The Holy Kiss

"Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. "

Romans 16:16

When I was growing up, the little congregation I attended had a banner on the pulpit with this scripture. The banner was a proclamation that the name of our little church was found right there in the bible. We were a "Church of Christ". Yet, years later, I think we missed the most important part of that verse.

I have discovered that I don't kiss people that I don't like! Yet, the command to the church was to greet one another with a holy kiss. What is this kissing business? In the time that Paul wrote to the Roman church a kiss was an expression of fond affection one for another. I think the same could be true today; but, there is no question that culture has had an influence on our perceptions. In our western culture, men kissing men in public will raise some eyebrows! But, if you are in Eastern Europe, no one would think strangely of it. In the prior chapter, Paul stated:

May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

The one common need which we all have is to be loved and appreciated. Living in harmony is part of God's design for his church. Harmony does not mean that we all sing the same notes. But, the blend of our lives is much like the harmony of music. Each of our lives blends together and sounds better than any single part in isolation. In the same way, welcoming one another is not just a "nice thing" to do; but, it is tied to our witness of the gospel. The way we welcome others is to be like the way Jesus welcomed us. If we get the relationship right with the Lord first, then the horizontal relationship with our brothers and sisters follows perfectly.

So what do we do with people who don't want to welcome others? What about people who cause dissension? The very next verse in Romans 16 follows with this instruction:

17 I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded.

Our faith must be discerning. We cannot be "simple-minded". Jesus called for his disciples to be "as wise as serpents; and, as harmless as doves". Learning to filter out the call for factions and dissensions is part of the journey of faith. How do we do that? We ask ourselves, "What would Jesus do?" Would you like to be blessed by God? Try greeting the saints and extending true love and fellowship to the household of faith. If you do, you might find yourself being kissed more often!