vooks:

When I said cultural disposition is abused, I meant it is abused by those who readily ascribe the practices I described to culture.
You opined that some of these practices are borrowed from culture. I countered that by asking where else they are found outside Christianity. If they are found nowhere else outside Christianity, then it is wrong to 'blame' culture for these. They would be nothing but internal practices

I did get your point (and I agree with you that leaders with an awe struck following can and do a number of times abuse such privilege. It is natural human flaw that is even replete in the Bible)
However, for the sake of some extra intellectual argument -playing the "devils advocate" or should I say the "angels advocate"
I am arguing that culture goes beyond that which is obvious in the community
It is like an iceberg assemblage see https://equity.spps.org/uploads/iceberg_model_3.pdf

A not too tidy example: if a church encourages the followers to wash the feet of their apostles
you might find out that an underlying but seemingly unrelated saying in that community is "moni no dey shout say this man make me from toilet washing"
Consequently, the follower doing the washing might be thinking "if I wash this pastor leg, God go give me money"
The pastor himself whose feet is being washed might be driven by another philosophy embedded within the culture of his community.

Now remember Peter was not pleased with unclean animals that he was given to eat in his dream, and it showed in the way it affected his ministry with the gentiles.
I think Prophet Jeremiah it was who pleaded with God to change his mind about cooking with human poo, because it was unclean.
All of this was as a manifestation of culture

I am not holding brief for these guys, after all, the spirit of the prophet is subject to the control of the prophet
I am just exploring an alternative reasoning apart from the normal "false prophet" label or the "you must obey God's prophets" mentality

esere826, not necessarily knocking your comments but I think vooks is right about "abuse" when he said:
"...cultural disposition is abused,
I meant it is abused by those who readily ascribe the practices I described to culture.
You opined that some of these practices are borrowed from culture"

and countered yours by asking:
"where else they are found outside Christianity.
If they are found nowhere else outside Christianity, then it is wrong to 'blame' culture for these.
They would be nothing but internal practices"

We need to remember when Jesus said in Matthew 23:8-9 said not to be called teacher nor let anyone call you Rabbi

Matthew 23:8-9
⁸"Don't let anyone call you 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.
⁹And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven

The reason why Jesus said this, was because of the prevailing culture in Judaism then
where the Pharisees pompously felt important than necessary when addressed as rabbi or called father
whoever not complying or does otherwise will experience their extreme anger or displeasure
and be inked down in their little black books

Jesus was aware of the Pharisees' self-importance, their displays of exaggerated dignity
and pretence to know everything, that He touched on it and addressed the issue with Matthew 23:8-9

So "#3. Ministers DEMANDING on 'honor' such as being addressed as daddy, mum....and publicly rebuking those who don't" predated Christianity
The Jews had this culture, they practised this "daddy" idea, custom or social behaviour,
so it could be said Christians learned this "daddy" thing from Judaism,
and equally said they traditionally borrowed the "baba" practice from indigenous tradition, culture or custom as well too

Gullible worshipers could ignorantly do unscriptural things to honor their MOG, but the issue lies on the shoulders of the socalled MOG to let the gullible fellow understand that such honor is not supposed to be directed to him. Jesus severally rejected such honor and even rebuked his apostles for desiring such honor.

MuttleyLaff:

I agree with Vooks and yourself
However, I ask where in the world do folks get some strange leadership-followership ideas from (which might end up being abused)
I refuse (or fear) to believe that these leaders seat down to conjure up these practices hoping that their followers tow it
I suspect its a natural flow from their value system (both the leaders and followers)


Look at us arguing respectfully
it is clear that our value system supports this, and any Christian leader that engages with us would have to come to the table with lots of brain power ... (though we also have some inert but suppressed vile values birthed by our cultures and traditions)

However, it makes sense that an insultive Christian would only sync with a leader who is able to use brash coercive psychological force to keep him in check

You can thus see a certain semblance of character between the follower and the followee.
This I suspect is because they share similar underlying cultures (I am not talking about tradition oo)


perhaps there is another angle to this
maybe the leader has special gift that enables him stir and configure his followers values/culture/beliefs to be same as his.

