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Is it time that we take a good, long look at our DoF and possibly reword or revise some items? We had a discussion earlier about divine healing for all. I'd like to take a look at foot washing as a continuing sacrament of the Church.

It is apparent by action I have witnessed that footwashing is not held as sacrament by most Pentecostal churches. It is not on the same level as water baptism and communion.

John 13:12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,

[quote=Nature Boy Florida]John 13:12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 1Are we compelled to pay tithe under the new covenant?If we are to wash each other's feet, how often? It has been suggested that the foot washing was not to be literal and that what Christ was doing was figurative of what the Church was to do in terms of fellowship in watching out and caring for one another's soul. Christ knew that Peter would deny Him, Judas would betray Him and that all would abandon Him and He still performed the most menial of tasks to them. Do we wash each other's feet? I don't know but Jesus said we should!We can wash the physical feet just as we do in the baptism. The physical body gets literally wet but THAT physical part is only symbolic of what has occurred to the soul. We can get legalistic about anything I suppose. The physical baptism is not what saved us and the physical washing of the feet does not impact the soul.

The word “sacrament” is not the correct term to use here – the word “ordinance” is. Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and a few of the Protestant denominations use the term sacrament to refer to a sign/rite which results in God's grace being conveyed to the individual. Typically, there are seven sacraments in these denominations. They are baptism, confirmation, holy communion, confession, marriage, holy orders, and the anointing of the sick. However, we don’t believe that at all. The Bible tells us that grace is not given through outward symbols and no ritual is “necessary for salvation.” Grace is free. Most Protestants see ordinances as symbolic reenactments of the gospel that Christ lived, died, was raised from the dead, ascended to heaven, and will someday return. Rather than requirements for salvation, ordinances are visual aids to help us better understand and appreciate what Jesus Christ accomplished for us in His redemptive work. Regarding foot washing. This was something Jesus did as a one-time event in that context. In John Chapter 13, the washing of feet was a custom and tradition of that time. Just as greeting one another with a “holy kiss” was in Romans 16:16, as Paul was greeted by those who loved him (Acts 20:37). 1 Corinthians 11:5,6 describes a woman having her head covered in public, as it was the custom to do so. If her head was not covered, she was considered a prostitute. Some of these customs are still practiced in a few countries today. In America, the hand shake is a custom replacing the “holy kiss” of the Middle-East.

Why would we interpret this as Jesus' intentional act as humility or fellowship here? Why would we equate it with a holy kiss or a woman covering her head - when Jesus clearly bestowed a blessing on them for doing so? I didn't see him say folks would be blessed by holy kisses...not that there was anything wrong with itAnd let's face it - he didn't do it as a custom of the day. The meal was already in progress. If you were going to wash folks feet as a custom - you would do it when they arrived at the home - not during the meal. And they probably did do it when they first arrived...but Jesus was showing them something much greater and significant here. A physical act with a deep spiritual meaning - much like baptism

Lotrimin and nail clippers

Dr. Chris Thomas

has an excellent book addressing this issue.One conclusion he drew was to use feet washing in the restoration of a fallen believer in lieu of being rebaptized.It speaks of restoration in the believers relationship with Christ and the Congregation.I used this on one occasion and it proved to be very beneficial and inspirational to both the one having his feet washed and members of the congregation participating in the ritual God-HonoringChrist-CenteredBible-BasedSpirit-Led

It has been a long time since we have observed foot wasing. I do appreciate the practice that requires humility. BUT this is a different world. Most folk do not wear sandals , and especially to church. There would be a whole different attitude if we did not have to go thru the practice of removing socks and shoes. There are some very honest, Christians who 'feel' strange preparing for foot washing. I have no problem and have been blessed many times in my life, however I do understand the hesitancey in men (and women) whose feet 'smell bad' no matter how much they wash them before doning their socks, hose and shoes before service. WE are a society that wear shoes, socks and hose, much differenct when the one washing removed the sandals, or the owner just stepped out of them.We all have noticed the number recieving communion drops to less than 50% at the foot washing. That does not mean those that 'ease out' of church during the transition are not humble. Some feel as I did at an AT BOOT camp (An open fitting for hiking boots) when the man looking at my feet called to the leader and said, Man come look at these crooked toes and bunions.This society is awash with shame at physical imperfections. It is built in thru life, as much as you would like to change it, Some folk are embarrassed to expose a part of their body that is normally covered, ref Belieber's comment. I had a father in law that required a doctor to trim his nails because they were like eagle claws.I beleive the practice of foot washihng should be continued as long as Christians particitpate. If they do not, I do not feel they should be shamed. That is my opinion of course. I would wager if that night the pastor suggested everyone wear sandals, you might get more participatants. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/