____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ July 9, 1995 ____________________________________________________ Is Feet Washing A Part Of Worship? by Jimmy Tuten QUESTION: ``John 13 teaches that `Feet Washing' was instituted along with the Lord's Supper. Why do you not practice it in public worship?'' (Florida) ANSWER: John 13 does not record the institution of the Lord's Supper. This is recorded in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22. We do know, however, that the supper involved in John 13 is the same as that recorded by the other gospel writers as the time of the memorial's establishment. This is true because the ``supper'' from which Judas went out to secure the mob that arrested Jesus is the same in each of the gospel accounts. But concerning the incident of washing feet, there is no reference to its future observance for us in the church. This means that just as the gospels alone do not establish the regular observance of the Lord's Supper each Lord's Day, and just as one has to go to other passages to establish the apostolic pattern (1 Corinthians 11; Acts 2:42; 20:7), so it is with feet washing. The account in John 13 simply does not authorize a foot-washing ritual. This can be established by the New Testament which includes the books of Acts and the epistles. A careful reading of all that the New Testament says about the conduct of the first century church shows numerous incidents of Christians observing the Lord's Supper in the Lord's Day assembly (Acts 2:42; 20:7). But one searches in vain for a single reference to early disciples observing a ceremonial feet washing service. There is a reference in 1 Timothy 5:10, but here foot washing is clearly a function for individuals in the home! Obviously our Lord did not intend to establish a ceremony of feet washing associated with worship. Notice: (1) There is no biblical evidence to this effect, either in John 13, or elsewhere. Neither is there an example of the apostles and disciples observing feet washing as a religious rite. When one studies the New Testament he will find three passages that refer to feet washing. They are Luke 7:38-46; John 13:5-14 and 1 Timothy 5:10. These do not teach that feet washing is a religious act in the assembly. (2) Feet washing is a practice for individuals (1 Timothy 5:10)--not churches! When Paul gave the qualification, ``if she have washed the saint's feet,'' he was talking about the general practice of showing hospitable concern for travelers. This ancient practice was well established as a part of domestic habits of cleanliness and hospitality shown to guests of one's household (Genesis 18:4; 24:32). It was a custom involving a menial duty of the times. (3) When the Lord said concerning the washing of feet, ``ye also ought to wash one another's feet...as I have done to you,'' He was showing the value of serving others. ``As'' shows that the manner of Christ's conduct was as a servant. His disciples should seek to serve rather than be served. This brings us to the main teaching of John 13, that is, the disciples should reject self-exaltation and seek self-abasement. The text comes as a result of the events described in Matthew 20:20-28 and Luke 22:24-27. There has been a personal plea for James and John to receive places of honor above the other disciples. When indignation followed the request, Jesus was prompted to give the object lesson of how a true disciple is to act. They should seek to serve! The force of the example is seen in that it was customary for one's servant to perform this menial task (1 Samuel 25:41). This is why Peter objected to this action. He said, ``thou shalt never wash my feet'' (John 13:8). It was only after ``Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter,'' that he allowed his feet to be washed by his Master (John 13:7). At this point the Lord made an application by saying: ``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'' (John 13:14-16). So it was that the Lord's action in washing His disciples' feet was an object lesson of humble service. Their Lord did not think Himself above washing their feet. Did He intend that this performance become an ordinance to be carried out in an assembly along with the Lord's Supper? No! Christians do not wash feet as an act in association with worship on the Lord's day because there is no divine authorization for such action. -- Via With All Boldness, May 1995 ___________________________________________ AGAINST GRUMBLERS by John White As I reread the account of Israel's wanderings in the wilderness, I was impressed again with how fiercely God responded to grumbling. Paul, too, warns Christians to learn a lesson from the wrath that fell on Israelites who grumbled: ``Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer'' (1 Cor. 10:10). Why such strong condemnation? Grumbling denies God's ability to provide. Pressed against the shore of the Red Sea with the Egyptians closing in, many Israelites grumbled against Moses. Forgetting what they had witnessed of God's power against Pharaoh, they lost their courage and lashed out at the most convenient target. Grumbling may be an attempt to intimidate. In Exodus 16, the Israelites grumbled, pressing Moses to return them to Egypt rather than proceed into the wilderness. Grumblers debilitate God's leaders. In Num. 11, the Israelites pushed Moses to the point that he wanted God to take his life. Many church members view grumbling as normal church behavior. There is a need to point out the harm grumbling may inflict upon individuals and upon the church. Complaining replaces prayer. Prayer, not grumbling, is the way God intends to change things. Grumblers earn a bad reputation. In a church that values community, agitators will find themselves ostracized. Grumbling seduces people away from Jesus' model for handling conflict. An issue that could be put to rest quickly through one-on-one conversation (as Jesus taught in Matt. 18:15-17) can be kept alive indefinitely by grumblers. Grumbling weakens a congregation's confidence in its leaders. While grumbling too often comes naturally to us, it is unhealthy to believe negative, unfounded reports about others--to presume guilt rather than innocence. Healthy churches, like emotionally healthy individuals, will assume the best rather than the worst. -- Via Good News ___________________________________________ Better to be Silent by Bobby L. Graham The Preacher in Ecclesiastes said that there is ``a time to keep silence, a time to speak'' (Eccl. 3:7). A number of passages in Proverbs underline the same need. Notice them. "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise" (Prov. 10:19). "He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit" (Prov. 17:27). "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles" (Prov. 21:23). In each passage the point involves the need to speak sparingly, to speak advisedly, to speak carefully. How much better it would be if we would think before speaking--to think of the carefulness that ought to characterize our speech. The following questions must be considered before speaking: (1) Am I speaking the truth? (2) Am I relating all relevant facts, lest partial truth leave the wrong impression? (3) Am I motivated by any form of bitterness? (4) Do I enjoy communicating the foibles and weaknesses of others? (5) Do I speak words of kindness? (6) Are my words needed? In these questions there are mental brakes that will restrain the unkind word, the inconsiderate word, the untrue word, the unnecessary word, the evil word, the hasty word, the misleading word. Too often we speak because we enjoy our own speaking or because we have an overbearing estimate of our own worth. In cases like these just identified, we would do better to remain silent. In cases like these, silence is golden. Silence is sometimes yellow in that we stay quiet out of fear, but we need to stay quiet in many instances. One such instance is the occasion when telling only part of the relevant information leaves the wrong impression. My mother recently told me of an incident far back in my boyhood. An aunt had come home from the hospital; the uncle, out of concern for her needs, did not want much company that first Sunday afternoon after her coming home. Afraid that too many would go to visit, Mother suggested not going then; but Daddy thought we should go to visit. After our arrival at the house, little Bobby announced, ``Mother didn't want to come here. She said all of you would be here.'' Little Bobby's words were true, but they left the false impression that Mother didn't want to be with the rest of the family. Childish naivete is understandable, but adult unkindness and inconsiderateness is not. Let us be careful with our words, seeking always to build up and never to tear down. -- Via Guardian of Truth, June 1, 1995 ___________________________________________ Sentence Sermons More important than length of life is how we spend each day. Maturity in Christ makes for stability in life. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. The Christian on his knees sees more than the philosopher on tiptoe. An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity. No man is truly educated who lacks a knowledge of the Bible. When at a loss for the right word to say, try silence. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________