Whatever, the case, I seriously doubt that a man go siddon start to dey plan how him wan make a fool of him congregation
That South Aftrican pastor that get his followers to eat grass should be a good case study for my line of argument

....all said, I largely agree with you guys. All of this is just me trying to turn the cube a little bit to see what else we can see


*Additional comment..To buttress my thoughts around culture, you noticed how the OP laid out his argument for standing up for pastors. He came in from the point of view that we typically stand up for presidents, and then transferred that same honor to the pastors. That argument might not fly well with a British person who typically won't be bothered to stand for his prime minister. However, if the OP and his folks do a good job of transferring the adulation given to the queen unto the pastor, then indeed not only will they stand, they will also bow before the pastor.

esere826:
I agree with Vooks and yourself
However, I ask where in the world do folks get some strange leadership-followership ideas from (which might end up being abused)
I refuse (or fear) to believe that these leaders seat down to conjure up these practices hoping that their followers tow it
I suspect its a natural flow from their value system (both the leaders and followers)


Look at us arguing respectfully
it is clear that our value system supports this, and any Christian leader that engages with us would have to come to the table with lots of brain power ... (though we also have some inert but suppressed vile values birthed by our cultures and traditions)

However, it makes sense that an insultive Christian would only sync with a leader who is able to use brash coercive psychological force to keep him in check

You can thus see a certain semblance of character between the follower and the followee.
This I suspect is because they share similar underlying cultures (I am not talking about tradition oo)


perhaps there is another angle to this
maybe the leader has special gift that enables him stir and configure his followers values/culture/beliefs to be same as his.

Whatever, the case, I seriously doubt that a man go siddon start to dey plan how him wan make a fool of him congregation
That South Aftrican pastor that get his followers to eat grass should be a good case study for my line of argument

....all said, I largely agree with you guys. All of this is just me trying to turn the cube a little bit to see what else we can see


*Additional comment..To buttress my thoughts around culture, you noticed how the OP laid out his argument for standing up for pastors. He came in from the point of view that we typically stand up for presidents, and then transferred that same honor to the pastors. That argument might not fly well with a British person who typically won't be bothered to stand for his prime minister. However, if the OP and his folks do a good job of transferring the adulation given to the queen unto the pastor, then indeed not only will they stand, they will also bow before the pastor.

I hear you too, heard you loud and clear

If we're trying to turn the cube a little bit to see what else we can see, let's even try push the boat out, a bit further, bit in the deep end

Now not trying stir up a hornet's nest here but when I hear people say so-and-so has humility or such-and-such is so humble,
am like well, hmm but "Humility isn't actually humility unless there's something you're good enough at to be humble about."
That was a God quote from the "Joan of Arcadia" series, it used to be shown a few years back on the CBS Network
When I heard that line in the series, the penny about Numbers 12:3 dropped for me

Numbers 12:3
(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

Hmm, imagine leading a nation out of Egypt,
lead half a million Israelites or say more than 2 million people, if women and children are included, to the promised land
now if that isnt something to be humble about, I dont know what else is.
That, right there, is humility. That is a feat.
No wonder the Bible recorded he was very humble, more than any of the men who are on the face of the ground

If the word humility, as we know it to be, is also associated with meekness, lowliness or submissiveness,
then it will wear thin and fail miserably, in the face for anyone subscribing to or endorsing one, any or all of the following:
1. KNEELING before them while addressing them with your head bowed
2. Calling them my lord
3. Ministers DEMANDING on 'honor' such as being addressed as daddy, mum....and publicly rebuking those who don't
4. Literally kissing their feet/shoes
5. Removing shoes in their presence
6. Washing their feet
7. Defining honor as agreeing with their EVERY word, doctrine

I dont recall ever, reading Moses, a man exceedingly humble above all men that dwelt upon earth,
allowing any of the Israelites according him, at any time, one, any or all of vooks' listings

MuttleyLaff:
[size=4pt]I hear you too, heard you loud and clear

If we're trying to turn the cube a little bit to see what else we can see, let's even try push the boat out, a bit further, bit in the deep end

