In 1987 an article was published by ACD(Association for
Christian Development, WA) called "Footwashing - Ordinance or
Example?" They put forth many arguments concerning this topic. I
answered them at the time.
Two of the main ministers of this organization at the time
was the founder Ken Westby and also the now late Dr.Charles
Dorothy. I was somewhat surprised at what I read in their article
because I had met both of them, even had a Feast of Tabernacles
with Dr. Dorothy present under their banner. I met and talked
with Charles Dorothy a lot over that Feast time. I really liked
him as a humble man. He was very down to earth, easy to dine and
relax with, and a very fine Flamenco Guitar player. He was also a
scholar of Hebrew and Greek.
Dr.Dorothy had managed to show Ken Westby and the ACD that
they were wrong in their many years of teaching people that the
Feasts of the Lord were not to be observed. Now there was a
transition among them to return to observing the Festivals of
God as they had done when part of the old WCG.
I respected Ken Wesby for being willing to be corrected, for
realizing they had been wrong in that teaching, and a willingness
to change to the truth once more.
So their article on "footwashing" was somewhat of a shock to
me. I felt it needed to be answered. I will now begin to present
to you their entire article as it was in 1987 and my answers to
their arguments. I have not had contact with the ACD and Ken
Westby for many years now. This old article I present to you with
my 1987 answers MAY NOT BE THEIR PRESENT STAND ON THE MATTER OF
FOOTWASHING! I ask the reader to please keep that in mind. I
really do not know what their teaching is today on this part of
the Passover observance. But the article and my answers I hope
will be of service to those who are today questioning this
practice within the service of the memorial of our Lord's death.
ACD:
On a solemn evening almost 2,000 years ago, a young teacher
took a basin of water and washed the feet of His twelve students.
And ever since there has been controversy over the meaning of
what He did.
Was He simply teaching a lesson - illustrating a point? Or
did He intend for His followers down to this day to wash one
another's feet as a religious ordinance or ceremony?
Different Points of View
That teacher, of course, was Jesus Christ. And Christians
down through the centuries have had different understandings of
the meaning of His washing the disciples' feet(recorded in John
13:1-17).
Some have taken Jesus' example as an ordinance to be
performed by all believers for all time. They feel a foot washing
ceremony should accompany the taking of the bread and wine in
commemorating Christ's death. Some believe it should be done only
by the religious leaders.
Another point of view is that Christ was not instituting a
ceremonial ordinance at all. Since the people of that day walked
dusty roads in open sandals, the washing of feet was part of
their daily routine. Christ was instructing His disciples to
serve one another throughout their lives, whether that required
performing even the most menial tasks like the washing of others'
dirty feet. Since people today wear shoes, walk on sidewalks, and
ride in cars, 20th century Christians should serve others in ways
more in keeping with our time and circumstances.
Christ did not intend for the disciples to literally wash
one another's feet as a ceremony. Rather, He was simply giving
them a poignant example - as an object lesson of the attitude of
service they should have towards one another throughout the year.
Keith answers:
I do take Jesus' example and words of instruction to mean
that Christ was instituting an ordinance to be performed by all
believers for all time. Certainly this ordinance is teaching the
lesson that God's children are to serve one another throughout
their lives.
ACD:
The First Feetwashing
There can be no doubt that the washing of feet was a very
practical part of daily living in the time of Christ. People wore
open sandals and walked dusty and muddy roads - feet got dirty. A
good host would naturally provide water for his guests so they
could wash their feet and be refreshed. See Genesis 18:4; 19:2;
24:32; 1 Samuel 25:41; Luke 7:38, 44. Naturally, the washing of
feet was considered a menial job - a person would normally wash
his own feet, or a servant would wash them for him.
The evening before His crucifixion, Christ gathered with His
disciples for a final meal (John 13:1-17). After supper Jesus did
something that shocked the disciples. He washed their feet. This
would be like the company president shining the shoes of his
employers. It just didn't make sense to the disciples for their
Master and Teacher to be washing their feet. Yet it taught a
lesson that they needed very much to learn.
That very evening the disciples had argued about which of
them would be the greatest (Luke 22:24-27). Christ responded,
".......but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the
younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve." And
Christ, in washing their feet, was illustrating in a very
powerful way the type of lives He wanted them to live - lives
characterized by service. As He served them, so they should serve
one another as a way of life.
