Pucker up! This is National Kissing Day! I’m not kidding, that’s really what’s on the National Day Calendar. Some of you are panic stricken right now, thinking of this only as a day when Pandora’s box is opened and everything is going to go downhill within seconds. Hedonistic smoochers will drift into debauchery and our morals will be compromised.
Lest your blood pressure rise to great heights and you start to feel faint, let’s pump our breaks and recognize that God gave us these lips for more than whistling and holding back the food we’ve eaten. That doesn’t mean we go around sharing this intimate gesture without restraint. Instead, let’s see where it’s used in the Bible.
Genesis 27:26 tells us about a parent kissing their child. “And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.” This is the first mention of a kiss in Scripture and is one of the most often used examples. Laban also expressed his love with kisses for his children in Genesis 31:55. “And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.” Joseph kissed his dad in Genesis 50:1.
Another familial kiss comes between siblings. When Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, it was an emotional time. Genesis 45:14-15 says, “And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. (15) Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.”
In the Song of Solomon, we have the kisses of romance. In Ruth, Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, Naomi. Moses kissed his father-in-law, Jethro. Samuel kissed Saul as he anointed him to be king. David kissed his best friend, Jonathan. Elisha ran home to kiss his mom and dad goodbye. A woman in Luke kept kissing the feet of Jesus. And the
church in Ephesus wept over Paul and kissed him, believing they would see him no more.
As you can see, there are a variety of kisses presented positively in Scripture. There are also some negative ones. Idols were kissed. Judas kissed Jesus in betrayal. And there are the kisses of an adulterous woman in Proverbs 7:13-14. “So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, (14) I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.”
The kiss itself, though, seems to be most often a form of friendship and greeting in the Middle Eastern culture. Many cultures utilize this as much as or more than a handshake. Romans 16:16 says, “Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.”
This is more of a fun devotional rather than instructional. PLEASE do not view this as instructional. Our culture here in the United States isn’t a kissing culture, although, it does happen. When we were in Michigan, we had a New Year’s Eve service. One of our older men, Fred, was in the hallway at the end of the service enjoying fellowship and talking with several people. I joined in the conversation and before we left for the night, Fred said, “I love you, Pastor.” He wrapped his arms around me with a big hug then kissed both my cheeks. I must’ve had a bit of a stunned expression on my face which 
delighted him immensely.
Personally, I’m fine with a handshake, clasping a shoulder, patting a back, and even a hug. I’m not real keen on kissing. Based on Scripture, though, there’s nothing wrong with it if done properly and for the right reason. The only reason I bring it up is because of the National Day Calendar celebration.
1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:26, and 1 Peter 5:14 essentially share the same concluding message. From the latter reference, “Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
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