Now not trying stir up a hornet's nest here but when I hear people say so-and-so has humility or such-and-such is so humble,
am like well, hmm but "Humility isn't actually humility unless there's something you're good enough at to be humble about."
That was a God quote from the "Joan of Arcadia" series, it used to be shown a few years back on the CBS Network
When I heard that line in the series, the penny about Numbers 12:3 dropped for me

Numbers 12:3
(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

Hmm, imagine leading a nation out of Egypt,
lead half a million Israelites or say more than 2 million people, if women and children are included, to the promised land
now if that isnt something to be humble about, I dont know what else is.
That, right there, is humility. That is a feat.
No wonder the Bible recorded he was very humble, more than any of the men who are on the face of the ground

If the word humility, as we know it to be, is also associated with meekness, lowliness or submissiveness,
then it will wear thin and fail miserably, in the face for anyone subscribing to or endorsing one, any or all of the following:
1. KNEELING before them while addressing them with your head bowed
2. Calling them my lord
3. Ministers DEMANDING on 'honor' such as being addressed as daddy, mum....and publicly rebuking those who don't
4. Literally kissing their feet/shoes
5. Removing shoes in their presence
6. Washing their feet
7. Defining honor as agreeing with their EVERY word, doctrine

I dont recall ever, reading Moses, a man exceedingly humble above all men that dwelt upon earth,
allowing any of the Israelites according him, at any time, one, any or all of vooks' listings

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Using the English definition of HUMBLE just like you have (..make I no use original Hebrew translation and root because I no sabi am)
suggests that the leader is perceived to accrue to himself less of the privileges/power/visibility than he would otherwise be able to have
You are right

You and I might not be under the influence of these leaders alright
but perhaps, their followers call them humble because they are placed on very high pedestals by the followers
to the extent that if the leader asks to slap them, they would oblige
so here comes the leader instead of slapping the follower, requests only that his feet be washed
..."wow, the leader is so humble" they'd say

So I guess humility has a lot to do with what is being measured against, and by whom

esere826:


Using the English definition of HUMBLE just like you have (..make I no use original Hebrew translation and root because I no sabi am)
suggests that the leader is perceived to accrue to himself less of the privileges/power/visibility than he would otherwise be able to have
You are right

You and I might not be under the influence of these leaders alright
but perhaps, their followers call them humble because they are placed on very high pedestals by the followers
to the extent that if the leader asks to slap them, they would oblige
so here comes the leader instead of slapping the follower, requests only that his feet be washed
..."wow, the leader is so humble" they'd say

So I guess humility has a lot to do with what is being measured against, and by whom

This Christian mutation of honor is religion specific. Don't exist nowhere outside some strands of Negro Christianity

Gombs:

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

There’re truths in the Word of God for us to discover and apply in our personal lives; otherwise, you’ll never walk in the blessings they bring. One of them is honouring those whom God has set above you, and are responsible for your spiritual growth.

Some people, however, because they lack understanding of the scriptures, get offended when we do certain things in the wisdom of God, to honour God’s ministers. For example, when a man of God walks into a place and people stand in honour and reverence, some people blurt, "Why should they all stand up; is he Jesus?" No, He’s not Jesus, but he represents Him.

Understand that the respect accorded the minster of God is the reason his words, his message and the blessings that he gives, stay with you. No wonder Jesus said in Matthew 10:40-41, "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward." So, be smart to know that when you honour a man of God, you aren’t doing it for a man, but for the Lord.

If the people of the world would stand up in honour, when the president of their nation, whom they voted into office, walks in, why then should anyone complain when similar honour is done a man sent by God? That’s resenting the Lord unknowingly.

The man of God, unlike the president of any nation, has been given the mandate to strengthen, inspire and edify God’s people in the Word and therefore, deserves greater honour. 1 Timothy 5:17 says, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine."

1 John 5:1 says, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him." If you love Jesus, you’ll love those that He sends. Don’t join scoffers to malign or resent those that God has sent to bless and nurture you in the Word.

so who do I represent?
he represent jesus , so na me represent satan?

back2sender:

so who do I represent?
he represent jesus , so na me represent satan?

