CHANGES IN CULTURE

According to Erickson 1 “The foot washing incident in John 13 :5-15 is not put into a general or universal setting. While Jesus did say, ‘You also should wash one another’s feet’, nothing is said about the duration of the practice. While He said, ‘I have set you an example, that you should do as I have done for you’, there is reason to believe that His example was not necessarily to be extended universally in this precise form.”

According to him, there are some examples in the Bible that were practiced at the time of Jesus that are barely seen today in most churches. But the same truths taught by the practice, are still resonant today for us to practice in other ways! As for example, the washing of the feet that Jesus said we should do with one another is hardly practiced today in the church!

But the truth of humbleness taught by it, is still resonant for us to practice as for example carrying ‘a gentle and lowly heart taught by Jesus : “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I AM gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”. Matthew 11:29; and to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord in order to hear the Lord loud and clear : “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10. The teaching of that concept is still strong!

Another Scripture we see about this truth is : “ If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 is heard quiet often when our nation is struggling in any harsh way!

I myself think it would do good to us, that we should still practice the washing of our feet! When we are not in need we forget Who it is that meets our needs and we tend to lift our hearts up thinking it is all our doing! And we drift away from God! We should always have a humble heart towards Him! So even as the culture changes the truth behind examples such as the foot washing, never changes!

NOTES
1Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology,(Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006),131.