Keith answers:
The washing of feet referred to in the first paragraph above
was done when the visitor entered the home. The foot washing that
Jesus performed had nothing to do with the host foot washing of
his guests. First, Jesus was not gathering with His disciples
just for a "final meal" (Mat.26:1,2,17-20). It was during(Greek
of John 13:2) this Passover supper meal that Jesus performed the
foot washing service. Yes, this service of Jesus did illustrate
the type of lives He wanted them to live towards each other. We
believe Jesus knew that His disciples would need a yearly
reminder of this, just as they would need a yearly reminder of
what His death for them should mean in their lives. So He
instituted a new ordinance to accompany the New testament
Passover ordinance. An ordinance that is physical (foot washing)
to remind us annually of the more important life style of serving
our brother with humility.
ACD:
Not An Ordinance
Jesus went on to explain to the disciples what He had done
to them. He said; "Ye call me master and Lord: and ye say well;
for so I am. If I then your Lord and Master, have washed your
feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given
you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you" (John
13: 13-15).
Note that Jesus said nothing about WHEN or HOW they were to
wash one another's feet. And there is no record of the disciples
immediately taking up pans of water to wash feet. In fact, there
is no example anywhere in the New testament of feetwashing being
done as a ceremonial ritual.
Paul, in giving the Corinthian Church the instructions which
Christ delivered to him (1 Cor.11:23), mentioned nothing about
feetwashing.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke all omitted Christ's washing of feet
in their accounts of the Last Supper. Evidently not one of them
considered the incident to be an integral part of the bread and
wine memorial Jesus instituted that evening.
Only John mentions it, and he was writing 60-70 years after
the event and 30-40 years after Matthew, Mark, and Luke had
written their accounts. John's Gospel records many of the
profound teachings of Christ about love and service (see John
13-17). Jesus' example of washing the disciples feet that night
fit in as a vivid illustration of the spiritual principle He was
teaching.
There is simply no Biblical proof that the washing of the
feet was intended by Christ as an ordinance that should be done
by Christians today. Rather, His one-time example of feetwashing
illustrates the attitude that should characterize a Christain's
life 365 days a year.
Keith Answers:
I strongly disagree with the statement "Jesus said nothing
about WHEN or HOW they were to wash one another's feet." The WHEN
is given by Jesus' example - at Passover. He could have performed
this foot washing on another day or on one of the other occasions
(there was more than one time they argued over who was the
greatest - see a Harmony of the Gospels book) when they disputed
among themselves as to who would be the chief. Jesus clearly
said, "I have GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE THAT YOU SHOULD DO AS I HAVE
DONE TO YOU." The example was at Passover time. The HOW is
simply to wash THE FEET of one or more of Jesus' disciples. Does
God have to give us a text book on "How to wash feet" ? I think
not!
Because we cannot find another example in the NT of Passover
foot washing does not automatically nullify the example and
specific command Jesus gave us. Turn to Matthew 5:40,41. Can we
find anywhere in the NT a specific instance where a man was
sued at the law, his coat taken away and he gave also his cloak?
Finding no such happening, does that automatically "do away" with
this instruction from Jesus? Can we find in the NT someone who
was compelled to go a mile and he went two mile? Not finding
this happening does not annul the command of Jesus!
Can we find in the NT where those commands and precepts are
repeated? No we cannot! But that fact does not make them void.
God does not HAVE to repeat Himself to make it true. Mankind may
have to do so, and have more than one witness, BUT GOD DOES NOT!
He is always true though every man be a liar.
Concerning Paul writing to the Corinthians about things
Christ had delivered to him. Did Paul in his letter to them write
about ALL AND EVERYTHING that Jesus had taught him? I think not!
Paul was concerned with only TWO ASPECTS of the Passover service
in the main - the parts that were being perverted, and what had
been told to him were being done that should not be done, which
were: 1) Getting drunk on the wine. 2) Making a big meal out of
it and letting the poor go hungry.
