"Foot Washing"

Let me say right up front that I am very much in favor of "foot washing!"
No, not as a religious ceremony in the worship assemblies of the New
Testament church, but as an act of hospitality if and when needed. I have
washed folks feet who were ill and needed my assistance. I will gladly do so
again and again. The widow who was to be "put on the list" which indicated
that she was to be supported by the church was not to be put on said list or
"enroled" unless she had been given to this typy of service and had
displayed this attitude of serving others (1 Timothy 5:10). 

Jesus, A Perfect Example

Those who have a "foot washing ceremony" from time to time (I don't know how
they determine the frequency) in their "church services" invarably refer to
the case of Jesus washing His disciple's feet as "proof" that such a special
church service should be engaged in today. They fail to take into account
that this was something Jesus did as a Jew while the Old Testament was in
force (Hebrews 9:15-16). He was not instituting a formal act to be performed
as a church function. I have observed or rather I should say I have been
informed by more than one person who formerally was associated with a group
who bound this practice, that they choose whom they sit beside when they are
aware that such a service is to be engaged in so they do not have to wash
the feet of someone who may not practive good personal hygene, or someone
they do not particularly care for! This dear lady who told me this was
adopted by a member of the "church of God" and raised up in that
denomination, but was converted to Christ later, both she and her husband,
after a Bible study with me in their home. They had not only been taught
foot washing as a religous ceremony in said denomination, but had considered
themselves saved the moment they believed and received Jesus Christ. Their
literature cites (Acts 16:31; John 1:12; Revelation 3:20) then calls on the
believer to pray the following prayer to Jesus: "Dear Lord Jesus, come into
my heart and take away all my sin. Right now I receive You as my Saviour.
Thank You." (Pages 6-7-8-9). The tract I cite is distributed by the Sylva
church of God in Sylva, N.C., then asked the "convert" to accept the
following statement "Today I became a member of God's family."  My
name____Date____. 

While one must accept Jesus as "the Christ" and that personally, one does
not become a child of God at that point. One does have the "right" to become
one at this point (John 1:12). Too, no alien sinner was ever instructed by
an inspired teacher to pray anything, period! The couple to whom I refered
above upon studying the cases of conversion to Christ in the acts of the
apostles, later followed those cases of conversion which are in keeping with
the "great commission" of Jesus Christ (Mark 16-15-16; Matthew 28:18-20;
Luke 24:45-49). They repented of sin and error, confessed Jesus as the
Christ and were immersed into Christ and into His one body. the church (Acts
2:22-38, 40-41; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37; Acts 17:30; Romans 6:3-5;
Galatians 3:26-29).  They now wear the family name Christian. Now their
activities are guided by the authority of Christ's word as regards what was
done as church worship and work (Colossians 3:17; 2 John 9-11).
Conspiciously absent from the worship assembles of the first century
churches is foot washing! They did observe the Lord's Supper every first day
of every week (Acts 20:6-7). This passage necessarily implies an every first
day observance. I asked a member of the denomination called the church of
God in Franklin, the same morning that I wrote what you are reading, "If you
should go to work and they said to you payday is on Friday, how often would
you expect a pay check? He relpied, every Friday." I asked my friend, "how
is it that folks can understand such language when it comes to secular
things and cannot when it refers to spiritual?" 

Our Subject Is Foot Washing-It Involves Authority

In (John 13:1-17), Jesus is teaching His disciples and apostles humility and
servititude to others. He isn't prescribing a "church activity" by any
stretch of the imagination. The New Testament authorized by 1. Command. 2.
Approved apostolic example 3. Necessary inference. There are two areas of
establishing Scriputral authority, 1. Generic. 2 Specific. The New Testament
is a "perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25; John 16:13; 2 Peter 1:3). The
Spirit guided the apostles into "all truth" and the churches of Christ in
the first century did not have a foot washing in, before, during, or after
their assemblies as a collective activity or as "church action." No,
individuals practiced this act of humility and hospitality and that with
Christ's approval both then and now (Luke 7:36-50). Something else should be
noticed in this connection, Jesus had power on earth to forgive sins
(Matthew 9:6). One who showed an interest in salvation was told to sell all
that you have and give to the poor (Luke 18:22). Is this what one must do to
be saved today by Christ? We all know better. Cases of forgivness during the
personal ministry of Christ have no bearing on how one is forgiven today.
All of these folks along with Jesus were living under the law of Moses
(Hebrews 9:15-16). To find how to please Christ today, one must go to the
apostle's doctrine (Acts 2:42; Acts 15:24; 1 Corinthians 7:17). Paul wrote
the following "Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and
heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you"
(Philippians 4:9; 1 Corinthians 11:1). Inspired men did not lead the early
churches to engage in a foot washing ceremony. Such is without one iota of
apostolic authority! The earliest date in history where we find folks having
foot washing ceremonies was attested to by Augustine. "The association of
the rite with Maundy Thursday was fixed by the council of Toledo (694). The
developed Catholic practice involves a priest washing the feet of twelve
poor men.." The entire quote is lengthly and I shall not list it. These
quotes are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, by Chris Church-from my
computer program.  

Good People Are Often Mistaken

When I write or preach about such things I know of no other way than to face
issues head on. I try, and God who knows my heart knows this, to be as kind
as possible. I love the truth of Jesus Christ. I love the souls of my fellow
man so much! I dedicated my life to serving Christ in the capacity of an
Evangelist over 36 years ago for this very reason. As you read this tract
don't think that I have any ill will toward anyone. I do not! I know however
that Jesus said "...the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). If you
love truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12), you cannot help but be somewhat
impressed by reading the facts herein presented. You can disregard them but
they will remain true and come judgment day if not faced honestly now, will
face you then (2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Romans 2:6-11; Revelation 20:12-15;
Hebrews 9:26-28). To be in fellowship with God and those who are, one must
believe, obey, and be walking in the things divinely revealed (1 John
1:1-10; 2 John 9-10; 3 John 1:4; Romans 16:16-18). If you desire further
study with me or anyone from the West side church of Christ please feel free
to contact us.

Acts of Worship-Each Lord's Day

Lord's Supper-Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-29; 1Cor. 10:16
A Free-Will Offering-1 Cor. 16:1-2; Chapters 8 & 9.
Singing Psalms & Hymns-Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16.
Preaching and Teaching The Word-Acts 20:7; 1 Tim. 3:15
Prayers Led By Men-1 Cor. 14:16; 1 Thess. 5:17.

At times a part of the edification period was spent in hearing about the
work of the Lord in other places, especially when they were aiding in the
support of the work elsewhere-Acts 13:1-3; 14:25-28; Phil. 4:14-23.

New Testament churches had no social, recreation, political agenda! The
blood bought church has a mission much too high and much too holy to become
side tracked into those activities that should be taken care of by the home
and the state.