So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. – 1 Thessalonians 2:8
In the last issue, we learned how God’s grace compels a desire for biblical hospitality. What are some of the *“congregational barriers” to practicing biblical hospitality?
We Don’t Sympathize with Visitors. We forget what it’s like being a visitor to a new church and the many questions: “Where will we park?” “How secure are my kids in the nursery?” “What is the worship service like?” “Will we be put on the spot?” The assumption “they’ll figure it out” fails to sympathize with our church “strangers” in our midst and most likely not return.
We underestimate the importance of Hospitality. We may be a Christian for many years, have our theology figured out, talk the language, but forget that a non or new-Christian may have criteria other than church denomination and theology. Certainly, we promote our PCA identity and biblical theology, but “strangers” who come through our doors (or side door such as “Small Groups”) most likely haven’t formed these convictions. They’ll consider our hospitality toward them as most important and compare it to other churches they may visit as “strangers.”
We confuse friendliness with hospitality. Friendliness greets people with common decency like extending a handshake and saying, “Hello, my name is George.” Friendliness also respects “personal space” and doesn’t overwhelm the “stranger” with many people waiting to “welcome them” or asking too many questions. Common decency is important to convey a friendly church. But biblical hospitality goes beyond common decency. It requires loving those to whom we’re not naturally drawn or with whom we have a connection (e.g. socio-economic, job, etc.). Biblical hospitality invites “strangers” into our lives so they will not feel like “observers at a family reunion.”
Growing churches understand the questions and concerns of the “stranger” and the importance of friendliness AND biblical hospitality. If the “stranger” in our midst “stumbles,” it should only be because of the gospel, not our failure to practice Biblical hospitality.
(*”Congregational Barriers” is adapted from “Faithful and Fruitful: Essays for Elders and Deacons.”)
