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We deceive ourselves when we conclude that being God's family is more
difficult today than it was in the first century. We are deluded when we
conclude that it was simple to be a congregation in Jesus' Palestine or
Paul's Roman empire. When slaves and their owners were God's family in a
first century congregation, it must have been incredibly complicated! Can
you imagine working in a slave-master relationship at home and a
brother-brother relationship in God's family? How awkward!
Devout Jews did not socially associate with non-Jews. They commonly had
little or no respect for non-Jews who worshipped idols. "Can you believe
those people! They call a carved piece of wood or stone 'god'? How
ignorant!" Then, suddenly, a converted Jew found himself brother to a
converted idolater--only because they both were in Christ. How awkward!
Non-Jews commonly had little respect for Jews. The non-Jews experienced
rejection and discrimination for generations. "Those prejudiced, arrogant
people! My money is always good, but I never am! They have absolutely no
respect for us! They hold us in contempt!" Then, suddenly, a converted
idolater found himself brother to a converted Jew--only because they both
were in Christ. How awkward!
Those are three obvious difficulties. They clearly illustrate the urgency
of an admonition repeatedly made to Christians. To the Christians in
cosmopolitan Rome: "Greet one another with a holy kiss" (Romans 16:16).
Twice to the Christians in decadent, sensuous Corinth: "Greet one another
with a holy kiss" (1 Corinthians 16:20 and 2 Corinthians 13:12). To the
Christians in wealthy Thessalonica: "Greet all the brethren with a holy
kiss" (1 Thessalonians 5:26). To the Christians scattered throughout five
provinces of the Roman empire: "Greet one another with a kiss of peace" (1
Peter 5:14).
They were urged to recognize the fact that they were family. Being in
Christ made them family. They were to greet each other as family, and they
were to physically express their family bond. "Greet each other warmly,
genuinely, and sincerely."
Greeting each other warmly, genuinely, and sincerely is no less important
today. Because we are in Christ, we are family. That is the reality of our
relationship, not a theological technicality. God through Christ made us
family. We must build living bonds in that family.
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