Hospitality

Alright, I know some people are waiting to hear about the conference. And believe me, I have a LOT to say about it. Everything I have to say about it is just variations of and expanding on, "It was awesome!" But for now, I want to post a blog on a book I finished reading. The book is called The Hospitality Commands by Alexander Strauch. It's a tiny book (you could finish it in one sitting if you wanted to) and, honestly, despite its brevity, can feel a bit redundant. But! it convicted me regarding my lack of hospitable readiness.

I've always had an inclination for hospitality. I think my mother is the one who really instilled that in me. I love having people over for a meal and good conversation. I love shopping for and preparing meals. It brings me joy to labor over something my friends and family are going to be blessed by and enjoy. I love how the day evolves when I know that people are coming over. I become eager and happily anticipate their company and conversation. I know that I'm going to feel so blessed by the end of the evening because during the day I already feel blessed because of God-bestowed ability to find joy in the waiting.

Lately, I haven't been able to invite people into our home. Some of the reasons justify, but the reality is that they don't always. Yes, I'm a college student and don't have time to have guests over regularly, but no, I don't make time when I can. Yes, our funds are limited, but no, I haven't budgeted in order to ensure being able to invite brothers and sisters to our table. Yes, I feel like some of our friends are too busy, but no, I haven't even extended invitations for them to turn down because of their busy-ness. And lastly, yes my apartment isn't always very presentable, but no, I don't strive and work to maintain its tidiness. So while all these are reasonable reasons to not have people over, in my case, they are not.

So why is hospitality so important/necessary?

First of all, it is a scriptural command and duty.

"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."

Romans 12: 10-13

What does hospitality do?

"It strengthens the love of the Christian family. Christians are not brothers and sisters merely because they share similar ideas, interests and circumstances, but because they share the life of Jesus" (pg 9).

If we truly consider each other brothers and sisters, our love and kindness for one another should extend beyond the Sunday-morning niceties. How effectively can we serve one another when we barely know each other? I can think of fewer ways to get to know people than over a meal or over coffee/tea. I love how the book puts it:

"I don't think most Christians today understand how essential hospitality is to fanning the flames of love and strengthening the Christian family. Hospitality fleshes out love in a uniquely personal and sacrificial way. Through the ministry of hospitality, we share our most prized possessions. We share our family, home, finances, food, privacy, and time. Indeed, we share our very lives. So, hospitality is always costly. Through the ministry of hospitality, we provide friendship, acceptance, fellowship, refreshment, comfort, and love in one of the richest and deepest ways possible for humans to understand. Unless we open the doors of our homes to one another, the reality of the local church as a close-knit family of loving brothers and sisters is only a theory" (pg 17).

Hospitality isn't reserved only for believing friends. Having people over for a meal is a great way to extend the type of love that may be foreign to them. Unfortunately, images of "christians" that resemble the Westboro-esque stigmas and stereotypes are often embedded in the minds of an unbelieving world. This is unacceptable. We have the opportunity through hospitality to be a testimony to an unbelieving circle what Christian love and service to others looks like.

What's in it for me?

There are so many rewards that result in our faithful practice of hospitality. This doesn't apply to me, but for those who have children, the exercise in hospitality is a great example to them. Parents should always strive to exemplify the attributes they desire their children to emulate.

Also, when we open our homes to missionaries or travelling teachers of the gospel, we provide indispensable help and a launch pad for the gospel. The book says it beautifully, "The gospel itself is a gracious invitation to come and enjoy God's home and lavish banquet for eternity."

The excuses.

I'll keep this one brief. Essentially, don't make any. Hospitality is hard work. It means having a tidy house. It means budgeting funds so that you can use them to bless others. It means taking others' preferences/distastes into consideration and making them a priority in serving them. All this is to be done with a joyful and cheerful heart because you get to serve others and serve the Lord. You don't have to provide a five-course meal. You just need to maintain love for one another.

The tidiness of the house was a huge conviction for me. So often, I resist inviting people over because I have a heavy school weak ahead of me and don't want to make time to clean my apartment. I'm still going to take some liberty in my justification of a semi-messy apartment. If I focused on every tiny little detail of cleanliness in my house, my commitment to school would suffer, I'd drive Sergio crazy, and I'd go mad myself. It's not worth turning into Martha. But! I often take TOO much liberty in explaining away my untidiness that way. It's easy to pick up little by little so that inviting people over doesn't create an unbearable burden. In an effort to be more transparent, here's the current state of my apartment:

So what are some practical steps one can take to practice hospitality?

(These are all from the book)

Set a practical time to invite people over

Consider inviting people over after church - it's a great way to continue in fellowship

Make a list of people you want to serve this way

Collect and file simple and inexpensive recipes/meals

When your church missionaries return home, don't miss the opportunity to invite them to your home

Be interested in people's lives. Learn which key questions make your time with people more meaningful. (The book recommended this book - 201 Great Questions by Jerry D. Jones)

Be creative in your activities with guests

Pray for joy in this confessing selfishness and pride