Good News: Fellowship and hospitality are core needs
Hospitality. Is it a forgotten art? There are many among us who might think so. The body of Christ, the Church, is a place that is supposed to practice hospitality. That’s what Romans 12:13 instructs us to do, practice hospitality. The obvious conclusion is that if hospitality came naturally to everyone, we wouldn’t be told to practice it. No piano student plays Beethoven on their first lesson. It takes practice. And here’s a fun fact, in the original manuscripts of the Bible the Greek word for hospitality means “Love of strangers.” So now we know why it takes practice! Maybe that’s why the apostle Peter’s first letter says we are to show hospitality without grumbling. The reality is that there are people, in and out of the church, who need hospitality from someone with a welcoming spirit about them.
The Survey Center on American Life recently did research showing that the percentage of Americans who say they have no close friends has quadrupled since 1990. Isn’t that when cell phones and iPads came on the scene? Just a thought. Of those surveyed, 54 percent say they feel like no one knows them well. That means half of everyone you come in contact with feels incomplete or disconnected. Now we know why the Bible is so vocal about hospitality.
The Lord Jesus asked a very pertinent question, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” Fellowship and being connected is a core human need. One of the most memorable TV show theme songs says, “Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. Our troubles are all the same, you wanna be where everybody knows your name.” If unbelievers understand that, then how much more should believers be moving in the direction of hospitality in our churches and in our homes.
The early church grew exponentially through meeting more than once a week. Their hospitality centered around meals. Jesus gave us these instructions, “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (NIV) There are over 50 references to meals in Luke’s gospel alone.
Finally, we should never forget Jesus’ words, “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in…truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (NIV) I think the Lord is trying to tell us something.
Ken Staley is the pastor of Faith Church of Pleasant Grove 9:30 a.m. and Harrisville Methodist Church 11 a.m. Both are Global Methodist congregations. pastorkenstaley@gmail.com
