Wednesday, 27 February 2008
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Hospitality
hos·pi·tal·i·ty
–noun, plural -ties.
1. the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers.
2. the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.
In churches we talk about “hospitality” or joing a “hospitality team” as we recognize the importance of greeting people and welcoming them…but what does it mean for a church to be hospitable? Why is it important?
“Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
- Romans 12:13 (NIV)
It is all about NEED.
As the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind” the second greatest commandment is “Love your neighbour as you love yourself.”
How can you say you love others if you ignore their needs?
For those who are Christians, remember when God first took you into his Kingdom. How you were once a stranger outside his kingdom but by his love and mercy you were taken in with open arms. His words and promises bringing a new life and a new hope.
We are to welcome others, as we ourselves like to be welcomed.
God welcomed us even though we are unworthy. What then gives us the right to decide whom we are to be hospitable to?
Remember the time when you first entered a new school? “Oh no, what if the other kids don’t like me?”
Remember the time when you first entered into a church? “Will I be accepted as I am?”
When I first stepped into church the first thoughts I had was “I do not belong here…this place is so weird”….and yet over time my own barriers started to be broken down by even a few people deciding to step out and say hi. The closer I got to people, the more open I was to learning about God.
If all the time is spent trying to get others to accept and welcome us…then what time is there left for the teachings? We are called to step out of our own comfort zone and think of other people’s needs.
During 180 (my young adult fellowship) in our relationship series seemingly out of nowhere I heard this revelation from God:
“We are hospitable not because people are going to join us in our fellowship but we are hospitable because they are here to be blessed by God…even if they are here only once. We should be excited for even that one visit, not just excited about repeated visits!”
What we must recognize is that WE don’t bring people to church…God brings HIS people to church. The glory is His.
Right after that service on Saturday I met a group of missionaries who are only in HK for a few days and are about to return to China.
All I could say right then was “I am glad our church could have been a blessing to you today” as they had been without such open and free worship music in a long while.
God’s teaching came at a good time…a church is after all a refugee for His people.
In the end the people in a church are called to practice a spirit of hospitality. We should all be ready to welcome new people in rather than leave it to a “team”. The responsibility is not for a few people to hold but for EVERYONE in the church as everyone is a “host” to strangers.
This is NOT because we try and grow the number of people in our church…. but it comes from the same heart of bringing others into the Kingdom of God.
God loves each one of us…no matter if we’re tall, short, fat, skinny, black, white or even green J We have to be willing to follow his example.
What challenge is it to talk to those who we already find interesting and charismatic? We are not called to do the easy but to do the impossible…and He makes the impossible possible.
If you’ve just read all that and wonder, “what the heck is he talking about?” or “Huh, I’ve never been welcomed by God before…” let’s have a chat J
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