I've never been a part of a church that did it. I've seen it a few times while visiting other churches (Methodist or Baptist).

I have not thought of the Scripture command of greeting, so I need to think about that. However, my initial reaction is that what I have seen those few times is not the greeting that the epistle writers had in mind. When on cue by the Pastor or Worship Leader, everyone stands up to say hello to those around them just seems manufactured by me. IMO, there was no genuine greeting of a fellow brother/sister.

Did the early church have a formal time of greeting and I guess we can add communion? My impression is that the early church did not crunch all elements of worship into an 1-hour or 1&half-hour worship service. They had plenty of time for greeting each other, not just the 1-minute time frame.


John Chaney

"having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith . . ." Colossians 2:7