What do you think of when you see the word hospitality? Maybe an article out of Better Homes and Gardens? Or maybe a picture of an apron-clad mother on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post? Whatever you think of, I am guessing you do not automatically associate hospitality with spirituality.
However, author Alexander Strauch gets it right when he says, "I don't think most Christians today understand how essential hospitality is to fanning the flames of love and strengthening the Christian family.... Brotherly love entails intimate relationship, care for one another, knowledge of one another, belonging together, and sharing life together. We cannot know or grow close to our brothers and sisters by meeting for an hour and fifteen minutes a week with a large group in a church sanctuary. The home is the ideal place in which to build relationships and closeness."
Certainly, what we do on Sunday morning is a cornerstone of Christian growth. However, Strauch's assertion of the importance of fellowship beyond that which takes place Sunday morning is well-grounded in God's Word (see Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9; 3 John 8). And, to be sure, there are many ways that such fellowship takes place including small groups, men's breakfasts, ladies teas, game night, Silver Eagles, etc. But Strauch makes an excellent point that one of the most basic ways of expressing Christian fellowship is sorely lacking in Christianity today: hospitality.
Really, what could be simpler than inviting someone else into your home for Christian fellowship? And yet, though simple, hospitality is sometimes difficult to put into practice. When it comes down to it, we are just plain busy! And such busyness makes getting a date on the calendar a difficult task. Strauch indicates that a big part of the problem boils down to selfishness. He says, "Selfishness is the single greatest enemy of hospitality. We do not want to be inconvenienced. We do not want to share our privacy or time with others. We are consumed with our personal comforts. We want to be free to go about our business without interference or concern for other people's needs." Ouch! I don't know about you, but for me, I find these thoughts painfully true.
And yet, when we do practice hospitality, it is most often a very rewarding exercise. The truth is, I believe Renton Bible to be a very hospitable church. But I do believe that each of us could probably use a challenge and encouragement when it comes to being more diligent to practice hospitality in our homes. And it doesn't have to be complex, either. It can be as simple as throwing a few dogs on the barbie and inviting someone over.
Who to invite? Maybe a newer family in the church. Maybe an older family in the church. Maybe a single person (of any age). Maybe a few! Maybe a neighbor or co-worker with whom you would like to cultivate a relationship. This last Friday we had some youth over to our place for pizza and a movie. Nothing complicated-just an opportunity for Christian fellowship. Sadly, we were unable to accept a recent, spur of the moment invitation for a BBQ with someone in our body. But how great that they made the invitation!
The truth is, hospitality, done to honor God, can serve many purposes including encouragement, relationship-building, showing care, deepening spiritual fellowship, and just good old fashioned fun. On Saturday, we had some friends over for burgers and followed up our time with a game of Balderdash. It can be so good just to have fun together.
And it is also important to note that we needn't have a "Better Homes and Garden" home to show hospitality. Our dinner on Saturday was at a dining table sitting on ply-wood (thanks to my lack of speed when it comes to finishing home projects). But the ply-wood floor didn't matter. What mattered is that we were together, experiencing fellowship.
So, as the school year comes to a close and summer begins, may each of us seek opportunities to show hospitality. Whether it is a full-on meal, or dessert and games, may we intentionally set apart time to show Christ's love through hospitality. And may God bless it and use it for the strengthening of His church.
In Christ, Pastor Dan