was their Lord and Master acting as a servant would, believers should be servants to each other.

In our day of wearing socks and shoes, we don't much have to worry about treading dirt on people's carpets; therefore, the actual act of washing feet doesn't make as much sense today. It was not the actual act that Jesus was teaching, it was what it implied that Jesus was teaching.

Just my $0.019999999999

 

Amen! Great news!

 

This is one wonderful testimony and I'm sure you greatly impacted this young man's life. God bless you is my prayer... raying:

That is great news Bro Bob, I can hear the rejoicing from heaven... :thumbs:

 

The distinctive feature of baptism and the Lord's Supper is that they both picture the gospel. Foot-washing doesn't, so in my view does not qualify as an ordinance.

However, the foot-washing episode in the NT does illustrate an important lesson for us, and we would do well to demonstrate humility and servanthood in our lives and in our relationships.

 

Tom,
Thanks for putting it this way. We have many Free Will Baptists in our area, and some coming to our church. They believe that footwashing is an ordinance. But picturing ordinances in the light of the Gospel presentation, this just makes sense to me.

Thanks again!

 

I forgot to put my view on here...

Most Churches in these parts wash feet as part of the ordination of preachers/deacons. I believe we do it backwards because only the candidates wash any feet. I suggested a few years back that we wash their feet like Jesus did but received a stern, "shut up boy" from one of the older preachers.

 

I explained to you the 1st century background for footwashing. Widows that washed the saints feet are those who served those traveling Christians by providing for them on the journey. This would have included foot washing in the 1st century. Today, it might be providing a place for a shower, or a love offering from the church. as quoted above

In the old testament it was a custom to give water for travelers to wash their feet. even way before the 1st century. Jesus did not do that He washed them. I believe this teaches humility and servicetude. Just like baptism teaches resurrection and communion teaches His sinless body and His blood atonement. Like a womans hair in 1 Corinth ch. 11 teaches the covering of the church and mans short hair teaches Christ's righteousness and that he needed not a covering. I believe all these things teach something and I believe we are to do them.

As far as the widows in I Tim. 5:10 it didn't say if she have gave them water so they could wash their feet but it said if she have washed the saints feet it was not like the old custom where you gave a traveler water to wash his feet but it was washing the saints feet which would be like what Christ taught after supper ended, because it didn't say anybody but the Saints Also in this passage it rules out some understanding for feet washing as just being servicetude (as in not to be taken literal aswell) because it also metions relieved the afflicted, and if she have lodged strangers. Service that is listed right along with washing the saints feet.

Also Mary washed Christs feet with the tears of her eyes and dried them with the hairs of her head.

At one time I didn't like the thought of getting down to wash someone's feet but since then the Lord has got ahold of me and now I get down to do it and I feel happy for it. Feetwashing time is part of some of our best meeting with tears of joy and shouts of praise. I believe its his teachings for his people and we ought to do these things. I think washing feet makes it easier to also want to serve your brethern. This is where I stand firm in my conviction. and I believe all of this is of the gospel.....in love brother jeremy.

 

Brother Bob, I believe that washing of the saints' feet should be practiced in church capacity. But over the years I've come to believe that arguing over the number of ordinances is a certain amount of arguing over man's contrivance. I believe baptism is an initiatory symbolic practice, that the Lord's supper, feet washing, right hand of fellowship, anointing with oil, laying-on-of-hands and a few others are on-going symbols to be used in and by the church. I have no problem with those who see baptism and the Lord's supper as "stronger" rites. I have no inclination to dispense with the other practices just because they don't rise to someone else's definition of an ordinance.