He tells them the way it should be regards these two parts
of the Passover service. Presumably, they were not in error with
the foot washing part of the Passover. If they had only been in
error as to the taking of the wine, Paul would have only
corrected them on that. His letter is predominately a corrections
of SPECIFICS which were brought to his attention by another
party. The argument of silence is not one that I would like to
use when I face my Savior in the judgment.
The argument of Matthew, Mark, and Luke not considering the
incident to be an integral part because they did not mention
it(the foot washing), reminds me of the Church of Christ minister
telling me that they kept the laws of God that could be found in
the NT. If they could not find a law repeated in the NT they did
not observe it. Or the group that told me they only followed a
point of instruction if it was repeated two or three times, for
the scripture said: "in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall
a thing be established." They forgot the context of the verse,
that it was for MAN within a court of law, and it was
to do with SIN or the DEATH penalty(Deut.17:6; Num.35:30;
Deut.19:15). God really does NOT HAVE to repeat Himself or be
backed up by anyone, He is God, and He is PERFECT, His word is
sure the first time out of His mouth. God is NOT DOUBLE
MINDED as man is(James 1:8,17).
And there was the man who said to me he would only follow
the scriptures that Jesus had, and the four Gospels.
Only MATTHEW mentions that Jesus would be "three days and
three nights in the heart of the earth." Evidently Mark, Luke,
and John, did not find the ONLY SIGN that Jesus would give to His
Messiahship that important.
John in his Gospel mentions many things that Matthew, Mark,
and Luke obviously did not find an important or intrinsic part of
the ministry of Jesus, if we use the same argument.
The argument of this man only mentioning this, and that man
only mentioning that, and this was written by this man so many
years after this other man wrote, is an argument I have seen used
by many individuals and groups to "do away" with just about
any law, command or instruction that God or Jesus ever gave.
The proof that the washing of feet was intended by Christ as
an ordinance that should be done by Christians TODAY, is found in
the CLEAR words of Jesus - so clear a child could understand: "If
I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, YOU ALSO
SHOULD WASH ONE ANOTHER'S FEET. FOR I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE,
THAT YOU SHOULD DO AS I HAVE DONE TO YOU.......IT YOU KNOW
THESE THINGS, HAPPY ARE YOU IF YOU DO THEM" (John 13:14-17).
To be continued...
FOOTWASHING ORDINANCE OR EXAMPLE?
Part Two Doing What Christ Said
But, some will say, maybe we don't have to do it as an
ordinance at a certain time, but didn't Christ command us,
"......ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have
given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you"?
Christ certainly did say that. But what did He mean?
He also said: "If your eye offends you, pluck it out." What
did He mean? Do we accept that statement as a literal command?
Rather, don't we seek to understand the meaning of the words?
Paul wrote five times, "Greet one another with a holy kiss."
What did he mean? Do Christians today accept this plain
statement as a command?
James wrote, "Is any merry, let him sing Psalms." What did
he mean? Do all Christians sing Psalms every time they are merry?
Few of us take these other statements as commands or
spiritual requirements - we try to let the Bible interpret the
Bible in order to understand what is meant by the words.
We should do the same with John 13:15-17.
Keith answers:
It is true that Jesus said things that are not to be taken
in a literal sense, such as: "If your eye offend you pluck it
out." The rest of the Bible shows us that God would not want us
to mutilate ourselves. Yes, Jesus spoke in parables that were not
always to be applied literally in every respect, but had hidden
spiritual meanings or lesson. On the other hand, Jesus often said
things that were not analogies or symbolisms, but were plain
do's and commands and teachings. With no spiritual
interpretations needed.
Must we be constantly seeking to "understand the meaning of
the words"? Must we always think Jesus was giving us a hidden
secret spiritual meaning to all He said and taught?
I have met those who look for the meaning of Jesus' words,
"I will come again" and do not believe He meant what He said, do
not believe we should take those words literally at all. Others
do not believe Christ pre-existed as an Eternal being, and the
statements of Jesus that show He did, they seek to understand the
meaning of the words - some hidden spiritualization. And so it
could go on and on, no one really knowing what the words of the
Bible are meaning, not knowing if an instruction was an ordinance
for the Church or just a custom, or a one time event, or
something else that needs interpreting another way.
It really should be no wonder that we have hundreds of
differing Christian sects, who differ on just about everything
the Bible says.