God has always led His folks by one man... that don't mean we do not represent Him, for as we are being led by one, we also in our capacity as soul winners lead others, and those you lead will be better off, if they recognize and honor the office you occupy, by reason on what you do.

esere826:
Using the English definition of HUMBLE just like you have
(... make I no use original Hebrew translation and root because I no sabi am)

The original Hebrew translation is actually quite revealing

esere826:
suggests that the leader is perceived to accrue to himself less of the privileges/power/visibility than he would otherwise be able to have
You are right

You and I might not be under the influence of these leaders alright
but perhaps, their followers call them humble because they are placed on very high pedestals by the followers
to the extent that if the leader asks to slap them, they would oblige
so here comes the leader instead of slapping the follower, requests only that his feet be washed
..."wow, the leader is so humble" they'd say

There is this warped idea done the rounds, unchecked about what biblical humility and humbleness really is all about.

Moses was called the most humble man on earth.
Jesus said: "I am HUMBLE and gentle at heart"
Why and under what circumstances or background are they humble?
Do any of these "so called humble leaders" share any the of circumstances or background Moses or Jesus went through?

Luke 22:26
But among you it will be different.
Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.

Mark 10:44-45
⁴⁴Whoever wants to be most important among you will be a slave for everyone.
⁴⁵It's the same way with the Son of Man. He didn't come so that others could serve him.
He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people."

esere826:
So I guess humility has a lot to do with what is being measured against, and by whom

I guess, humility has more to do with what the various verses in the Bible advertises humility or humble to be
Verses such as Philippians 2:3 (i.e. my favourite of all) Psalms 25:9, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 5:5, Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, 1 Peter 3:8 etcetera

Also it will be interesting to compare and contrast another side of an absence of "humble" in Exodus 10:3

vooks:

Thank you Image123,
How would we judge 'context and culture/norm'? My take is by examining existence of the same outside Churchianity.

Take 4 and 5. Do you of any leader who is 'honored' thus? For removing shoes, I can only think of God with Moses and the burning bush. For washing feet, I can only think of Jesus our Lord washing his feet. I would not mind of my Bishop did it

i wouldn't 'judge' any context and culture/norm, but if you mean to assess or determine personally, as far as it does not directly contravene God's revealed will, we should be led by the Spirit of God.
For 4 and 5, i do not know anyone honoured thus. It might possibly be some culture, i don't know. But i know that in some places, people remove their shoes out of 'respect' when they visit certain places and even houses. As for feet washing, it is a thing of honour in some cultures, and the Peter felt it was so. People used to do it to honour guests.

Image123:
i wouldn't 'judge' any context and culture/norm, but if you mean to assess or determine personally, as far as it does not directly contravene God's revealed will, we should be led by the Spirit of God

Fair comment especially if it is not an imposition
and it does not directly contravene God's revealed will or is as the spirit leads

Image123:
For 4 and 5, i do not know anyone honoured thus

As for #4, before the papal tradition is that anyone having audience with the Pope kneels, kisses one of his slippers and bows to him.
The kissing of the pope's slippers part has stopped, because in 1969, Paul VI outrightly discontinued the custom of kissing the papal foot


The departure and indifference to papacy protocol seen in the above pic is very interesting and peculiar to the incumbent Pope.

As for #5, I too do not know anyone honoured thus
but know of people taking off shoes in places of worship and/or bow to their "holy books" touching the floor with the foreheads

Image123:
It might possibly be some culture, i don't know

It can be cultural, especially in countries with subtropical or tropical climates

Image123:
But i know that in some places, people remove their shoes out of 'respect' when they visit certain places and even houses.

