This evening I am finishing a teaching series on Romans with a look at chapter 16. This really is a fascinating chapter. John Stott quotes Emil Brunner calling it "one of the most instructive chapters in the New Testament." The historical detective work into the identity of many of the individuals named in the chapter provides a priceless look into the makeup of the early church.
What caught me this afternoon was the holy kiss in verse 16. I remember as a youth giggling about this when I stumbled across it. Since then, I have visited cultures where the holy kiss is still alive and well. Today my task will be to try to draw a parallel that fits our current setting -- a hearty handshake or a warm hug?
But what amazed me most was that the kiss was described as holy and encouraged by the apostle. After all, we have seen a kiss as a greeting before in the New Testament. I would have thought that Judas' treacherous kiss would have been enough to deep-six any thought of a kiss as a greeting of faith within the early church.
Yet it remained. It seems we must not let occasional brokenness and random misuse steal from us the things that are right.
So tonight I will teach. And I will give at least one person as holy a kiss as I can (my wife). The rest I will give hearty handshake and a warm hug!
Tim
What caught me this afternoon was the holy kiss in verse 16. I remember as a youth giggling about this when I stumbled across it. Since then, I have visited cultures where the holy kiss is still alive and well. Today my task will be to try to draw a parallel that fits our current setting -- a hearty handshake or a warm hug?
But what amazed me most was that the kiss was described as holy and encouraged by the apostle. After all, we have seen a kiss as a greeting before in the New Testament. I would have thought that Judas' treacherous kiss would have been enough to deep-six any thought of a kiss as a greeting of faith within the early church.
Yet it remained. It seems we must not let occasional brokenness and random misuse steal from us the things that are right.
So tonight I will teach. And I will give at least one person as holy a kiss as I can (my wife). The rest I will give hearty handshake and a warm hug!
Tim
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