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9th September 2009, 06:29 PM
|  | Newbie 64  | | Join Date: 14th November 2008
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Reps: 96,261,318 (power: 96,265) | | | Missing Sacrament? Someone on a Christian talk show I was listening to brought this up, but nobody was willing to discuss it. Jesus gave specific instructions to his followers that they wash each other feet. This instruction is no less specific than other things Jesus told us to do, but it never became a sacrament. Or, even a practice. Not that it would be practical to do in church. But it could be done symbolically, just as baptism is done in church with a representative action.
Is there any church record of why this practice is not followed? | 
11th September 2009, 01:56 PM
|  | Chewbacha
 | | Join Date: 15th February 2002
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Reps: 1,238,051,283,267,514,112 (power: 1,238,051,283,267,541) | | If you're talking about in the Catholic Church, it is done at the end of Lent in response to Jesus' command. Foot washing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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11th September 2009, 02:24 PM
|  | Regular Member
 | | Join Date: 24th January 2008 Location: St. Louis
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Reps: 35,572,589,408,352,448 (power: 35,572,589,408,359) | | | Washing of the feet is symbolic in the new testament. A Sacrament has to meet 3 criteria. It is a 1). outward sign 2)instituted by Christ that 3).actually gives grace. In this sense then the washing of the feet meets only 2 of the criteria for a sacrament. The washing that meets the criteria of sacrament in scripture is baptism.I hope that helps! | 
12th September 2009, 04:19 PM
|  | Quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus
 | | Join Date: 2nd September 2009 Location: TN
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Reps: 350 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by Athanasias Washing of the feet is symbolic in the new testament. A Sacrament has to meet 3 criteria. It is a 1). outward sign 2)instituted by Christ that 3).actually gives grace. In this sense then the washing of the feet meets only 2 of the criteria for a sacrament. The washing that meets the criteria of sacrament in scripture is baptism.I hope that helps!
Agreed. Footwashing is practiced in many Catholic parishes as well as Anglican (Episcopalian) parishes. I also believe that some high church Lutherans incorporate it as well. But as a whole it's not a sacrament. | 
13th September 2009, 09:06 PM
|  | ...once more unto the breach dear friends 52 
| | Join Date: 13th April 2004 Location: New York City
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Reps: 51,530,185,439 (power: 51,530,199) | | | Jesus did not say this but only observe the service that was done to Him. What are you saying?
__________________ "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."
John 1:5 | 
14th September 2009, 12:38 AM
|  | Newbie 64  | | Join Date: 14th November 2008
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Reps: 96,261,318 (power: 96,265) | | Originally Posted by Protinus Jesus did not say this but only observe the service that was done to Him. What are you saying?
This part of about washing feet begins with John 13:4
Also, I'd like to thank everyone who posted info for me. Very helpful. | 
14th September 2009, 12:53 PM
|  | Priest

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Reps: 18,944,763,352,946,140 (power: 18,944,763,352,955) | | | I believe there are several Christian churches who do some type of foot washing ceremony.
I also know that the Mormon church has a foot washing ceremony for it's hierarchy.
__________________ | 
15th October 2009, 11:53 AM
|  | Anglo-Catholic 23  | | Join Date: 12th October 2008
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Reps: 686,358,889 (power: 686,362) | | | My church does a foot washing.
__________________ Christianity is counter-cultural.
St. Basil on theft:
"When someone strips a man of his clothes we call him a thief. And one who might clothe the naked and does not -- should he not be given the same name? The bread in your board belongs to the hungry: the cloak in your wardrobe belongs to the naked, the shoes you let rot belong to the barefoot; the money in your vaults belongs to the destitute." | 
31st January 2010, 12:10 AM
| | Junior Member
 | | Join Date: 30th January 2010 Location: Bluffton, SC, USA
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Reps: 271,175,901,510,437,696 (power: 271,175,901,510,442) | | | If the issue is whether there are churches that have the ritual fo footwashing, many do.
However, I am not aware of any that treat footwashing as a sacrament.
Anthanasius gave the Church definition fo a sacrament. However, there really is one practical addition. The sacraments of the Church are those that have been passed down through the tradition of the Church as a sacrament. Otherwise, we can have lively prayer-filled discussions on what should and should not be sacraments. |  | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes | Linear Mode | | | |