In washing the feet of His disciples Jesus gave them, and His followers in every succeeding age, an example which, if observed in the true spirit of it, would make a little heaven on earth in our churches. Jesus showed us, by a number of vivid examples, what the real spirit of Christianity is all about. The washing of His disciples' feet is one of the most striking and beautiful instances of this, and how sadly is the spirit of it being violated in our day! 

    There have been some in days past, and possibly still today, who have made the literal washing of the saints' feet a test of fellowship. There have been declared, and undeclared, divisions among our people over this issue in the past, but this kind of behavior is a blatant contradiction of the very example over which the divisions have occurred. Divisiveness and uncharitableness is the direct opposite of what the example teaches. It teaches a spirit of humility and servitude; a willingness to perform the most menial tasks and services in behalf of our brethren. It teaches us that we are basically to live at one another's feet, each of us esteeming our brethren better than ourselves (See Philippians 2:3). 

    If we get embroiled in a dispute over whether or not this example is to be performed literally or figuratively, we miss the whole point of it. It is certain that even if we comply with it in a physical way it will not profit us unless we apply the spirit of it to our everyday lives. What are we profited by literally getting down at the feet of our brethren and actually washing their feet if we do not live at their feet in a spiritual sense, and if we are not willing to be their servant and to devote our lives to their welfare and upbuilding? 

    I personally believe God's people should literally follow the example of Christ in the matter of washing the feet of their brethren, but I do not, and would not, make it a test of fellowship. Those of our brethren who do not wash feet physically, yet comply with the spirit of it, are nearer right than those who do it physically but fail to live according to the spirit of it. Christ set us a wonderful example of humility and servitude. He was, and is, meek and lowly in heart, and that's the way each of us should be.