Bring Back The Foot Washing

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. [Acts 6.1-2]

Just because the early believers did something, does that make it right?

I want to point out that the early church, as it is seen in the New Testament following the Gospels, is in a very formative stage. We have record of many things done during that time. 

Many of the things we are told about the early church comes through the writings of the Apostle Paul. 

The Apostle Paul, exalted as he is, we must remember, got into a rift with Barnabas concerning one John Mark. I bring this up because that "rift" was NOT OF GOD. Never is division and disunity of God! We cannot justify rifts in the Body of Christ today just because Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement!

So, with that established, I think we should carefully look at what the Twelve (what? Had they become a club?) had to say when a problem was presented to them: "We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program."

Really? At what point did feeding the poor become less important than teaching the Word?

It sounds to me like the Twelve had gotten full of themselves. It sounds to me like the Twelve had begun to think of themselves in a manner very opposite to what their Master and Lord had taught them just before He was crucified! It sounds like the Twelve had completely forgotten Jesus washing their feet!

So, what's the point? I really don't know - but - I think it deserves our careful attention when we consider all the "organization" in the Church. I think it deserves our careful attention when we decide what we do in the Body of Christ is more important that what someone else does in the Body of Christ (ESPECIALLY when what that other person does is very much one of the things Jesus specified was our duty as His followers).

Maybe a little foot washing should be brought back into the picture.

All I know is that from the time of the resurrection until now, the organized Church today generally displays much less of the raw power of God than did the early church. If the New Testament documents anything, it documents this!

Father, forgive us for forgetting that Jesus washed the disciples feet. Perhaps He was thinking ahead to the very event documented in the verse of this discussion today.