By REV. DR. JOHN HATCHER
Religion Columnist

History was made Sunday afternoon, March 19. At the Edgefield Baptist Church located on Church Street in the inner city of Fayetteville, four white men washed the feet of a black man. He was The Rev. Eddie Thomas. They were The Reverends Chuck Griffith, Roger Powell, Sam Calleiro and me. It was the occasion of the celebration of Rev. Thomas' third anniversary as pastor of Edgefield.

Now, I say history without any historical record to review. Who really knows if four white men at some point in the history of Fayette County got down on their knees and washed the feet of a black man? Who knows?

The church, however, traces the practice of washing feet back to Jesus and his disciples. On the night that Judas betrayed Jesus, it seems that Jesus initiated the washing of the feet of his disciples to dramatize that the teacher was no greater than his students were. Others see other motifs like baptism. Regardless, the washing of feet communicates a spirit of humility and service and profound love. That's what we were saying to our beloved brother Eddie.

It was neither planned nor orchestrated. It was not on the printed program. No one had the idea going into the 3 p.m. service. Yet, during the service, the Holy Spirit—who was welcomed into the service— prompted Rev. Sam Caleiro that “we” should wash Pastor Thomas' feet. A deacon was dispatched to the kitchen and brought back a basin and towels. The rest is history indeed.

Free Will Baptists have long kept the practice of foot washing alive in their services. However, there's not too many Freewill Baptist Churches around and the practice usually and only surfaces during Holy Week. Even then, the Pope humbly washes the feet of some humble soul.

For you understand that it takes the dynamic of humility operating on the washer and washee for the washing to be spiritually powerful. In our day of high mindedness and self- assertion, it takes something to kneel down, take off some socks, wash someone's feet—including between the toes, dry them off, re-sock them, and put their shoes back on. Doing every bit of it in the Spirit of Christ who died a naked death on the cross for you and me.

But there's another crucial aspect of foot washing and it centers on the washee. It's no small thing to sit still and let someone or someones wash your feet. The washee could protest, “You don't need to do that!” In fact one such protestor said that to Jesus. To which Jesus responded, “If I don't wash your feet (Peter), you will have no part of me.” Peter responded, “Then, give me a bath.”

We need more foot washings in our community. We need more humblings on all our parts. Would that churches visit one another and wash one another's feet. The old devil would end up high and dry!

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community Church in Fayetteville.

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