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
Maybe our view of “hospitality” could use a bit of a “make-over.” Biblically, “hospitality” is associated with spiritual service (Ro. 12:13), qualification for elders (1 Tim. 3:2) and entertaining strangers such as angels (Heb. 13:2). Peter explains showing hospitality without grumbling because “the end of all things is at hand” (1 Pe. 4:9). John indicates that showing hospitality to strangers who “are fellow workers for the truth” is evidence of Christian love (3 John 5-8).
When we think of hospitality, we usually associate it with having our friends, family and church members to our house for fellowship and a nice meal. But this is not the biblical hospitality we are commanded to show. Nearly all uses of “hospitality” in the Bible are associated with “loving the stranger,” someone with whom we have no connection. Showing biblical hospitality is costly. It may involve financial sacrifice in providing for the needs of the stranger. It calls us to move out of our comfort zone and to intentionally care for the stranger, those we don’t know or those different from us. The goal is to “make strangers, neighbors, and neighbors, family of God” (Faithful and Fruitful: Essays for Elders and Deacons, p. 67).
How, then, do we show biblical hospitality as a congregation? How is biblical hospitality demonstrated personally and as a family? What are some of the barriers to overcome? In the next issue, we will explore answers to these questions, largely dependent on the aforementioned book.
