A Holy Kiss

There is such a thing as a Christian greeting.

It is not what you think as in to be sober, talk slowly or use Christianese. Greeting among believers isn’t simply a matter of politeness; it is actually rooted in the gospel.

It’s amazing that something as common place as a greeting would find its basis in the gospel. So that we can say with certainly that it is a Christian thing for believers to greet one another. It is an expression of their love, a symbol of their faith in Christ.

Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

1 Peter 5:14 (ESV)

Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

1 Thessalonians 5:26 (ESV)

We find in the above verses, found in the letters written by two of the Apostles of the early church, an exhortation and some instructions for believers to greet another.

We often don’t see it that way because it doesn’t sound ‘spiritual’ or ‘serious’. We don’t even read them as instructions, we simply read them as closing remarks, and I think that has done us a huge disservice.

It’s therefore not uncommon to find believers in families, churches, fellowship, small groups and units who don’t so much as greet other believers either due to unfamiliarity, conflict or segregation. We don’t realize that our love for each other should also find expression through our greetings.

How then do we greet?

This is very important, and this separates legalism from loving obedience. The Apostle Peter says we should greet one another with the kiss of love, Apostle Paul said we should greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. What do they mean to tell us about out the nature of Christian greeting?

First, it is affectionate. There is a godly affection we ought to have towards other believers. It is a holy affection.

Second, it is familiar. By familiar, I mean it is a mark of our family status. It reflects our understanding of our presence and place in the body of Christ. It is an act that is reflective of this understanding.

Third, it is hospitable. Believers are called to be hospitable people, and greeting is often the very first step in our show of hospitality. It’s doubtful if we can open our homes to people we aren’t willing to greet.

Fourth, it is a mark of recognition. It tells the other person that we can see them and we recognize that they are a part of the family of Christ.

Fifth, it is a mark of acceptance. It doesn’t mean necessarily that, because we greet them, they are our favourite people in the whole wide world. It doesn’t mean that we should go ahead to have personal and private relationship with every single one of them.

However, at the very least, it means that we aren’t discriminatory against them because Christ has accepted them — and that is a good enough reason greet them.

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 13:35 (ESV)

I started by saying that the instruction to greet is rooted in the gospel.

If we can’t greet one another, it would be difficult to insist that we love one another.

Greet one another with a holy kiss.