Yeah, you'll be surprised, that "remove their shoes out of 'respect' when they visit certain places and even houses" is out of respect for the cleanliness and hygiene of the newly laid grey or light coloured carpet.
Dont want to leave dirty shoes print marks all over the carpet or smear it with shoe dirt, which will cost a lot of time, effort & money to clean up
nor do you want to transfer disease-causing organisms from muck under the shoes and spread germs about with them

Image123:
As for feet washing,

Who likes the waft of smelling feet or the smell of stinky feet
Apart from fetish reasons, no one does
It is an act of humility for a senior to bend down and carry out feet washing
especially if imagined how feet stinks in humid or arid areas

Luke 22:26 and Mark 10:44-45 is a lesson about humility
It is in conjuction with John 13:3-17 where Jesus was teaching the disciples about service (i.e. the action of helping or doing work for someone) and humility when He washed their feet

Luke 22:26
But among you it will be different.
Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.

Mark 10:44-45
⁴⁴Whoever wants to be most important among you will be a slave for everyone.
⁴⁵It's the same way with the Son of Man. He didn't come so that others could serve him.
He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people."

Image123:
it is a thing of honour in some cultures, and the Peter felt it was so.
People used to do it to honour guests.

Peter knew it is "a thing of honour" which is below a senior or host
as they leave such unpleasant and distasteful tasks for the lower in rank or position, the household or auxiliary staff to carry out on guests


^{Picture of Pope Francis kneeling down and washing feet}

but here is Jesus in John 13:14, saying in area of service, nothing is unbefitting and the disciples should learn from the example he just set
(i.e. washing feet in a humid climate can be very repugnant, revolting, disgusting and offensive to the nose especially when it's stinky or smelly feet)

John 13:12-16
¹²When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.
“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.
¹³“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.
¹⁴Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
¹⁵I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
¹⁶Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
¹⁷Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them

The original text in Hebrew about humble in regards to Moses in Numbers 12:3, is very interesting,
as it means "be put down or become low, be lowly subsmissive, concern one, also be occupied by or be occupied with and undergo affliction"

The original text in Greek about humble in regards to Jesus in Matthew 11:29, is equally very interesting too,
as it means "lowly, in position or spirit (in a good sense)"

Moses was brought low and occupied by/with the Israelites. Jesus was brought low and occupied by/with us,
but when Pharaoh in Exodus 10:3, refused to come down from his high horse
and wanted nothing to do with being occupied by/with the Israelites
he had a first-hand experience of the former part of “God humbles the proud and he gives grace to the humble.”

Image123:


i wouldn't 'judge' any context and culture/norm, but if you mean to assess or determine personally, as far as it does not directly contravene God's revealed will, we should be led by the Spirit of God.
For 4 and 5, i do not know anyone honoured thus. It might possibly be some culture, i don't know. But i know that in some places, people remove their shoes out of 'respect' when they visit certain places and even houses. As for feet washing, it is a thing of honour in some cultures, and the Peter felt it was so. People used to do it to honour guests.

Jesus washed the disciples' feet not the other way round. Let's get specific. Do you find anything odd with members washing their pastors' feet? If they were following any script from Jesus, it should be the other way round

vooks:
Jesus washed the disciples' feet not the other way round. Let's get specific.
Do you find anything odd with members washing their pastors' feet?

It shouldnt be odd if the pastor too like Jesus washed the members' feet

vooks:
If they were following any script from Jesus, it should be the other way round

They will be following Jesus' cue and be strongly influenced by His "you also should wash one another’s feet" words
It's not a one-way or just "the other way round" but is a vice versa thing to do (i.e. done by both the giver and receiver of feet washing)

vooks:

Jesus washed the disciples' feet not the other way round. Let's get specific. Do you find anything odd with members washing their pastors' feet? If they were following any script from Jesus, it should be the other way round

Peter and his culture felt the lesser can honor the greater by feet washing. I see nothing wrong or odd with anyone washing the other's feet. it boils down to culture and perhaps humility, every Christian should be humble and Christlike, not just pastor.

Image123:


Peter and his culture felt the lesser can honor the greater by feet washing. I see nothing wrong or odd with anyone washing the other's feet. it boils down to culture and perhaps humility, every Christian should be humble and Christlike, not just pastor.

