AV Bible Believers Fellowship

Below is my reply: I was asked what my opinion is on 'foot washing'. What say ye?

In this passage we are given a statement from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that we should do as He has done.

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.

Mark 10:17 ¶ And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Now John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

One cannot single out but one scripture; wherein do we have room to glory? Our Lord said basically; want to be happy, follow me. As I have done; so do ye.

And as Peter was dismissed, he was beaten and let go. As Peter went back to the rest he was leaping for joy in that he was given the opportunity to suffer for Jesus and counted it joy. We are to count all joy. The lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and the pride of life are thorns in all of our flesh in the daily walk in the world.

Foot washing amongst the brethren is an act of humility and a time of reflection that we are equal. Whom among us will be greatest in Heaven - except we become as a little child. There is great wisdom in this as the child will forgive and dismiss without holding a grudge as if it never happened.

Moreover; we have been given examples to follow by our Lord that are not to be questioned. He doesn't make us wash feet but said we should. Therefore; we should.

Further: examples from elders and those in high esteem has kept this along with the observance of Baptism and the Lord's supper --------------- King James was the last known monarch to observe this. Take a moment to look at this man and his life. Probably the best time England ever knew as well as Scotland, Ireland, France and Wales. He was well respected and thought highly of as a Christian. One would think that 1600 years had passed and this was observed, not only by a Christian, but a world leader.

I think the scripture should be taken at face value and the observance carried out faithfully in a manner prescribed in a local body of Christian assembly to be performed both decently and in order. Also, I think it is to be carried out amongst the brethren. God has promised a blessing and happiness; why would one want to deny one's self a blessing from God? Verse 15 does use "ye" as in all, but, the ye's audience was male. If it were so appointed to women within a local body; then, I would imagine it would be women washing only women's feet. However, if a wife was wanting to wash her husband's feet I do not see it should be denied.

A step further: at one's home. Greet one another with an 'holy' kiss. And if you feel you should ask your brother to wash his feet, then do so. It need not just be at a house of prayer or place of worship where one may even take pride in such. One should humble himself and not exalt pride in leadership. For some make long prayers to be heard of man and think themselves to be something.

Again; local church matter to be decided at and by that local church. If it is a 5,000 or 15,000 member church there are some issues. It must fall with the capabilities of that local assembly to perform the function decently and in order. There could be a logistic problem even with 800 members. That's why God ordained the 'local church' I think.

If we know we should do something; then, we should do it. Beloved of God; our Christ Jesus loves us and gave His life for us; are we to do less for Him? Which sacrifice is too great for us? If thy eye offend thee, pluck it out.

Here is a list of all of the mentions of foot washing in the book of Acts and the epistles:

I believe that foot-washing can be a good show of the flesh, which is bad. Jesus didn't set forth a precedent or a sacrament he was just making a visual example.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. <------- simple; Jesus said, you should do it. Who is anyone to say, he didn't mean it?
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.


Our Lord said, ye also ought to wash one another's feet - same place, same time of the Lord's supper. Yes; it's visual and descriptive so as to be clear - you should do it but in an orderly manner as I outlined above or so I think. I'm in an 1854 Baptist church - we do not do foot washing presently.

I know of Baptist Churches that do it and beleive it as an ordinance. If one has the mind that my washing my brother's feet (I certainly don't have a things for males) is to check him out or it has sexual conotation ------- then the alter is the place the that one should go. That person has a serious problem.

But yes; He made a visual example and followed up by saying - ye ought to do it. What's not to understand about that?

Most churches do not do it. It is a "local church" decission. God ordained "local church" throught His wisdom as He knew "universal church" is one problem after the other. Look at the catholics as a concept of universal church; not that they are Christians.

Ronnie made a very good point, and I hope it doesn't get overlooked. Washing the feet of another may be a genuine act of Christian humility; or it may be a show of the flesh, just another "work" like tithing or visitation or wearing a new suit to church on Sunday morning. The heart's attitude is what matters, and the true motivation for the act.

