A great many commandments relative to our Christian duties are found in the Bible. These commands deal with a wide variety of things and, for the most part, are given for their value to us in our Christian living. We are commanded to pray without ceasing, to give alms, to witness for Christ, to live righteously, and to do many other things that advance our own souls and the kingdom of God.

But Christian ordinances are of a different nature; they exist not for themselves but for what they symbolize. We do not perform ordinances for any direct benefit from the act itself. There were many rites in the Jewish religion representing either existing spiritual benefits or pointing forward to blessings to be received through Christ. The Christian religion has but few ordinances – three (Baptism, Communion and Foot washing).

What is an Ordinance?

It is an outward symbol divinely appointed to represent a great fact or truth of the gospel and the personal relation of the recipient to that fact or truth; a divine requirement, making its obligation universal and perpetual.”  [Byrum, Christian Theology, 556.] It is an act instituted by Christ, practiced by the early church, and taught in God’s Word.

We as the Church are commissioned by Christ himself to carry our or observe the commandments of Christ our Lord.

Matt 28:19-20

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing

them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

(KJV)

By keeping God's commandments we prove our love for God and our dedication and willingness to His service. (John 14, 1 John 2:3-6)

We are shown through these verses that obedience is not just an option for the Children of God but that it is our test of love and fellowship.

But yet this evening we are going to discuss a ordinance that in the majority of the Christian world is greatly overlooked as an ordinance of God's word.

F.G. Smith said; "Feet-washing as an ordinance is not generally observed by professing Christians; in fact, by many the doctrine is spurned, misrepresented, and ridiculed as is no other teaching of Christ recorded in the gospel history. Notwithstanding the fact that Christ said we “should” do it, that we “ought to wash one another’s feet,” they never observe it, either as a public ordinance or as a private duty." Harold Boyer wrote; "Because of man’s refusal to consider this relationship of life and know his duties, obligations and privileges; the world lives not as a brotherhood but is divided into enemy camps."

Could it be true that the reason that the world that we live in is in such a divided chaos is because the Church is failing in our obligations and privileges and duties. I believe it could very well be one reason.

There is a very good possibility that there are people in every church that have never partaken in a foot washing service, and there could be different reasons for that.

1.) It has never been offered to you.

2.) You don't believe it is a Biblical ordinance.

3.) Your a new Christian

4.) You don't believe that Christ meant that we should practice it in today’s world.

The problem lies with the ones that know the teaching and understand Jesus’ desire for this ordinance and still refuse to act accordingly.

Is Foot washing an Ordinance?

All ordinances of God are to be established either by positive teaching or by example. Though a rite is observed by the people if there is neither teaching nor example for that rite in the word of God it is not of God but of human invention. So we must study the scriptures carefully to make sure that we are participating in practices that are in line with Gods word.

I believe that the Bible shows ample proof for 3 ordinances of Gods Church. These are Baptism, Communion and Foot washing. 

The essentials of an ordinance:

It is very important that we understand how a teaching becomes a ordinance. They must have these 6 qualities

“1. The acknowledged authority of him who delivered it, our ‘Master and Lord.’

“2. His example. After washing their feet he said to them, ‘I have given you an example.’ Example means model, pattern, or copy. This is so simple and plain that we can not mistake it. He washed the disciples’ feet with literal water and wiped them with a literal towel. This is the copy, pattern, or model that we are to follow.

"3.  His practice. He first did the thing himself. That which he did was something which had never been practiced before as he practiced it.

“4. Jesus gave this observance a religious character. He made it a test of fellowship between him and a beloved apostle. If Peter had continued his refusal to let Jesus wash his (Peter’s) feet, he would have cut himself off from fellowship with his Master. ‘If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.’

“5. An observance commanded. While Christ himself was washing his disciples’ feet, they did not understand the nature and the purpose of the act (verse 7). But he told them they should understand it later (verse 7). So after washing their feet he asked them, ‘Know ye what I have done to you?’ Do you understand the purpose for which I have washed your feet? Then he proceeds at once to tell them. ‘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….

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. In washing your feet, I have given you an example, model, pattern, or copy; and now I enjoin upon you to ‘wash one another’s feet.’

6. The good to be derived from the observance not a literal benefit, but a spiritual blessing. ‘Happy are ye if ye do them.’

