In keeping with our theme of “Considering One Another,” it is worth mentioning that on four different occasions the Bible instructs us to greet one another (Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, 2 Cor. 13:12, 1 Pet. 5:14). The word “greet” is defined as giving a polite word, sign of welcome or recognition to another person upon meeting them. The inspired writers understood the importance of greeting one another and therefore instructed us to do so.
This applies to greeting visitors to our congregation in addition to each other. In fact, we should seek out visitors and new members and give a polite word or sign of welcome.
Yes, I am aware that all of these verses mention to greet with a holy kiss. At the time of writing, and in the culture these verses were written, the kiss was a polite sign of welcome. Incidentally, it was men to men. In some cultures even today, the kiss remains a polite sign of welcome.
Some think that the kiss, along with foot washing, is a New Testament command applicable to us today. I am not real keen on kissing men, so I prefer a holy handshake. A warm handshake is our culture’s parallel greeting to what took place in the first century. We greet one another with a holy handshake and they greeted one another with a holy kiss. Thus, Paul’s writing regulated the existing traditions. He didn’t originate or authorize but simply regulated something that was already being done.
He says when you kiss, make it a holy kiss. I am pretty sure if we were to kiss our visitors, they wouldn’t come back. But we are all instructed to greet one another and our visitors warmly, thus considering one another in this small but important way.
For the elders, Tony Williams