THE HOLY KISS THE ORDINANCE OF BROTHERLY LOVE
Two basic and foundational principles of Christian brotherhood are embodied in the ordinance of the holy kiss. These two principles are indicated in the commands that are given for its observance. They are True Holiness and Pure Love. The commandment for its observance is given in the five following quotations from the New Testament Epistles.
“Salute one another with an holy kiss” (Romans 16:16).
“Greet ye one another with an holy kiss” (I Corinthians 16:20).
“Greet one another with an holy kiss” (II Corinthians 13:12).
“Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss” (I Thessalonians 5:26).
“Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity” (I Peter ,5:14).
The term “holy” means something sacred and pure. Sharing the kiss is intended to indicate a mutual personal attachment to and an affection for each other. Thus, the holy kiss would be an expression of pure sacred affection and attachment to one another within the Christian brotherhood.
As an expression of affection, the kiss may sometimes be used- legitimately or illegitimately- on a mere human level. Its use between husband and wife, as an example, is a purely physical expression without any spiritual significance whatsoever. Used in this context since it involves a physical intimacy, and although legitimate, it is unethical for it to be practiced in public including on the wedding day.
The kiss is also used sometimes by the world for very sensual purposes. The holy kiss, as practiced within the Christian brotherhood, is something distinctly different from the social, physical, or sensual kiss.
There are many different salutations by which we may greet one another - the kiss, the handshake, the embrace, or a hearty “good day,” to name just a few. The Bible refers to all of these, and perhaps others, as salutations that are used by society in general. The holy kiss, however, is the only salutation that is specifically commanded for brotherhood practice.
This simply-stated command of Holy Writ for holy people to greet with a holy kiss, like some of the other ordinances, has some human reasoning arguments against its practice and has some social substitutes being offered to take its place.
It is unsanitary and a disease spreader; it is hypocritical and an indication of sensuality; it is out of date and makes us a gazing stock. These are some carnal reasons given to discredit it or justify its discontinued use.
Some time ago a Mennonite periodical stated that “The holy kiss is faintly among us yet, but a new freedom to embrace each other as brothers is becoming more frequent. Brotherhood will come through one way or another and it is refreshing to see it manifest. . . .” “So if you see in the brotherhood a couple of senior men in a brief bear hug, do not be shocked. The young set are doing it too....”
Regardless of the proper or improper use of a “bear hug” or any other salutation of society, to use another type of salutation as a substitute for the divinely authorized holy kiss is hardly excusable. Nadab and Abihu, using a different fire from that which God had commanded (Lev. 10), may have reasoned that the incense was the important thing and since fire is fire, regardless of where it comes from, it would be all right to use a substitute fire. Divine disapproval was promptly in evidence and the substituting priests died from the devouring fire of God's displeasure.
Where professing Christians are no longer shocked at substitutes for the divine decrees, the faintly practiced kiss, as well as other biblical practices will soon be lost.
By referring to the above named human reason arguments against the use of the holy kiss we do not mean to infer that it is all right to use the kiss carelessly or indiscriminately, or that it is not at times used hypocritically.
Since it is an holy kiss and a kiss of love, the mouth and lips should be clean and free from moisture. When the lips are kept clean and dry, sanitation is no problem and disease is not likely to spread from one mouth to the other. Those persons who perspire easily would do well to use a handkerchief before sharing the greeting. A good way to check up on ourselves is to observe the other person who is greeted. If he casually rubs his hand over his mouth or if he uses a handkerchief after the greeting, the likelihood is that we have transplanted some of our saliva or perspiration on his mouth. A careful observance of the ordinance will add significance to the kiss and help to preserve its practice.
The possibility of using the kiss of love hypocritically should be a grave concern of us all. Judas kissed the Lord Jesus hypocritically in an effort to cover up his demon inspired hatred for Him. Joab, concealing his sword of death, moved up close to Amasa to kiss him and while doing so smote him to his death. It may be possible today for us to kiss each other and be trying, in a figurative sense, to stab each other to death at the same time.
True charity - agape love - within the brotherhood is declared in I Corinthians 13 to be the greatest of Christian virtues. It is long-suffering, kind, humble, unselfish, sweet tempered, considerate and unfailing. It is that virtue that must accompany our faith and motivate all our service and activities. It is the Christian brotherhood's “bond of perfectness” (Col. 3:14), and that divine quality by which all men shall know that we are Christ's disciples (John 13:35).
To practice any ordinance without possessing the spirit or principle symbolized in the ordinance is distasteful to our loving Lord (Isa. 1:13) . The Church at Ephesus, in spite of all her excellent qualities of loyalty and spiritual discernment, was warned and called to repentance for leaving her first love. The most devoted adherents and loyal defenders of the sacred ordinances and doctrines of the Word can, if they become uncharitable in their defense for the truth, have their candlestick light quickly removed. Since those who eat and drink unworthily in the communion eat and drink damnation to themselves, perhaps those also who greet one another feignedly greet one another unto condemnation.
Peter encourages, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.”
Menno Simons, writing a letter to a church in Prussia, in an effort to encourage them to brotherly love and faithfulness closed his admonition with the words, “and do ye greet one another with your hearts, with a holy kiss of love” (Complete Works, page 1085).
This sacred symbol of affection for, and attachment to, the brotherhood is to be practiced by “all the brethren” with the brethren and all the sisters with the sisters. For only the ministry to share the greeting together, or only the ministry to share with the brotherhood, or only the older members to practice it does not fulfill the Bible requirement. It is indeed heart warming to see the younger members of the church greeting their own age level; to see the older members greeting each other and to see the young sharing with the older and the older with the younger. If the ordinance is to live on it will be kept alive only as we “greet all the brethren” with an holy kiss.
“Let brotherly love continue” and “greet ye one another with an holy kiss.”
Aaron M. Shank Myerstown, Pa.