How Passing the Peace Applies to Today's Church
- Jack Selcher
- Dec 26, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 29
Summary
Passing the peace of Christ is a biblical expression of love, unity, and the Spirit’s work among believers. Rooted in Scripture, it reflects the true peace Jesus offers, spiritual wholeness with God. Though this peace cannot be given to unbelievers, Christians can display it through their lives, creating a desire for Christ. Sharing His peace is central to worship, witness, and faithful discipleship.
Many Christian congregations include a time of mutual greeting during worship services. Some call it passing the peace of Christ.
We don’t call it that in my home church, but we have been waving at one another during a designated time in the worship service since COVID-19. It is more than a moment of friendship with others in the congregation.
Biblical Roots of Passing the Peace
Greeting other believers finds its roots in the Apostle Paul’s instruction to “greet each other with a sacred kiss” (Romans 16:16 NLT). “The kiss was a common greeting in Rome and Greece, but Paul characterizes this kiss as holy because it represents the purest form of Christian love: one that wishes for the peace of Christ to be passed on to all in their community.”1
A Sign of Christ’s Love and Grace
Passing the peace of Christ demonstrates the church is built on the love, grace, and peace He offers through His death, burial, and resurrection. We experience it fully when His Holy Spirit fills all who are passing the peace of Christ because the fruit of His control is love and peace. (Galatians 5:22).
Jesus and the Way to True Peace
Jesus referred to this peace when He wept over Jerusalem. “But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you" (Luke 19:41-44 NLT).
Of all people, Jewish people should have recognized Jesus as the promised deliverer. God chose them to bless the whole world. He promised Abraham, the father of the Jewish people, “And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me” (Genesis 22:18 NLT). The Messiah would be Jewish and be a blessing to all people groups.
However, when the One who fulfilled God’s promise appeared in flesh and blood, most of the Jews rejected Him as their Messiah and King. He wasn’t the political deliverer they expected.
Peace Lost Through Rejection
They forfeited the way to peace that He came to earth to bring when they rejected Him. The peace Jesus offers is more than the absence of conflict. It is a wholeness of soul and spirit that God’s children experience when their relationship with Him is healthy.
Why Peace Cannot Be Passed to Unbelievers
We cannot pass the peace of Christ to those who don’t yet believe because peace of mind and heart is God’s gift (John 14:27). We can’t impart it, but our lives can create a thirst for it among those who don’t yet possess it.
Sharing Peace as Christ’s Witnesses
Demonstrating and sharing our peace in Christ is a vital part of influencing others to follow Jesus, the source of peace (John 16:33). As the Father sent Jesus to bring peace to the world, He sends us to share our hope in Him so we might eventually pass the peace of Christ to them during worship services (John 20:21)!