Get Ready To Wash Your Feet, Brother
We are constantly being bombarded by our institutional brethren with the idea that whatever on individual Christian can do, or is taught by the New Testament to do, the church, as such, can do, and must do. Now, no one denies that a Christian, as an act of hospitality, may wash his brother's feet. In giving the qualifications of a widow indeed, Paul said, "Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work." This act was done by individual members of the church in apostolic days as an act of hospitality or mercy, as the context shows, listed among other good works practiced by individual Christians. We are told by brethren today that when we "do good to all men, especially to the household of faith" that this has its application to the work of the congregation, since what an individual member of the church can do; or is commanded to do, the church, as such, can do and must do. According to this philosophy, since "washing the saints' feet" is a good work, why do not some of the brethren immediately "get on the march" by introducing "feet washing" as an act of worship, fellowship, or something? Maybe in the near future you will read some glaring announcement in some one of our religious journals by some preacher that the church where he preaches is going to kick off some campaign by all coming together and washing one anthers feet. — perhaps a sort of a "fellowship service". They could, of course, have it in the basement. Seems like all kinds of innovations leak into the church out of some seepy basement. If they have no basement, perhaps they could send out an appeal to the great brotherhood at large, informing them, of the dire and urgent need for a basement "fellowship hall" in which to wash the saints' feet. They need to be careful about the wording of the appeal and be sure and not leave the impression they need the money to preach the gospel or they will not get the much needed funds. Most of the money the brethren now have lying loose around over the country has already been ear marked for schools, colleges, homes of various sorts, hospitals, recreation centers, farms, bulls (steer funds) and retreat camps. Then, too, they should use a little psychology, for preaching the gospel does not strike a responsive chord with many brethren today — that is too much of a return (march backward) toward the New Testament church. Get Ready To Wash Your Feet, Brother!