REDEEMING HOSPITALITY

A Guide to the Body on Developing a Hospitable Heart

At the heart of who we are, Redeemer Presbyterian Church is a center-
city community of changed people who are committed to serve and
renew the City of Indianapolis through a movement of the gospel of
Jesus Christ. Part of that commitment is reflected in sacrificially
serving our neighbors whether they believe as we do or not. We do
this by using our gifts and resources for the needs of others, especially
the poor but not necessarily limited to them.

This document is an attempt to guide our community in one of the

Church’s most ancient practices of service, the ministry of Hospitality.
In approaching such a guide, it must be recognized that each member
of the body is at a different place in their spiritual walk, and will
understand hospitality differently than another, often in the same
household.

Some of us are new to the Christian walk, still working through the
heart-change the Holy Spirit has begun in us. We need some basic
gospel instruction in Christian hospitality, to remind us how Christ has
done this for us and He was the ultimate example of hospitality. We
need to be shown that this is a lifestyle and being hospitable is
synonymous with being a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this instance, we wonder “what is it, and why do we do it?”

Some of us are basically hospitable people, understanding generally

the gospel and Christ's instruction to love one another, care for
widows, to be hospitable people, etc. But we need help translating
that hospitable quality into tangible output, and might be unsure how
to organize as a body into effective vehicles for hospitality.

In this instance, we wonder “what do we do?”

Some of us understand the gospel, have learned to give wisely, and

may even have good advice to offer from our experience as givers. We
are trying to be hospitable as best we know how, but are getting
burned-out, discouraged, and end up feeling used more than that we
are helping people. Perhaps we need some shepherding and
leadership or a support system. We need help being hospitable in a
hard world.

In this instance, we wonder “how do we do it better?”

Some of us will see ourselves in several places in the spectrum of

Christian hospitality all at once, and that is okay. Hopefully, this
document will inform, motivate and encourage all of us to find how we
can each serve Christ best in this area by serving each other and all
those He chooses to bring into our lives.
HOSPITALITY IS…
A Scriptural Definition of Hospitality
Before children can begin to read and write, they must first learn the alphabet, or
language, in which their parents communicate. The same is true in our Christian
walk. While our contemporary society may have some definition of “hospitality” to
which we have become accustomed, our heavenly Father has a different definition in
mind when He calls us to “pursue the practice of hospitality”. (Rom 12:13 AMP).

In the New Testament, the words “hospitable” and “hospitality” flow from the Greek
word philoxenos, (pronounced fil-ox'-en-os), itself formed from the words philos,
which means “friend”, and xenos, which quite literally means “alien”. So to be
hospitable was to make a friend of or extend friendship to an alien.

Scripture gives us several clear pictures of what hospitality looks like from the
Father’s viewpoint. In Genesis 14:18-19, we see Melchizedek, king of Salem (later
Jerusalem) and priest of the most high God, bringing out bread and wine to Abram, a
relative stranger in the land, and blessing him. Later, both Abraham and his nephew
Lot, in turn, showed hospitality to strangers that later were revealed to be
messengers from heaven, and in Abraham’s case, the Lord himself. When the angels
appeared to Lot, he was willing to sacrifice the safety of his own daughters,
misguided though the gesture was, to ensure the safety of his guests.

Hospitality is illustrated in several more places in the Old Testament by Manoah with
the angels (Jdg 13:15-19), by Samuel with Saul (1 Sam 9:22-24), by King David
toward Barzillai (2 Sam 19:32-29), by the widow of Zarephath to Elijah (1 Ki 17:10-
24), and by the Shunammite woman toward Elisha (2 Ki 4:8-11).

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HOSPITALITY BECAUSE…
A Scriptural Case for Hospitality
Knowing what the Father has in mind as the practice of hospitality does not
necessarily, in itself, tell us why it is so important to Him. Rote obedience is not what
the Father desires from us. Our heavenly Father wants us to give from a cheerful
heart, desiring to be engaged in hospitality and acts of mercy. (2 Cor 9:7; Rom 12:8,
13; 1 Pet 4:9).

The Gospel is good news for all people, and practicing hospitality instead of the
insularity of tribalism demonstrates God’s intention to unite out of every nation, tribe
and tongue, a people who will be called by his name and who will glorify him.

Rev. 7:9-10 9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no
one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the
throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding
palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice:

"Salvation belongs to our God,

who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb."

Hospitality foreshadows the homecoming and healing of the consummated kingdom

of God.

Rev 21:2-7 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud
voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live
with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their
God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or
mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he
said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the
End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water
of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my
son.

When we practice hospitality, we show that God’s breaks through our old human
categories of us vs. them and invites us into a new family.

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Gal. 3:26-28 26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you
who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither
Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If
you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise.

