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Holy kiss

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Salty, Jan 14, 2010.

  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Four times, the NT instructs for a holy kiss.

    Does your church abide by this custom, or is it not for this day and age / culture?

    Along the same lines, how about hugging others, and everyone holding hands while praying or some such activity.

    Personally, I feel very uncomfortable except with my wife.

    So, if I came to your church, and refused a hug and or to hold hands while praying, will I be excommunicated? (ie everyone staring at me, ect)

    Salty
     
  2. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    We're a very huggy church, so you probably would run screaming! :laugh:

    But you would always be welcome!
     
  3. ReformedBaptist

    ReformedBaptist Well-Known Member

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    I prefer people not to touch me at church. Handshakes are appropriate with both men and women. I see no reason to hug or kiss anyone.

    And If guy tried to give me a holy kiss he'd probably get a holy black eye in return. :tongue3:
     
  4. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Since we agree totally, can I give you a hug? :1_grouphug: :smilewinkgrin:
     
  5. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    What do snakes do after an argument? Answer:They hiss and make up.
     
  6. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    No kissing at our church. Some hugging.

    Visitors would never get hugged, but get plenty of handshakes.

    Our older widows get hugged a lot.
     
  7. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    No kissing at our church.

    Does this not give credence to the idea that NT 'standards' were for another culture and time?... the excuse given for 'cohabiting,' homosexualty, ignoring traffic laws, et al, among many churchgoers today.
     
  8. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    A form of greeting, such as a kiss or handshake, is cultural, but morality is absolute. Cohabitation and homosexuality are issues of morality, not superficial forms of greeting or relating.
     
  9. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    We don't kiss, but at our fellowship meals, we serve holy cow.
     
  10. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    If we can get 'em, we take 'em! :D
     
  11. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    Sounds like the old women (and men) at some of the churches I know.
     
  12. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Just the opposite. In all four of the NT statements in the Greek NT, the adjective is in the predicate position. This means that the emphasis should be on the kiss being holy. Ergo, there is also an unholy kiss, which Christians are to avoid.
     
  13. ituttut

    ituttut New Member

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    Just what is a "Holy Kiss"? It is warm, and it is given freely, and without reservation. Today, for us, what are we to do in our particular culture? Is not our handshake a "kiss" of one touching another, with those of Fatih of Jesus Christ?

    With strangers of first meetings, and introductions, we offer freely, and with warmth our hand, but not without reservation.

    I see "holding of hands", and "hugging", to be outward signs just as in hand shaking. However distinctions are to be made. "Ring around the Rosie", is a game devoid of the spirit, and likewise is "hugging" with other things in mind (except with your wife, or husband).
     
  14. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Are you thinking "kiss" means lip-smack? Or even my mouth to cheek (or cheek to cheek 3 times like we did in Russia - I was kissed by more men in a month than the rest of my life combined!!)

    Kiss can also mean a light touch with ANY part of the body. I was playing pool the other day and did a neat bank shot where the cue ball kissed the 8-ball into the side pocket for a win.

    So at our church? We ALL "kiss" - some hug, some shake hands. Me? I do the fist bump (trying not to spread swine flu).

    All a holy kiss.

    (BTW, seriously, when I hug a woman, I do a "sideways" hug with one arm. I just feel uncomfortable pushing my big belly up against the front of ANY woman except by wife and hugging her close. And set example for our men how to treat other women. Modestly, like a sister or mother.)
     
    #14 Dr. Bob, Jan 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 14, 2010
  15. MrJim

    MrJim New Member

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    The holy kiss is common practice amongst the conservative mennonite churches and even in some of the more "progressive" ones there are still some older members that kiss (only male/male or female/female) after a foot washing ordinance. I was able to avoid pairing up with older ones and so only got in on the holy hug.:smilewinkgrin:
     
  16. Allan

    Allan Active Member

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    I don't know about church, but I know in college we quoted it quite often on dates :laugh:

    The best come back I heard was when a friend of mine used that on his date (obviously just making a laugh) but she smiles and said, "if you would have said that at the beginning of our date, I might have considered it, but since we are at the end it makes no sense now. She turn and walked into her dorm, I am quite sure smiling broadly. His face dropped and we all busted out laughing at him.
     
    #16 Allan, Jan 15, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 15, 2010
  17. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    any new thoughts
     
  18. dh1948

    dh1948 Member
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    About a hundred years ago I heard Jack Hyles say that he used to hug all the women in his church who were over 50 years old, but he had recently upped that age to 60, because the 50 year old women had started looking pretty good to him!

    I think that is pretty good advice for pastors!!
     
  19. exscentric

    exscentric Well-Known Member
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    "Me? I do the fist bump (trying not to spread swine flu)."

    We were new in a church, the pastor's wife came to greet us, I extended my hand to shake and she drew back, "Oh, I don't shake hands - germs you know."

    You can imagine who cracked up when the pastor mentioned from the pulpit the next week that his wife was sick at home with the flu :tongue3:

    So glad she didn't shake our hands!!!!!!!!!!
     
  20. ktn4eg

    ktn4eg New Member

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    I thought the KISS was for the preacher: Keep It Simple & Short! :smilewinkgrin:
     
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