Issue 19 - Day 4

2 Corinthians 13

2 Corinthians 13:11-14
11)  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12)  Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13)  All the saints salute you.
14)  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

When in Italy I got very used to greeting people with a kiss. There is an etiquette to it however. For starters, it depends how well you know someone. For men kissing men this means only do it inside the family, inside the Christian family (the church), and sometimes with very close friends. For non-believers it would basically be family, and very close friends. this really emphasises at a cultural level that the body of Christ is a big family.

Here in the UK men would never kiss men, though it is becoming more common as a greeting between women. Sadly the growing acceptance of homosexuallity in society has had the effect of suppressing a close family greeting for fear it is misunderstood. Yet another case of distortion of the truth by sin.

Being of good comfort, of one mind, and living in peace are all more symptoms of us growing together as a wider family. Many physical families struggle with these same issues of course, but in both senses families are to be united, and we, as the body of Christ are to be united. How close are you to your brothers in Christ? Do you care for one another as if you were family? If not, then you are not living as God has instructed. Live a life of unity with each other, and live as one with God. It is a tall order, but it is to be our aim.