I have a friend who says to me almost every morning, “Greetings!” And in response, I say, “And salutations!” We laugh over the regular exchange, but it got me thinking about greetings in general and how to approach them in a Christian manner.
Paul’s epistles include many greetings in them as an example to us for how to say hello as a follower of Christ to our fellow followers of Christ. For instance, read these:
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. Philippians 4:21
Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. Colossians 4:14-15
All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Titus 3:15
Greetings are a way to encourage one another in the faith, to remind each other of the community we are a part of as Christians, and to share love and grace.
I think about this when I take my walks in the morning and pass by fellow walkers or runners. Some of them are open and ready for a “Hello,” but others are deep in thought and/or concentrating on their exercising, so are not ready for a greeting. I get it. Use discernment when there is a moment to decide whether or not to greet someone. Read the room, as they say. But at the same time be ready to say “Hello” whenever someone greets you first. Being receptive to someone reaching out to you can go a long way to introducing them to your life in Christ at some point down the road. And being respectful of a person’s privacy can go a long way, too, to build an appreciation for your quiet and non-threatening approach. You can wait until another time to talk to them. Christ, too, was silent when he needed to be, and open when it was invited or most appropriate. Let Christ guide you in your greetings (or not greeting) throughout this day.
