Paul instructs the Christians of Rome (and Corinth and Thessalonica) to "greet one another with a holy kiss."
It was family members, and those being treated as members of the family, who would greet one another with a kiss in Rome. For this reason kissing cannot be equated with shaking hands (contra J B Phillips) – a greeting we use with strangers and acquaintances, almost never with family members. Therefore, "holy" cannot mean chaste. Rather it reflects the identification of Christians as "the saint" (= "the holy ones," see 1:7). A "holy kiss" is the kiss of the saints, the family of God. Family is a key first-century value. It is your family that is your closest and strongest alliances in life and in business – the only ones you can truly trust.
Therefore, Paul's command is better translated as "greet one another as your closest companions." A command targeted against the divisions among the Christians of Rome (e.g., week/strong, Jew/Gentile, honoured/marginal).
Many of our churches today are too large for us to know one another. [Recently, one friendly parishioner asked if I was new to the church. "No," I replied. "I've been coming here since 1997."] This has led us to treat the sanctuary as "public space" which strangers inhabit according to the rules of politeness – don't sit too close if you don't have to – rather than as "private space" (e.g., homes) where everyone crowds in together. Next time you're in church, get there early and watch the sanctuary fill up; I think you will see lots of distance between people that is only filled in gradually – strangers sharing the same space rather than family gathering together.
We need to hear and obey Paul's instruction: greet one another with a holy kiss.
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I think you are asking a bit too much from church goers (from my experience Baptists in particular) to arrive early...it seems hard enough to get people along to church let alone early to observe. I wish this wasn't the case. But perhaps, in the way our Sunday gatherings 'look' we are only encouraging people not to attend because people don't experience the true private space of families??? Maybe our churches are too much like a lounge or dining room set up at an IKEA or Freedom Furniture Showroom. It looks like a lounge room where family can enjoy gathered & great times, but everyone knows it's not 'the real thing' and they never really settle or get comfortable because they are afraid of a shop assistant telling them to remove their feet from the coffee table.
ReplyDeleteStephen,I understand your feelings at this point, however, it does take some time to get to know those within the body of Christ. In my experience some just don't want the Holy Kiss for whatever reason?? Perhaps we need to show our genuiness in Christ through the Holy Spirit before they can trust us. Then with some decent teaching on this subject, maybe they'll loosen up in all Holiness. Anyway, a Holy hug in Christ from me!! Rob
ReplyDeletenice post! first time i am going to bookmark post of any other person on my social accounts but i like this.
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