Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Holy Kiss

                The history of the holy kiss is very interesting.  In the time this verse in Romans was written, it was (and still is in some Mediterranean and other instances) common practice for men to greet one another with a kiss on the cheek.  The “holy kiss” reference gave it even more meaning to represent the unity in Christ.  Over time, this practice became an embrace and kiss on the forehead, then kissing the same cup as a symbol, then a “kissing object,” then passing a piece of wood down the seats of the church for the congregation to all kiss, then a piece of paper, and eventually nothing. 
                I say this as an analogy.  I realize that we probably aren’t going to start kissing one another, or that we even should.  This is an analogy of interaction in the Christian community.  The holy kiss deteriorated and eventually disappeared.  Now I realize this is also due to cultural changes over time; however, our interaction within the Christian community should not disappear. 
                When someone wants to have someone to talk to, where do they go?  When they want to find someone that will listen to everything that they say, someone who will not tell everyone they know, someone to be there for them, where do they go?  They will likely go to the local bar.  There are drunkards there, but most are there because they are lonely.  They receive attention at a bar that they do not get anywhere else.  The local bar has replaced what the church used to be.  The church used to be a place where everyone could be open and honest with one another, where everyone could be “real.”  A place everyone could share their sins and struggles and receive support and love.  What church have you been to where this happens?  It is rare, if it happens at all. 
                I am reminded of the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9).  Zacchaeus felt unloved until he met Jesus.  He realized the unconditional love, and felt comfortable confessing all of his sins and struggles.  This action should not stop.  The Christian community should be a place where we always feel comfortable confessing our sins and struggles to one another.  This is where we should receive acceptance, support, and love—unconditional love.  The love should not depend on how we portray ourselves, what laws we follow, or how “Christian” we seem.  The love should be there no matter what. 
                Believers and non-believers alike feel this is impossible because of the judgmental and legalistic state of the Christian community in general.   Some would say that it shouldn’t be viewed as general, but it should.  The Christian community is all inclusive.  There is no escaping this fact.  There are fundamentalists, conservatives, liberals, and everything in between, but the world sees: Christian.  Christians need to spend less time SHOUTING what is wrong, and more time SHOWING by example what is right.  LOVE.  Let the world see Christ in us. 

1 comment:

  1. we still practice greeting with a holy kiss in my church...prob looks odd to newcomers but it is commanded 5 times in the Bible for us to greet one another with a holy kiss so we have always done it.

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