As a Christian, I’m sometimes asked how I can work with feet as a Therapeutic Reflexologist as if it is some kind of a sin to work with somebody’s feet. In response I often joke that they can be glad I’m not a Gynaecologist or a similar question will be very uncomfortable. In today’s post, we’ll consider a Christian perspective on working with feet.
What is Christianity?
Christianity is a religion believing that each person is a sinner and in need of a Saviour. The Saviour in Christianity is Jesus Christ that took the sin of the world upon Himself in order to offer salvation to all humans that accept His gift of salvation. In Christianity, salvation is not obtained through works or duties or complying with rules, but instead, it is offered free of charge to every person accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour as He already paid the full price.
Is Christo Scheepers a Christian?
I do not like to call myself a “Christian” because Christianity has been abused over the years into something I do not believe it was ever meant to be. Personally, I rather call myself a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. You may think that is semantics, but I do not like associating myself with so-called Christians that look down upon other people and judge them just because they have done something wrong or for having a specific skin colour or for wearing or not wearing certain clothing and so forth.
Yes, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Saviour and I have made Him my Lord and Saviour in January 1999. That is a whole other story, but as such, it does not make me a perfect person, it does not ensure that I never do things wrong or incorrectly or that I never commit sin; what it does mean, is that I’m saved and set free, not because of anything that I have done, but because of what Jesus did for me. Believing in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour does not make me the perfect person, but it makes me a forgiven person.
I do not believe that Christianity is a list of do’s and don’ts and I do not believe that it is supposed to be a list of religious duties to fulfill, but instead, I believe Christianity is a relationship with God and as a result, I try to always live out this amazing privilege by firstly loving God and secondly loving all people. Christianity is not restricting my life, it is merely providing it with purpose and guiding me in how to treat all people equally, with dignity, and with respect, regardless of their age, culture, ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, and so forth. As a Christian, my duty is not to judge people or to judge the decisions they have made or are making, but it is my duty to show them love in the midst of difficult circumstances or in the midst of difficult decisions they have to make.
Do Christians believe that is it wrong to work with feet?
I cannot generalise and say that all Christians believe it is wrong to work with feet, but working with feet often carry with it some negative connotation, especially when people link it to sexually related matters like foot fetishism. Unfortunately, people, even Christians, often judge others and as a result, may find it very weird that anybody would choose to work with feet.
That being said, as a Therapeutic Reflexologist, I work mainly with feet, but also with other body parts like hands, face, and ears. That does not make me any weirder than a Podiatrist working with foot problems or an Orthopaedic Surgeon cutting on feet or a Pedicurist that paints toenails or a Dentist working with teeth or a Dermatologist working with skin and pimples or a Gynaecologist working with female parts or a Urologist working with male parts. That is the reality; Therapeutic Reflexology is a registered and highly regulated healthcare profession that has nothing to do with weird sexual fantasies, just like none of the other healthcare professions mentioned are classified in such a category either.
Just be glad there are people like Therapeutic Reflexologists that are willing to work with your feet in order for you to experience the tremendous benefits of this amazing healthcare modality.
Therapeutic Reflexology is a touch therapy, just like Physiotherapy is a touch therapy, and as a Therapeutic Reflexologist, I just happen to provide professional therapy on your feet (or other body parts), just like the Physiotherapist provides physical therapy on the muscles all over the body.
Feet in Christianity
Did you know that feet are not excluded from Christianity, but are actually an integral part thereof? Many may not know this or even be aware of this, so let us look a little bit into feet in Christianity from the Christian roadmap for life, namely the Holy Bible.
(1) Luke 7:38-46
In this passage of Scripture, a woman was crying at the feet of Jesus and then washed his feet with her tears and wiped it with her hair before kissing His feet and anointing it with oil. It is interesting that Christians read this Scripture and directly thereafter would still judge a Therapeutic Reflexologist for working with feet. Really? When did Christianity become a judgemental religion?
In Luke 7:39 the Pharisees had a problem with the fact that the woman touched Jesus and anointed His feet, but here is the crux of the matter: Jesus did not have a problem with it at all. As Christians, we should not act as if we know better than God, should we?
That is the Jesus I serve, not the judgemental One that is often portrayed in movies. I believe the real Jesus is much more in line with the Jesus portrayed in the movie “The Gospel according to Matthew” where Bruce Marciano plays the role of Jesus; a loving Jesus that loved all people, even when He was criticised by “Christians” for associating with certain types of people. That is the Jesus I serve; a loving God that loves all people. Yes, it is true, it is the same Jesus that cleared the temple by giving out some painful punishment to certain people abusing the temple, but that is what Christianity is about, namely, God will do the punishment and judging, not us as humans; our responsibility as humans is only to love all other people.
(2) John 13:4-17
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus Himself washed the feet of the disciples, and not only did He washed their feet, but He also said that it is an example to His followers to do the same. It can be interpreted that Jesus meant that just like He served other people, His followers should also serve other people, but in some church circles this is taken up very literally and then people actually wash other people’s feet in a gesture to portray servanthood.
What is interesting to me, is the fact that these Christians will physically wash the feet of other people because Jesus did it, but then they would judge a Therapeutic Reflexologist for working with feet and say that it is inappropriate. The fact of the matter is that there is nothing wrong with the fact that Therapeutic Reflexologists work with people’s feet, not even from a Christian perspective, and the fact that some “Christians” are judgemental about it, is unfounded.
These are just two passages of Scripture where feet are involved. Feet are mentioned throughout Scripture and nowhere does it say that feet should not be touched.
Conclusion
It is concluded that Christianity is not against working with people’s feet, but instead, there may be certain individuals within the Christian community that has a problem with it. Just because some people have a problem with something, does not mean that all people within that community have the same objections. Be careful of generalisations.
On that point, let me not generalise, but rather state that as a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, I personally do not have a problem working with people’s feet and doing Therapeutic Reflexology, but instead, I feel humbled every time I am entrusted to touch somebody’s feet and provide them with a professional form of therapy.
Each time I touch somebody’s feet, I’m reminded of the words of Jesus Himself when He said, just as I washed feet, so you should do also; by implication, just like He touched feet (when washing the disciples’ feet), so I am privileged to touch feet as a Therapeutic Reflexologist when providing patients with a wonderful form of therapy that just happens to involve the stimulation of reflexes (nerve endings) on their feet.
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Christo A. Scheepers: Therapeutic Reflexologist
Dip.T.R.(Cum Laude) [IARAMT]
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 1080000737453
Tel. 072-800 7243