John 13:6 (KJV)
Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
Foot washing, as I understand it, was a practical issue in the days of Christ. The combination of dirty roads and primitive footwear meant that feet were almost always dirty. Washing them, perhaps multiple times a day, would have been essential for health.
I also understand that, due to the manner of dining in those times, washing one’s feet before a meal would have been almost as essential as washing one’s hands before handling food. So, it is not surprising that there was a foot washing prior to the institution of the Lord’s Supper. Whether it should be included as part of the observance of the Lord’s Supper is, in my opinion, debatable.
I was taught that there are three standards by which a church ordinance is measured: it must be instituted in the New Testament, practiced in the book of Acts, and instructed upon in the Epistles. Where these three qualifications were first set down, I could not say. However, I observe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper meet these qualifications, while foot washing does not.
Not too many years ago, a very kind family began attending the church I pastored. The husband was from what he called a “foot-washing Baptist church.” They never joined our church, but I enjoyed my conversations with him about the traditions he grew up under. More recently, a man from a foot-washing Baptist church has begun corresponding with me regarding some of the YouTube videos I’ve produced. He says his church’s doctrines, in most areas, align with what I teach and preach, and that foot washing is not considered an ordinance in his church but merely a practice.
He explained that foot washing is often practiced without the Lord’s Supper, but the Lord’s Supper is never observed without foot washing. I can see how that would be reasonable, considering that in biblical times, people would have washed their feet multiple times a day but observed the Lord’s Supper only on specific occasions.
I am not interested in teaching the practice, nor do I consider it critical to Christian life. I would place it on the same level as a lady who attended our church and came from a Russian Baptist background. Her upbringing taught her always to wear a scarf or some other head covering in church. It was usually something simple, like a headband or a bandana-like scarf. She never made a big deal of it and never judged those who didn’t do as she did. However, she did notice and ask about our custom.
I see no issue with continuing a practice you are accustomed to and have grown up with, as long as it is not unscriptural and you do not condemn others for not following the same tradition.
#FootWashing #BiblicalTraditions #ChurchOrdinances #ChristianPractices #FaithAndCustoms
Tradition vs. Ordinance: Where Does Foot Washing Stand?
Read John 13 and talk with a fellow believer about how we can serve one another as Christ did. Then, find a way to serve someone in your church or community this week.
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