Am looking for examples of Jesus among Pentecostals where pastors wash disciples feet. Hard to come by. So while such an obvious example is IMPOSSIBLE to find,the reverse, disciples washing and oiling their pastors feet in the name of honor abounds. Looks like Holy Spirit 'leads' them against Jesus teachings

Why I question culture is because this peculiar habit especially among Negroes of Nigerian mould is restricted to some strands of Christianity. Culture I would have guessed would transcend religions but alas it is peculiarly Christian. Nigerian Muslims never wash their sheikhs' feet yet nobody would accuse them of not honoring them.

vooks:
Am looking for examples of Jesus among Pentecostals where pastors wash disciples feet.

Just as those of the Pope washing feet, there are examples of Jesus among Pentecostals too, where pastors wash members' feet

vooks:
Hard to come by.

No, not really hard to come by as there are
but wouldnt necessarily say so in West or East Africa, as it doesnt look like a money making venture so its not a teaching to take advantage of

vooks:
So while such an obvious example is IMPOSSIBLE to find, the reverse, disciples washing and oiling their pastors feet in the name of honor abounds. Looks like Holy Spirit 'leads' them against Jesus teachings

The obvious example and the reverse are out there but not sure if members washing and oiling their pastors feet is about honouring.
If its about honoring, then it goes against the letter and spirit of the lesson and example set
Washing feet as done by Jesus was a demonstration and one of an example of service and has nothing remotely to do with honoring

vooks:
Why I question culture is because this peculiar habit especially among Negroes of Nigerian mould is restricted to some strands of Christianity. Culture I would have guessed would transcend religions but alas it is peculiarly Christian. Nigerian Muslims never wash their sheikhs' feet yet nobody would accuse them of not honoring them.

I have no idea or knowledge of members washing their pastor's feet in Nigeria. If there are, then its news to me

vooks:

Am looking for examples of Jesus among Pentecostals where pastors wash disciples feet. Hard to come by. So while such an obvious example is IMPOSSIBLE to find,the reverse, disciples washing and oiling their pastors feet in the name of honor abounds. Looks like Holy Spirit 'leads' them against Jesus teachings

Why I question culture is because this peculiar habit especially among Negroes of Nigerian mould is restricted to some strands of Christianity. Culture I would have guessed would transcend religions but alas it is peculiarly Christian. Nigerian Muslims never wash their sheikhs' feet yet nobody would accuse them of not honoring them.

Like i said, i do not know any examples, i simply gave reasons and permissions in cultural context. ML already gave examples about the Pope or so washing feet. Feet washing or not is nothing, it can well pass off for a ceremony and not necessarily humility, it could also be humility and honour. God sees the heart.

Image123:
Like i said, i do not know any examples, i simply gave reasons and permissions in cultural context.
ML already gave examples about the Pope or so washing feet.
Feet washing or not is nothing, it can well pass off for a ceremony and not necessarily humility,
it could also be humility and honour. God sees the heart.

What was Jesus teaching with this washing of feet thing, what did it primarily or solely have anything to do with?
humility? honour? humility and honour? nothing at all as it is just a ceremony?

Jesus wasnt teaching literal feet washing as such but was teaching humility towards each other
He was demonstrating to them one of the ways of having a modest or low view of one's importance.
Big-man-ism has no place in the new structure, body, He was about setting up

Lets try and remember the antics the disciples were up to prior to the feet washing event
They were squabbling over importance, over who will be the "big man"
Must have been a shock to them after the arguments,
to see Jesus bend and kneel like a servant, towel over His shoulder, starting to wash dusty feet

Image123:


Like i said, i do not know any examples, i simply gave reasons and permissions in cultural context. ML already gave examples about the Pope or so washing feet. Feet washing or not is nothing, it can well pass off for a ceremony and not necessarily humility, it could also be humility and honour. God sees the heart.

And I questioned your 'cultural context' by saying if it exists nowhere elsse outside Christianity it's not culture but a sub-culture for which we reserve every right to call it out.

While God sees the heart humans have been blessed with some brains to make judgements on what they see. That's why for instance a man finding his wife in bed with another man would not cling to 'God sees the heart'

Are you saying that removing shoes before your pastor and washing their feet would not trigger any bells?