Should Southern Baptists wash feet?

I recently read a list of commands that Jesus gave Christians. One of the commands was from John 13:14, which says: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.” So the question arises: how literally should we take this?

In Jesus’ day, the people walked on dirt roads and wore open-toed sandals. No matter how clean you were, your feet would get dirty just from walking. It was common for a wash basin and towel to be by the front door. It was also common for the household servant (if you had one) to wash the feet of those coming into the house. So foot washing was the role of the servant. (Not the role of a leader, teacher, lord, master, etc.)

While the disciples were in to the Upper Room, Jesus adopted the role of the servant by washing the feet of the disciples. This act is recorded in John 13:1-11. In verse 12, Jesus asked if they understood what He had done. In verses 13-15, Jesus explains it. Jesus said that He was in fact their Lord and Teacher (vs13) and if He humbled himself and did what a servant should do, they should do likewise (vs14). He said that he gave them an example to follow (vs15).

Here’s the two ways that we are to apply this passage. First, and foremost, all Christians need to be servants one to another as Christ was a servant. Second, literal foot washing ceremonies are great reminders of that command that we are to follow.

“But, wait, foot washing is gross.” “After all, it’s just symbolic, we don’t actually have to go through with it.”

Well, although it may be symbolic, there is nothing wrong with actual foot washing ceremonies. It truly teaches humility and servanthood. It is puzzling to think about this and to think about baptism. Baptism is a step of obedience and one of the things that it does is it announces to the world that you are not ashamed of being a follower of Christ. This could be done by just making an announcement, couldn’t it? Yet, as Southern Baptists, we believe that the way to do this is for the pastor and the new convert to go fully clothed into a body of water, for the new convert to be fully immersed, for both to leave the water, dry off, and change clothes. But then, we don’t want to kick off our shoes and socks and wash each other’s feet?!

To Sum Up: Jesus’ command to wash feet in John 13 is a command for us to serve each other. Foot washing ceremonies are good humbling reminders of that command.

Full disclosure: I was a member of a Grace Brethren Church which regularly practiced foot washing as a part of their three-fold communion service. After becoming a Southern Baptist youth minister, I once demonstrated actual foot washing with the youth group.

Don’t Click/Share ______ if you love Jesus

Let me be bold and say that I don’t want you to click “like” on a picture if you love Jesus or share something over email or Facebook if you love Jesus.

We all have gotten that email with cute things about God or Bible verses. Those emails basically all say that if we are not ashamed of Jesus, we’ll forward it to our friends. And we’ve all seen those pictures about Jesus/God that say that if we love God or if we’re not ashamed of Jesus, we’ll share it or “like” it.

What does the Bible say about this? Well, in Matthew 10:32-33 Jesus clearly says, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

Doesn’t that mean that we should forward, share or “like” those posts/emails, then? Or is our sharing/”liking” these things a guilt response since none of us want to even appear as though we are ashamed of Jesus?

I believe that we need to keep Scripture in balance. Consider what Jesus said in John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Notice what He didn’t say. He didn’t say that folks will know we are His disciples if we make signs declaring it, forward chain letters stating it, or even wear shirts declaring it.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with these actions, we need to keep these verses in balance. Consider all of the things you post and share. Besides these Jesus posts/emails, what are the rest of your posting and emails like? Can others tell from your regular postings that you love others, care for others, love God, obey God, etc.?

Therefore, let’s let our regular everyday postings show the world that we are saved, that we love others, and that we are not ashamed of Jesus. Then, if you think that the picture/post/email is worthwhile to send on to help encourage another, go for it. But don’t do it out of obligation.

Changes, But Where Is Our Focus?

When the Jews rebuilt the Temple, it was not as great as Solomon’s. Some cried out of joy that it was finished. Others cried out of sadness that it wasn’t as great.

Yet did they keep going on about how the older was better? No. Did they make memorials to the old temple, hang pictures of the old temple, and idolize pieces of the old temple? No.

Even though it wasn’t as great, it was used and it was where they worshipped God.

Change is inevitable, for the better or worse. Ministries experience change. Pastors come and go. In all of it, we must keep the proper perspective. Is Christ being preached? Is God’s Kingdom being furthered?

“But this ministry is not like the last one.” Maybe not, but is Christ being preached? Is God’s Kingdom being furthered?

‘But this pastor is not as good in this area as our old pastor.” Maybe not, but is Christ being preached? Is God’s Kingdom being furthered?

Where is our focus? What’s the main thing? Christ preached and God’s Kingdom being furthered.

Telemarketing, Arguing, and Witnessing

I had a phone call this morning from a telemarketer. He wanted me to hire his company to create, maintain, and advertise a webpage for our “business” (our church, but he kept saying business). He started out on a bad foot with me, asserting things about our website that were not true. I had to ask him twice if he’s ever seen our website before he finally said, “no.”

Well, a long story short, his main attempt to get me to hire him was by arguing with me and almost yelling his points at me to “make” me go with their company. I wonder how many really get treated this way and think, “oh, well this person was so belligerent; I guess I should go for their company”? I doubt any.

This got me thinking about our witnessing. Do we tend to try to argue someone into salvation? Should we argue the gospel with them? Did Jesus argue His points with the lost and dying (apart from the “religious leaders”)?

No. Jesus encountered the woman at the well, who had a few different views/beliefs than Him. He simply shared with her the way of eternal life.

As we go, let us not be argumentative to win the lost. Let’s live like Christians should. As we do, folks will notice and ask why we are different. When that happens, let’s share the reason for our hope. Let’s share what Christ did in our lives. Let’s share the Gospel.

TobyMac’s Artist Talkback

So, at Carowinds on Sept. 29, I had the opportunity to join with several other pastors and youth leaders at an Artist Talkback with TobyMac.

He shared with us his testimony – how he was saved at a youth camp when he was a teen. He shared with us his passion for music and God. He said that he likes to surround himself with others who love Jesus more to encourage him to love Jesus more. He also said that his prayer is always to be emptied of everything (pride, selfishness, etc) and be used by God.

He really got his start with Mike Tait and Kevin Max in the group DC Talk. In the years since they separated, Michael Tait has joined the Newsboys as their lead singer and Kevin Max just joined Audio Adrenalin as their lead singer. Though there are no plans for a DC Talk reunion, TobyMac has attended some of the concerts of his former band members and is very supportive of them. He was asked if a joint concert of Newsboys, Audio A and himself was planned. He said no, but he would not be against it.

He is a devoted family man with a wife and 5 kids. He actually was at one of his kid’s games that morning before he hopped a plane to be at Carowinds that evening.

As for his plans, he’s thinking about getting a tour together that would feature 1 backup band, but several artists with each one doing a couple of their greatest hits.