The Bible should indeed interpret the Bible WHERE there is a
NEED to interpret and understand the meaning of the words. And in
SOME cases THERE MAY BE A DEEPER SPIRITUAL lesson that is being
conveyed by a physical "do this in remembrance of me" command, or
"I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to
you" teaching.
BUT, the hidden meaning to the literal do's does not nullify
the performing of the physical, but adds more import and meaning
to the commands.
The spiritual meaning that Paul gives us about the physical
act of baptism in Romans 6 does not mean we are exempt from doing
the literal act. It adds greater meaning and insight and more
proof as to why we need to continue to do the literal command as
given by Jesus in Mat.28:19.
As we follow the literal commands and instructions of
Christ's words REGARDING OTHER WORDS AND COMMANDS that He spoke,
so we should do the same with John 13:14-17. There is nothing in
those words to indicate it was a custom of the time at the
Passover meal to wash feet. The words show it was something NEW
that Jesus was doing, and the instructions He gave are pretty
straight and easy to understand. He said He was setting an
EXAMPLE for them to do likewise.
Paul's admonition to follow courteous customs of the day
such as, "Greet one another with a holy kiss" or as we in this
age may say, "Greet each other with a hand shake" is a statement
that by the words and the context is a setting FAR REMOVED from
the context and words of Jesus in John 13.
There is little in common with Paul's general salutation for
people to "Greet one another with a holy kiss" and Jesus'
commanding words. I may write to a group of God's children and
casually - in a gernal way admonish them to greet each other with
a hand shake. It is an expression to get them to see that we
should appreciate each other. Not that I expect they will always
forever, and at all times, greet each other, without missing
someone at some time, with a hand shake.
So it was with James when he wrote: "Is any merry, let him
sing Psalms." This is a GENERAL statement to praise the Lord when
you are happy. Not that other types of songs are excluded from
being sung, but a spiritual mind set should always be with you
at all times.
Now compare these statements by Paul and James with Jesus'
words of John 13:14-17. I believe there is a LARGE DIFFERENCE!
First, there are many more words from Jesus, as if He wanted to
make sure His followers did not forget or misunderstand that He
meant what He said and said what He meant. Second, the EXAMPLE -
that which Jesus DID was done so His disciples WOULD DO LIKEWISE.
I FIND THE WORDS OF COMMAND AND EXAMPLE OF INSTRUCTION VERY
PLAIN AND VERY SIMPLE IN JOHN 13:14-17.
As a young child would find many other words of instruction
from Jesus easy to read and understand in other parts of the four
Gospels, so I believe these verses would be just as simple to
read and comprehend and follow by the same young child.
It's time for more of us to be more childlike in our reading
and doing of the Eternal's word.
ACD:
Christ was talking about much than a pan and a towel once a
year. He was giving His disciples an example of humble and
selfless service - showing the kind of attitude they ought to
have towards one another as a way of life - 365 days a year.
In verse 17, He said: "If ye know these things, happy are ye
if ye do them." THESE THINGS refer to a whole way of life - a
way of serving, giving, and sharing - a way He illustrated very
powerfully throughout His entire life, not only that night when
He washed the disciples' feet.
Certainly it wasn't wrong to wash someone's feet. And it
isn't necessarily wrong for Christians to do it ceremonially - as
long as they don't consider themselves more righteous than those
who don't perform this ritual.
What does count is for Christians to practice love and
service - to have a feetwashing attitude all the time as a way of
life.
Keith answers:
We have already agreed that what Jesus was doing in the
physical act and example of foot washing was to illustrate to His
disciples the life long attitude they should have towards each
other in humbleness and service.
While Christ's words, "If you know these things" could be
rightly applied to refer to a whole way of life - a way of
serving, giving, and sharing, those words must also apply to the
immediate context of "you also ought to wash one another's feet.
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have
done to you."
ACD acknowledge it's not wrong for Christians to wash feet
in a ceremony service, but caution such not to consider
themselves more righteous than those who do not perform that
ritual. Self-righteousness is always to be avoided by the child
of God, or thinking oneself better than another. On the other
hand the instruction from Jesus is that the child of God is to
"hunger and thirst after righteousness" and to "do and teach"
even the least commandment (Mat.5:6,19).
