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JN 13, MT 26, LK 22
Just a little itty-bitty theological note from an apostate Unitarian-Universalist: When earnest white people kneel down and wash the feet of black protesters … guess who is acting out the starring role of Jesus?
My husband suggests they know not what they do. I disagree. I think that “savior” is exactly how white progressives are being invited to see ourselves.
Then there’s this guy:
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Published in Religion & Philosophy
The whole thing is in reverse and perverted.
It isn’t a humble man getting his feet washed by someone he holds in high esteem. Rather, the one having feet washed feel superior to them.
It isn’t an innocent man serving people he loves in performing this humble service. Rather it is guilt ridden men seeking penance for a false guilt.
Though you make an interesting point… it drives home that white savior complex that white liberals are particularly good at.
Exactly.
They have the whole thing wrong. All-the-way wrong. And I can’t believe ministers are getting into this.
Having been raised in a feet-washing church that sees this practice as an integral part of communion, I would have some real questions about who is who in all of this and what are their motives. Christians must not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
In one small community near me, the folks from the black church and the white church prayed together and embraced during a demonstration. These were real believers, not people just out to win points.I don’t think feet washing occurred. The police were present and were upheld in prayer on their behalf. Whether police knelt during this prayer time, I don’t know. It seems that Antifa did not show up at this one
Yeah, the white messiah here to save those helpless brown people . . . but nothing condescending here, right?
What’s an apostate Unitarian-Universalist mean?
Edit: Maybe I should explain myself. Are you calling yourself apostate because that is how Trinitarians (like me) might view you, or is your path diverging from Unitarian-Universalist beliefs? Just asking. @GrannyDude
Did they read scripture, or allude to the Biblical incident beforehand? Or did somebody just come up with this as a thing white people could do to show humility before the noble victim class?
Jesus washed his disciples’ feet to show them how low he (their master (ahem)) was willing to lower himself to love them, so they could see how much they (the servants having their feet washed) should humble themselves.
I’ve missed a lot on Rico this year. Did I miss new developments here? I remember things were getting rather strained before.
Indeed. White savior complex is a real condition, and a lot of the African American community, Right and Left both, resent the heck out of it. It’s just another way to excuse talking down to others.
They have it very, very wrong.
Part of what Jesus Christ was teaching in washing the disciples feet was an example of the Lord/Master serving his followers, an act of a superior serving his inferiors to teach them in a spirit of self-sacrificing love as opposed to self-seeking pride. In this country, no man is to be lord/master over another. Kneeling in this context is debasing yourself to an ideology that wants to punish and keep punishing without end. There will never be reparations enough to satisfy them.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less ~~ C.S. Lewis
Jesus did not wash feet as a sign of repentance for wrong-doing or sin. This new foot-washing is an act of repentance for wrong-doing.
Foot-washing is no longer a matter of hygiene. It is symbolic. The mindset of the washers is one thing. But what is the mindset of those being washed?
I think it’s this:
I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
President George W. Bush spoke sincerely, and with their best interests in mind, to the NAACP in July, 2000. He memorably included this line, to describe the approach of the democrat party to this beholden voting block of African-American people:
The democrat party looks down on Blacks and they believe that they need to be dependent upon government. They have robbed them of their personal dignity to work and rely upon themselves and their own families. Welfare has destroyed the Black family. Too many Fathers have abandoned their families and drugs and substance abuse has placed heavy burdens on Grandparents and single mothers.
I think interpreting the foot washing would need more than pictures, but clear dialogue from those participating. There is no other way to discern the meaning or context of those actions.
Footwashing is not a common act in our culture, but it does have meaning.
Each person who views that act interprets it based on their own knowledge, experience and understanding.
For me, I interpret foot-washing as an act of self-less service, kindness, and love.
But that doesn’t mean random people filling those roles share my face-value interpretation or understanding.
Of course, when I go to the salon for a pedicure, I’m under no delusions that the person providing me that luxury of foot washing is performing an act of self-less kindness and love. I’m very appreciative and paying them. It is certainly not a religious experience for either of us.
I don’t doubt that the trooper would kneel beside people and to God.
I’m with him.
I prefer the positive statement:
Humility is not valuing yourself disparagingly, it is valuing others exaltedly.
This Prager U video addresses this idea.
(Why can’t I embed the video itself? I used to be able to embed YouTube videos, but now I can’t. What’s changed?)
(Edited to try the suggestion that was given in the next post. It worked! Yay! Leaving this post as is because the conversation won’t make sense if I remove the question from here.)
Have you tried posting the URL by itself?
Sometimes it automatically turns those into links, and you have to click on it and then click on a de-link button.
Basically, white Leftists subconsciously see themselves as PG or PG13 versions of Charles Manson.
Nicely put!
Just tried it, and it worked. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Exactly. And right now, people can voluntarily wash someone else’s feet, as a way to announce their guilt.
If the Forces behind the foot washing and the virtuous kneeling succeed, in another year or less, none of this will be voluntary. You will be marching to protest some wrong committed against some person the Forces deem worthy of commemorating. You will be kneeling in front of whatever group of people you are told to kneel before.
Flicker, your words that: “In this country, no man is to be lord/master over another. Kneeling in this context is debasing yourself to an ideology that wants to punish and keep punishing without end. There will never be reparations enough to satisfy them” are exactly right.
> JN 13, MT 26, LK 22
Does that mean the Gospels of John, Matthew, and Luke?
I was thinking Montana scored 26 points against the … uh, the Japanese Navy … in a lake?