July 6th is International Kissing Day. It is a day set aside when friends and well-wishers, especially married couples, express their affection for each other through kissing and caressing. To start with, what is kissing? What are the benefits of kissing? Is kissing a sinful act? What does the bible say about kissing? And what is holy kiss all about?
Kissing means different thing to different people. For some people it is one of the ways of expressing pleasantries. Kissing has to do with affectionate pecking usually with the lips as a sign of love and acceptance. In most cultures, kissing is allowed and even encouraged among the married couples. Usually in a marriage ceremony, the moment the marriage vow has been fully established, the celebrant usually invite the newly married couples to give themselves kiss publicly. It is presumed that it is the first time they are allowed to kiss in public. Marriage gives married couples the license to kiss even in public. Married couples use kissing to express their intimacy and to activate their sexual feelings for each other.
Holy kiss: In Romans 16:16, St. Paul encouraged the Roman believers, to “Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.” For St. Peter, kiss is an expression of fraternal love. In 1 Peter 5:14, St Peter wrote, “Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
Believers’ kissing is an expression of friendship and acceptance. It is a mark of unity and equity amongst the believers. A kiss of peace implies that no elite groups existed and that all were equally loved and accepted, not only by God, but by one another. Through kiss of peace we are equally wishing our fellow members the blessings of peace.
Parental Kissing: In Genesis 48:8-10, Joseph brought his two sons to his father Jacob. “When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.” And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them… Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.” Most parents especially mothers usually kiss their children as a sign of love and admiration.
Farewell Kissing: In the book of Ruth 1:12-14 Naomi said to her two daughter-in-laws after the death of her husband and two sons, “My daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband… No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!” Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.” Family members, friends and well wishers usually bid themselves farewell with kisses.
Affectionate Kissing: The gospel of Luke 7:37-38 an interesting case where a sinful woman express her love for our Lord Jesus Christ with kisses: “A woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.” With this gesture our Lord Jesus Christ cancelled all her numerous sins. As you embrace one another with brotherly love, I wish you happy International Kissing Day!