This past summer, during a youth mission trip, my group participated in a worship experience that for lack of a better term was [and is] just uncomfortable. We have this wonderful story in scripture about Jesus washing his followers' feet showing them a humbled master ready to serve rather than be served. It's a very powerful thing. Some people who believe that they want to WWJD their entire life take this story and try to help others experience it.
I knew it as soon as I walked into the worship space. All along the wall were shallow plastic basins and towels lining the east wall of the room. "Oh no...we're going to have a foot washing" is what I thought to myself. You can see this little activity coming a mile away. I sort of wanted to skip that night. I don't really want to wash someone else's feet. Ever.
The idea of the worship planner is this: Jesus' humbled himself to wash his followers' feet so we are going to humble ourselves to wash each others' feet. We'll show true love by washing feet. Really? That's how we are going to humble ourselves? What a silly idea.
When Jesus did that, he was indeed humbling himself - normally it was a servant's [slave's] job. Feet were probably a lot more gross back then than they are now, so the master [of the house or w/e] wouldn't dream of washing his guest's feet - he had slaves to do it. So it was a pretty big deal that Jesus did this - acting like a slave. Most people seem to understand that. No problem. Where they seem to fail is in the fact that NOBODY washes ANYBODY's feet these days. It simply does not happen. There are no slaves, and there is no reason to wash someone's feet when they come to your house. So how in the world are we humbling ourselves by washing someone's feet. We aren't.
All we are really doing is creating an uncomfortable moment that might feel a little like humbling yourself - but it's not. If I'm washing your feet, I'm not serving you...it's just creepy. It's not loving, it's not service - maybe it once was, but it's not now. How exactly are you following Jesus' real example of service by doing something that isn't even service. That's just mimicking gestures, not following by example.
"Wow, I would've really liked to be like Jesus and serve you in some sort of way, but instead I guess I'll just put some water on your already clean feet and then dry them. Ok?"
"Hmm thank you for washing my feet. Now I'm positive that you are a true servant - willing to do anything for me!"
Let's try to be a little more creative ok? Quit with all this feet washing nonsense. Just because you've made me feel uncomfortable [creepy] doesn't mean you've taught me a thing about humility. The act of feet washing is culturally irrelevant. The act of serving others certainly isn't.