Did not Peter say that Christ left "us an example, that you
should follow His steps" (1 Pet.2:21). Maybe those who do follow
the example of Jesus in all things, will be accused of trying to
be more righteous than those who do not. But as long as their
attitude is one of humility, they have nothing to fear by this
argument from those who wish to spiritualize away the teachings
of Christ.
The same argument could be used by those who believe they
can baptize with just a few drops of water, as opposed to
complete immersion. they could say: "Certainly it isn't wrong to
baptize by complete immersion in a ritualistic ceremony, as long
as those who do so practice do not consider themselves more
righteous than those who do not perform this ritual, but use a
few drops of water.
There are those who practice keeping the "Lord's Supper" as
they call it, FOUR times a year(the SDA church is one of them) as
opposed to those who teach it should be observed only ONCE a year
on the 14th of Nisan. Now the four times a year groups could
argue, "Certainly it's not wrong to keep the Passover just once a
year, as long as those who do it this way don't consider
themselves more righteous than those who keep it four times a
year."
It's time to get from behind this wall of "we want to do and
believe what is pleasing to us" and realize God does have THE WAY
to live and worship Him. He does not give us the right to
determine HOW we shall worship or obey Him, but only WHETHER we
shall or shall not do it HIS WAY. Too many want to serve God
while they sing to Him the song "MY way" and have put aside the
example and attitude Jesus left us when He said to the Father
"not MY WILL be done but YOURS."
ACD:
The focal point of the meaningful occasion of observing the
death of Christ is JESUS CHRIST and His total sacrifice for us.
Our minds and hearts should be focused on Him when we gather
together to take the bread and wine in remembrance of His death.
And in many respects the physical logistics of a feetwashing
ceremony can detract from the meaning and significance of this
New Testament memorial.
Keith answers:
ACD want us to understand that the physical "foot washing
ceremony" has a greater meaning than just the act itself, namely
- the spiritual lesson that Jesus' followers are to serve each
other on a daily basis, yet with such a great meaning behind a
physical acts they teach, "the physical logistics of a
feetwashing ceremony can detract from the real meaning and
significance of the New Testament memorial."
I find this to be somewhat contradictory. It is human nature
to forget, as the weeks and months go by, the real meaning behind
the ceremony of the bread and wine - what it represents to us for
our eternal salvation - and start to take sin and holiness and
why Christ had to die for us in a less than serious attitude. God
knew this was the way of human nature and made sure that once a
year through a very special ceremony we would be reminded of the
death of Jesus.
So also with the instruction we are given over and over
again in the NT to love and serve the children of the Father. It
is human nature to forget those teachings and develop a less than
serious attitude towards serving our Christian brother and
sister. Knowing this to be the case, our Lord instituted a
ceremony on the last Passover He partook of that would, each
year, be an annual reminder to His followers that they were to
serve each other in humility every day of their lives.
That annual reminder was a foot washing service to be
performed each year on the Passover evening.
No doubt other arguments could be found as to why we do not
have to perform feet washing on the Passover evening, but what is
the bottom line?
Bottom Line
Turn to Luke 17 and verse 5. The disciples wanted their
faith to be increased. Look at the lesson Jesus gave them as to
HOW to have MORE faith. Notice especially verse 10.
Let's suppose you could argue correctly that you did not
have to be a part of a foot washing ceremony - that it is NOT
commanded of God. So you busy yourself finding all the laws and
instructions from the Eternal that ARE commanded. You busy
yourself doing them all your Christian life, and then stand with
confidence before the Lord one day. You tell Him you've done ALL
the things COMMANDED, and you await His reply.
What a SHOCK to hear Him say, "After you have done ALL
THINGS COMMANDED you, do you not know that I still consider you
an unprofitable servant, for you have ONLy done that which was
your DUTY TO DO. I expect my servants to DO MORE THAN JUST THEIR
DUTY!"
I would rather be SAFE than SORRY!! If you have performed
foot washing and it was NOT required, what have you lost?
Nothing! You just increased your faith. If you did NOT perform
foot washing and it WAS required, what have you lost?
Read again Luke 17:10 but this time also add Matthew
25:14-30.
...................
Written 1987
by
Keith Hunt
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