Passage for reflection: 1 Peter 5:14
Churches are some of the friendliest and most welcoming places around. Whether navigating as newcomer or returning as a regular, people expect to receive a warm welcome.
In reality, first-time experiences fall short of the ideal more often than not.
When I visited one of the fastest growing congregations in the country I stood alone in the lobby for an extended period of time before and after worship watching people pass me by without receiving a single greeting.
When I served nine congregations, I regularly heard from those who were actively involved how wonderfully welcoming the congregation was to all people. In practice, each of these communities of faith had worked on being welcoming yet also had significant room for growth.
As I read and re-read the closing words of 1 Peter, I get why the author ends with a reminder to make people feel welcome by greeting them with a kiss of love. And, I understand that similar requests to greet one another with a holy kiss can be found elsewhere in the New Testament (Romans 16:16, I Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, and 1 Thessalonians 5:26).
It’s clear we need reminders to greet one another in culturally appropriate ways.
So What?
I can’t say I’ve ever been instructed to practice Christian kissing but the action itself is theologically sound and pragmatically powerful. We are all called to practice Christian hospitality, beginning with a genuine welcome of all people. When people gather together for worship, fellowship, or discipleship (or any other reason) I invite you to make it a priority to see that all people receive a personal welcome.
And, I’ll leave it up to you to decide if that comes in the form of a handshake, a wave, or a socially distanced conversation.
This post was originally published in the Lectionary for Life Series for the Center for Congregational Ethics on October 8, 2020.