Foot-washing is not a prescribed ordinance for the local church in this age. We have the liberty to do it, or not do it; but if we do it, I don't think it should be part of a church service, where there's an "audience." That's when the danger of "showing off" comes in. If I wash your feet, Brother Pickens, or you wash mine, it will be done privately, or in a very small group. The only ordinances that God has prescribed for the church in this age are baptism and the Lord's Supper.

We need to be careful about these things. The Jews had their ceremonial washings, as do the Muslims; they have lots of them. And that's all they are, 99.9% of the time: ceremonies. Obligations. The Catholics, as usual, incorporated this idea into their routine, with the font of "holy water" in the vestibule of the church. The same Jesus Who washed His disciples' feet said of such people, 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. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also (Mtt. 23:25-27). Paul spoke of "divers washings" as one of the ceremonial things that had been done away with in the new covenant (Heb. 9:8-10).

Doctrinally, we need to be careful about saying that "Jesus said we should" do this. No, brother, He did not. He was speaking to His disciples, while He was physically present on the earth; He was not addressing born again saints in the Church Age. This is where rightly dividing the word of truth comes in. When you see something in the Bible, you ask, "Who's speaking?" and "To whom is he speaking?" Jesus was not speaking to us in that verse, or in the verse about plucking out our offending eyes.

That doesn't mean the foot-washing verses aren't profitable. They're just not aimed at us. They have a spiritual application, which deals with humility and service and a Christlike attitude. But they're not laying down an ordinance for the church.

Sometimes foot-washing may be a good idea: a person may need to humble himself, or another person might need to see such an act of love. I remember a brother who had something against me (I never found out what it was), but it bothered him, so he came and washed my feet as a way of dealing with it. That's fine; that's proper. But making it into a regular practice for the church is not scriptural.

Anyone who'd have the stomach to kneel down and wash my big stinky dogs deserves a medal.

I appreciate and agree with what Bro. William has said, and what Bro. CKG hinted at.

Something else to consider. The central theme of the two ordinances of Believer's Baptism and The Lord's Supper is the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the gospel of our salvation. Foot washing has no connection with this whatsoever. If what Bro. Pickings said is correct, that "Foot washing amongst the brethren is an act of humility and a time of reflection that we are equal" then it has no place alongside the aforementioned ordinances.

The heart's attitude is what's important - yes and that is you. Like titheing if you give you 10% meekly and without malice it is better than giving with a grudge wishing you'd spent it somewhere else.

Foot washing is not a ceremonal washing or anything of the like. I think it is a local church decission. I do not see it as you have to do it. But those that do; I am not going to condemn them.

I am one of "local church" doctrine as being NT teaching and correct church doctrine.

I think foot washing is a local church decission as I said before. If it's done under the umbellra of 'decent and in order' then that's their decession. If I were visiting I 99% likely would not participate. But, ?????

King James did it. Those that do are not less than we that don't. Neither do I think it is a merit badge of look what I did; I'm more ___________ than you. Anyway; that's my take.

(12-17-2010 11:46 PM)Kiwi Wrote: [ -> ]Something else to consider. The central theme of the two ordinances of Believer's Baptism and The Lord's Supper is the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the gospel of our salvation. Foot washing has no connection with this whatsoever.

Good point, brother. I think I'll take some time to meditate upon that...

(12-18-2010 02:52 PM)Here Am I Wrote: [ -> ]Good point, brother. I think I'll take some time to meditate upon that...

Yes, in both the ordinances of the church the gospel of Jesus Christ is paramount. I believe God would have us continue to practise them until Jesus comes as a continual reminder to each of us of what Christ achieved at Calvary, so that we stay grounded in the faith and remain living testimonies of the greatest love story ever told.

During these ordinances God does something very special in the hearts of the church assembly who are present, He reinforces the importance and power of the gospel! This is another reason why Christians need to be in church, otherwise they miss out on this blessing.