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To: DouglasKC
All the verses you present are to his disciples, not us today. Jesus took several of the customs of the day and used them to teach many lessons and we are to take the lessons, not the rituals themselves. These people really needed to have their feet washed, unlike today. It was considered a welcoming custom. These people already ate the passover and it was a meal to satisfy hunger, not us today. These people really did kiss each other but we don't. A "holy handshake" would be the modern equivalent custom and the true meaning would be consistent. You are taking these valuable lessons and turning them back into rituals. There were no "foot washings" in the early church.

Matthew 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

77 posted on 03/27/2002 10:43:25 AM PST by vmatt
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To: vmatt
All the verses you present are to his disciples, not us today. Jesus took several of the customs of the day and used them to teach many lessons and we are to take the lessons, not the rituals themselves. These people really needed to have their feet washed, unlike today. It was considered a welcoming custom. These people already ate the passover and it was a meal to satisfy hunger, not us today. These people really did kiss each other but we don't. A "holy handshake" would be the modern equivalent custom and the true meaning would be consistent. You are taking these valuable lessons and turning them back into rituals. There were no "foot washings" in the early church.

I'm not of the opinion that the words of Jesus were preserved for thousands of years just because they wanted to tell a nice little story. If we are Christian, then we are a disciple of Christ and should do what he tells us to do. That was the mission of the early church, to make disciples of all nations.

Footwashing certainly existed, but it was normally done by servants to guests. By doing this and setting is as an example, Christ shows us that service to our fellows is something to be emulated and desired. By actually performing what he commanded, we learn spiritual lessons of humility and service through this physical act of washing.

78 posted on 03/27/2002 10:59:54 AM PST by DouglasKC
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