That the Bible gives instructions in regard to the "Holy Kiss" there can be no doubt. No less than five times are there directives given that govern this sacred matter. Romans 16:16 reads, "Greet one another with a holy kiss." 1 Cor. 16:20 and 2 Cor. 13:12 read the same way. 1 Thess. 5:26 reads just a little differently as the writer there says, "Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss." 1 Peter 5:14 adds, "Greet one another with a kiss of love."

While all of this seems simple enough, I offer the following story about the churches in "Do Right County" to illustrate how good intentions can go so wrong.

It was determined by the congregations in Do Right County that in order to avoid unnecessary problems among themselves that some guidance needed to be given in the matter of the "Holy Kiss." "After all," they said, "we must do all we can to make sure that these kisses remain holy."

After a somewhat lengthy discussion in their scriptural, male only business meeting, it was determined that in order to keep the Lord's command in a "Holy" manner all "Holy Kisses" must not be more than one second long. It was also determined that since the Lord said, "Greet" one another with a holy kiss, no "Holy Kisses" could be given when leaving an assembly. They said that to do so would be in "strict violation of an established law."

It was also determined that "Holy Kisses" were to be limited to only one per person per assembly as the instructions in each of the verses were stated in the singular case. Any more than one would "surely lead some to have evil thoughts or at least contribute to possible misunderstandings." "Holy Kisses" were to be given "only at the time of assembly." Kisses were much more likely to be holier in that setting and the Lord said "Holy Kisses."

Unfortunately several divisions took place in Do Right County over the matter of the "Holy Kiss." Some felt that the "Holy Kiss" could be exchanged only between men since one of the scriptures clearly stated, "Greet all the BROTHERS with a holy kiss." The other churches said that this instruction applied only to the people in Thessalonica since they were the only ones who were told to "Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss," and that in all the other churches both men and women could give the "Holy Kiss."

Another church in Do Right County determined that the scripture that spoke of the "Holy Kiss" as a "kiss of love" should be given priority, and that they did not feel true love could be shown by limiting the "Holy Kiss" to just one second.

The leaders of another congregation said that there was no law stating that the "Holy Kiss" had to be limited to "just the time of the assembly," and therefore were free to give the "Holy Kiss" "anywhere and anytime."

Another congregation down in Do Right County came to the conclusion that the "Lips were the most sacred part of the body and as such should be given proper recognition." After all the Bible speaks of "offering to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips that confess his name." There also seems to be a reference to the work of the Holy Spirit when the Bible says, "through the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people." When you put it all together with the fact that a "Holy Kiss" can only be given by "Holy Lips," there can be no other conclusion but that the lips are holy and should be recongnized as such. It was determined that "any congregation that would not uphold the sacred position the Lord had given to the lips should be dealt with as "erring brethren" with a divisive spirit and be disfellowshipped.

The confusion down in Do Right County did not stop there. Another congregation there determined that, "No other form of greeting other than the "Holy Kiss" could be used and be scripturally correct. The instructions plainly read, "Holy Kiss," and therefore this excluded any other form of greeting. After all, we must "speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent." Since nothing is said in the Bible about waving, shaking hands, tipping ones hat, or nodding ones head, these would have to be considered as modern innovations based upon the desires of worldly minded men and not the commands of God. They determined that there could be no fellowship with those who used modern innovations in their greetings. They said that to do so would violate the passage that says, "Though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Needless to say not everyone in Do Right County felt as this congregation did about this matter. Some of the other congregations felt that the "Holy Kiss Only" group was making a law where God had not made one and that they were the ones guilty of adding to the word of God. As such the "Holy Kiss Only" group could not be fellowshipped.

The "Holy Lips" group could not work with those who did not consider the lips as holy as they did, and the "Holy Kissers Only" group wouldn't recognize anyone who did not see this matter as they did. And so the divisions came.

It wasn't long until you had the "Assembly only Kissers" who very much opposed the "Anytime Kissers." And the "Men Only Kissers" who wouldn't dare fellowship with the folks who felt that everybody should kiss. Another group said that the word "Greet" actually meant "Salute," and that could be done either coming or going. This of course did not set well with the folks who said "Greet" meant something that could only be done when you arrived at the assembly.

Each group felt that the other groups had a divisive spirit and were just not sincere about the word of God. As such, there certainly could be no fellowship with the other groups. None of the groups could understand why the other groups were so stubborn in their ways as to continue in their refusal to do "ONLY WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES!"

Don Davis
Port Wentworth Church of Christ
Port Wentworth, Ga. 31407