p. 350 | Feet Washing

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Aug 10, 1882

Feet Washing.

THE Banner and Gleaner is a radical Baptist paper published in Benton, Ill. Occasionally some of its correspondents broach the subject of feet-washing as a church duty. And the fact is divulged that some of the ministers and churches in that connection practice it. Recently a young minister wrote an article of inquiry, raised by hearing that another minister was practising it. From his letter we extract as follows:—

‘Now if it is right for one church of Christ, is it not for all churches of Christ? If it is right for one pastor to teach the church over which he has charge, is it not right for all? I am a young man just starting out, and a boy in the ministry, and it does seem to me that some of our churches do wrong. If it is not a church ordinance the church does wrong that observes it as such; and if it is a church ordinance, the church does wrong that does not observe it as a church ordinance.

‘Now Christ says in John 13:14: ‘If I then, your Lord and Master have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.’ Now what does ought mean? Webster says it means ‘fit or necessary, or should.’ It would seem from the reading of the 15th verse that he meant ‘should wash one another’s feet,’ in 14th verse. Here is the 15th, ‘For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done unto you.’ ‘That ye should do.’ It don’t say that we may do so if it comes handy and convenient, and if not we can let it alone. Sixteenth verse: ‘Verily [just as positive as it can be] I say unto you the servant is not greater than his Lord; neither is he that is sent greater than that sent him.’ Seventeenth verse: ‘If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.’ I want to ask some questions. 1. What person was speaking and acting here in these named verses? 2. What action does he perform? 3. To whom was he speaking? 4. Are the words that were used then by this person still binding on his people? 5. Were those persons to whom he was speaking, the church? 6. If this was the church, and he washed feet in the church, send me the chapter and verse when it was commanded not to be observed any longer, or when it ceased to be a church ordinance?

‘Now brethren, I want this answered. It may be that a great many will shoot at this little sketch; all I have to say is, brethren, if you do I want you to load your gun with gospel. I don’t want to know about Jewish customs, Theology, or Philosophy; but I want the word of God on feet-washing. If it is taught in the word of God, let us practice it. Now, brethren, don’t write in an unknown tongue; but write to the point and give us the Scripture. You may be honest, but that won’t make it so to my mind unless you prove it by the word of God.’