foot washing

[Obadiah]

In our congregation, men wash men's feet and women wash women's feet to avoid impure thoughts. During a home ceremony it is not a problem for spouses to wash one another's feet. The ceremony is followed by partaking of the bread and cup.

Yet we say the whole idea is to follow the example of scripture, but this division by gender isn't scriptural!

"As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them." (Luke 7:38 NIV)

 

[jocor]

First of all, she was not involved in a footwashing ceremony. Second, she also kissed his feet continually (Luke 7:45). Does that pave the way for me to kiss the feet of my brother's wife or of an unmarried woman in a modern footwashing ceremony? Common sense says to separate by gender. The example you gave was a special occasion in which love, reverence and worship of Yeshua was exemplified.

 

[Obadiah]

First of all, she was not involved in a foot washing ceremony. Second, she also kissed his feet continually (Luke 7:45). Does that pave the way for me to kiss the feet of my brother's wife or of an unmarried woman in a modern foot washing ceremony? Common sense says to separate by gender. The example you gave was a special occasion in which love, reverence and worship of Yeshua was exemplified.

And in a foot washing ceremony among Christians, we are to demonstrate love and reverence for our brothers and sisters and indeed even to worship Christ and the Holy Spirit who lives within fellow Christians. We are even told in scripture to greet each other with a kiss!

It seems to me what you are saying here is that human common sense trumps scripture. I'm not so sure I can agree with that. I'm not saying we have to go around kissing everyone's feet. Just that this pervasive division by gender I see in the Christian church these days I don't think is really scriptural. I've washed women's feet and had my feet washed by women in these ceremonies before the gender division became so prevalent, yet it never caused me to sin. But today there is a woman (now dead from suicide) who will in all probability burn in hell after the judgement and it's my fault because I foolishly obeyed some church pastor's gender separation rule. I guess that's why this kind of thing bothers me so much.

Today when you look at the lists of activities for adults in most churches (at least in my area which maybe doesn't reflect Christianity in general?) there's hardly a single thing that is not either designated for couples only or is divided by gender. As single male adult, most churches offer almost nothing for me other than wanting me to come on Sunday to help fill the pews and the offering plates. If I want to attend some mixed gender event I can't because it's almost always designated for "couples" and I'm seen as a pervert if I want to attend. The men have their own Bible studies where they isolate themselves from the ideas and viewpoints of the women (even when 99 times out of 100 the subject doesn't require this), and the women have their group meetings and studies which do the same. The last church I was at had a "fellowship committee" which coordinated things like meals after church, social events, etc. It was restricted to women only and consequently, most of the "fellowship" events focused only on things women liked to do because they had no male input. And volunteer to work with children or teens and see how quick you are looked at as a sex offender of some kind who is just looking for access to kids or teens! (Yes, that's happened in churches I've been in!)

But this is all getting off into another subject... I digress.

I understand some separation for certain intimate subjects, but we are talking about a very cursory washing of feet here, not taking a bath together! Surely Christians can show the tiniest amount of restraint once in a while? Are Christians so weak and lacking in the protection of the "armor of God" these days that this is no longer possible? I deal with this on a daily basis where my job requires much more than washing someone's feet! It's NOT a big deal!

 

[Jethro Bodine]

If I want to attend some mixed gender event I can't because it's almost always designated for "couples" and I'm seen as a pervert if I want to attend.

And volunteer to work with children or teens and see how quick you are looked at as a sex offender of some kind who is just looking for access to kids or teens!

2 Stop it. You're killing me.

I deal with this on a daily basis where my job requires much more than washing someone's feet!

Enemas?

 

[Obadiah]

...Enemas?

No. Thank God!

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Just that this pervasive division by gender I see in the Christian church these days I don't think is really scriptural.

I agree.

I've washed women's feet and had my feet washed by women in these ceremonies before the gender division became so prevalent, yet it never caused me to sin.

Especially when you consider that what the church calls 'foot washing' isn't really foot washing. It's a ritualistic flow of water over the foot with the dabbing of a towel for dry off.

 

[Obadiah]

I agree.


Especially when you consider that what the church calls 'foot washing' isn't really foot washing. It's a ritualistic flow of water over the foot with the dabbing of a towel for dry off.

Yeah, certainly nothing sexual, sensual, or even suggestive about it at all. At least not the way it's been done anytime I've seen it!

 

[jocor]

I fully understand your position Obadiah, but we both know how pervasive lust is even among Christians. Check out the stats concerning Christians and pornography here. Just because you or I don't have a problem washing a woman's feet doesn't mean no one has such a problem. Since Yeshua said lust in the heart for a woman is equivalent to adultery and since the internet feeding of lust through pornography is rampant, caution needs to be exercised to avoid causing a brother or sister to stumble, IMHO.

 

[Obadiah]

I fully understand your position Obadiah, but we both know how pervasive lust is even among Christians. Check out the stats concerning Christians and pornography here. Just because you or I don't have a problem washing a woman's feet doesn't mean no one has such a problem. Since Yeshua said lust in the heart for a woman is equivalent to adultery and since the internet feeding of lust through pornography is rampant, caution needs to be exercised to avoid causing a brother or sister to stumble, IMHO.

So to prevent any possibility of causing another Christian to stumble, I guess all Christian women will have to wear burkas all day every day and be prohibited from even speaking with men then, and of course, men will have to have similar rules for them too. All because some weak Christians have no real desire to control themselves. If that's the kind of rules what is called Christianity today has to implement in it's churches, sorry to say this, but count me out of it. I'll continue on taking responsibility for my own sins and trusting in the Lord to provide the forgiveness for those things instead of blaming everyone else for what I do.

 

[ezra]

I know this will be hard for you see, but actually it is you who are being carnal (unspiritual) by suggesting it is a legalistic command for the church to follow. You are saying we should do it simply because Christ commanded it at a time when foot washing actually meant something to an unpaved, poorly foot covered society.

To purposely bring back the now unnecessary act of foot washing before entering a home for the sake of fulfilling a command of Christ's is to be carnally minded. You're being legalistic. What you really need to do is come to my house and wash my socks when I'm too ill to do it for myself. THAT would be a good, spiritual example of what Christ was driving at. But for you to wash my feet? That aren't even dirty to begin with. That's simply not required and proves nothing about you being a servant of your brother.

let me correct you 1. i am by far legalistic. 2 Christ gave the example .so yes i do think it is good . 3. its just simply a act of humble and servant hood as per give the enema if it come right down to it and there was no health care giver yes i would. would you? there are many ways to be a servant foot washing is just symbolic .its not salvation threatening. the post has went south and i am through with it