Connecting Point: Discovering Your Avenue of Hospitality

Hospitality has been on my mind lately but from a fresh view. We are accustomed to hospitality in terms of entertaining relatives and close friends. Pastor Timothy Keller describes radical hospitality as a “love for strangers” drawing comparisons from Christ’s teachings.

“When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted,” (Luke 14:8-11)

Keller emphasizes that true hospitality is rooted in living humbly. American culture isn’t much different than the culture of Christ’s day. Favors are exchanged for some type of return. To recognize that you have acted out of self-interest ask yourself if you have doubts. For some, I’ve seen it happen when they hear the aforementioned Gospel of Luke. Hospitality according to Christ is to be extended to any person without expecting repayment.

Consider a two-part challenge. First, how can you personally demonstrate hospitality? I appreciate Pastor Keller’s perspective on loving strangers. He says, “Practice radical hospitality so that God can make strangers your friends.” We often write people off or make excuses for not practicing hospitality when the avenues for being generous are all around us. Opportunities present themselves a stranded person on the roadside or neighbor in need. Do you have an open heart to demonstrate a self-less act of love?

Second, how can you join your church in demonstrating hospitality to others? Please understand I speak as a pastor with a great love for the local church. Healthy congregations are marked by believers in Jesus who simply love people through acts of generosity. Sometimes in church circles we get distracted by what we can get out of attending a church rather than practicing what it means to serve others. Again, radical generosity isn’t based on a system of self-interest. Jesus modeled this with his very life. Moreover, we understand God’s salvation because of Jesus’s life.

Over the decades most organizations have seen a lack of volunteerism, this includes our churches. Why not jump in and discover the deeper blessings of serving alongside church leaders and members, where you have a place to bloom?