“Note carefully the analogy. Christ set before us the ordinance of baptism by both precept and example. He first instituted and practiced it himself (John 3:22, 26–30; 4:1); then he commanded the church to observe it (Matt. 28:19, 20). He did the same with the communion supper: he first instituted and observed it himself (Matt. 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25); then he commanded the church to observe it (Luke 22:19, 20; 1 Cor. 11:23–26). The same thing is true of feet-washing: he first instituted and performed it himself (John 13:2–7); then he commanded the church to practice it (John 13:12–16; Matt. 28:20).

“In baptism Jesus did not invent a mode entirely different from the common custom of the people, nor select an uncommon element. This is also true of the communion and of feet-washing. Literal water is used in two of these rites; the other consists in the eating of bread and the supping of wine. Yet a religious significance is attached to the rite of baptism (see Mark 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21); likewise to the observance of the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:26–29); and the same is true of feet-washing (John 13:8, 9, 16, 17). Feet-washing rests upon the same foundation with baptism and the communion supper. All three are observances commanded, established rites of the gospel of Christ. Webster says that an ordinance is ‘an observance commanded.’ Feet-washing, then, is an ordinance." H.M. Riggle

Objections to Foot washing:

I belive that it is very clear that feet washing is one of the "All things" that Jesus commanded for us to observe. But there are countless others that believes the very opposite. So it is important that we quickly view the reasons that other oppose our stance.

1.)Many oppose because of the wording that Christ used. The words ought and should are two of the strongest words in our language to show us obligation or duty to something or someone. Webster says that ought means to be held or bound in duty or moral obligation. He also says that should denotes obligation or duty to.

For the ones that oppose because Christ didn't say that we must is forgetting that we are not being ruled by the "thou shalts" of the old law but we are now under the law of liberty and love. And Christ knows very well that "we ought" and that "we should" is all that would be needed for the ones that truly love him to carry out his desires.

2.) Some oppose saying that it is just a Jewish custom. But this reasoning has it holes because Peter was a Jew and he had no idea what the Lord was up to.

 John 13:6-9

3.) Some oppose because it is not mentioned that often in the Bible. The discussion between Nicodemus and Jesus where Christ told him "ye must be borned again" is only recorded once by the writer John. So does that prove that New Birth or Salvation is not necessary? Surely not, but what it does prove is that it only takes Christ to say something one time for it to be a requirement of the Church.

4.) If it wasn't important why did Christ do it at the time that he did. The time of his death was hastily approaching and I don't believe that Christ would waste his last hours on earth with a non-essential act or teaching.

5.) Some oppose because he was washing the feet because they were dirty. Christ told Peter that he didn't understand what he was doing, but now if Peter’s feet were dirty enough for Christ to interrupt dinner to wash them surely Peter would have realized it as well.

Also, the washing of the feet occurred after the men had been inside for quite some time. Washing of the feet to remove dust or dirt was done prior to entrance, not after you had been there for a while, that is just plain silly.

What Is The Lesson in Foot Washing?

Just like baptism and communion, foot washing was instituted for a purpose and teaches us a very important lesson or lessons.

1.) Humility: Christ did this to rebuke for all time the haulty spirit of man. There had been problems of power struggle and pride among the 12 so he was instituting this ordinance to leave us all an example of humility. Harold Boyer said that we don't wash feet to make us humble but we do it because we are humble. Jesus was not humbling himself to wash the 12's feet, he was just exhibiting his humble nature that already existed in him and that he desire to exist in us. What an example to see the Lord of glory, the master creator, the one whom all the angels fall and worship to drop to his knees, drape himself with a towel and take a tub of water and wash his disciples feet. What an example of humility and service.

2.) Our position in the Church: Jesus was teaching us that in the Church of God or the universal Church that there are no big I's and little you's, but that we are brethren. Some like to say that they have been around longer than others or I am older than you are, or I have been saved longer than you have. But this is not the spirit of Christ. It don't matter what you have done, or how long you have done it your place is at the feet of your brethren. If we all had the same feeling in our hearts and minds as Paul did, "less than the least of all the saints Eph 3:8" we wouldn't have this problem. So just as baptism is a testimony to the world that we are dead to sin and alive with God, foot washing is a sign that we understand our place in the Church.

3.) We are servants to each other: We are given this example to help us remember that that I am your servant, you are my servant and we are servants to each other and with one another.

4.) We honor Christ: There is not one person in this building that would not wash the feet of the Lord if they had the chance. Thank God we can and we do every time we practice this ordinance.

Matt 25:40

Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

(KJV)

Every time we bow to wash our brethrens feet we wash Christ’s feet - no wonder we should be happy in observing this act.

-Posted 4/17/2006 by Pastor Anthony T. Molihan, Stanton First Church of God