Hospitality is an extension of the reality of God’s kingdom breaking into the world
and demonstration of who he is as the one who generously provides.

Luke 9:10-17

10When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he
took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,
11but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to
them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

12Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away so
they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging,
because we are in a remote place here."

13He replied, "You give them something to eat."

They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and
buy food for all this crowd." 14(About five thousand men were there.)

But he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each."
15The disciples did so, and everybody sat down. 16Taking the five loaves and the two
fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to
the disciples to set before the people. 17They all ate and were satisfied, and the
disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Hospitality is an expression of God’s mercy, grace and justice.

Psalm 68:5-6

5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,

is God in his holy dwelling.

6 God sets the lonely in families,

he leads forth the prisoners with singing;

but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

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Exodus 22:21-22

21 "Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.

22 "Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. 23 If you do and they cry out to
me, I will certainly hear their cry. 24 My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with
the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.

Leviticus 19:33-34

33 " 'When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 34 The alien
living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for
you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Hospitality is a concrete expression of God’s invitation to feast with him in the

kingdom of God.

Luke 14: 12-24 12Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner,
do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do,
they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although
they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

15When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is
the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."

16Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many
guests. 17At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been
invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

18"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a
field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'

19"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try
them out. Please excuse me.'

20"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

21"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the
house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and
alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

22" 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'

23"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and
make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24I tell you, not one of those men
who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' "

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Hospitality is an expression and experience of reconciled unity when practiced within
the diversity of the body of Christ, breaking down barriers and bridging the natural
divisions among us.

I Peter 4:8-11

8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever
gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various
forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If
anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things
God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever
and ever. Amen.

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HOSPITALITY BY…
A Contemporary Framework for Hospitality
Understanding now what Christian hospitality looks like from the Father’s point of
view, and having our spirits encouraged and our hearts motivated to pursue
hospitality, we can look at ways to practice hospitality wisely and effectively. We can
also consider some of the pitfalls, both externally and within ourselves, which we
must be careful to avoid as we seek to bring glory to the Father and to bring Christ to
those who do not know Him as we do.

One of the first things for us to realize is that we will not all practice or participate in
the ministry of hospitality in the same way. As Paul points out in his first letter to the
church at Corinth, not everybody is given the same suite of gifts by the Spirit, but
every person’s gift is crucial to the proper functioning of the Body of Christ.

An Analogy for Structure

Paul often compared the Christian life to that of a soldier in God’s army, fighting
spiritual darkness in the heavenly realm. (2 Cor 10:3-6; Eph 6:10-18).In the practice
of hospitality, one way of looking at how we each can contribute is by comparing it to
how the military operates. Although not everyone will relate to the analogy from
personal experience, a quick overview should make it clearer.

The military, and particularly the United States Army, generally divides its soldiers
into one of three categories: combat arms, combat support and service support.
Combat arms units are the ones on the front lines, engaging directly in the battle.
Combat support units provide immediate operation assistance, such as
communications, to combat soldiers. Service support units provide primarily logistical
support such as supply, maintenance, transportation, health services, and other
services required by the soldiers of combat units to continue their missions in
combat.

Applying this structure as an analogy to the ministry of Christian hospitality, some

individuals will be gifted and called to engage directly in providing hospitality to
strangers. They will open their homes, feed, clothe and nurture those in need. But
they will not be able to do this alone, by themselves, lest they become burnt out and
fall into despair. They will need others to come alongside directly and help prepare
meals, lend physical assistance, and likely provide professional services they are not
qualified to offer. Beyond close support with those to whom hospitality is given, there
will need to be yet others who care for the caregivers, financially, emotionally,
spiritually and in many other ways that will be common to many hospitality
situations.

The point of this analogy is to illustrate the fact that not every member of the Body
will be called to interact directly with those in need, but every believer’s gift will be
important to the Body if it is to pursue hospitality to the pleasure and glory of the
Father and of Christ. As we look at some of the ways hospitality might be practiced,
see if you can identify where your own unique giftedness might fit in.

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A Sampling of Ideas
There are many challenges to providing hospitality, but we must not let them become
excuses. A little creative thinking can help us to find solutions to our particular
problems. We also need to examine ourselves to determine if our biggest challenges
might not be within our homes, but rather, within our hearts. The focus of hospitality
is on our guests, not on our snazzy home decor, our immaculate housekeeping, or
our china and silver. Setting too high expectations for such things is often a matter of
pride.

Focusing on our guests is a good antidote for that problem. After all, will our guests
not enjoy themselves unless the ceiling is painted and the carpet matches the
wallpaper? Will their meal be ruined if it's served on paper plates? Your guests will
remember your conversation and fellowship long after the plates and furniture are
forgotten.

We can think outside the box a bit, too, by remembering that having people over for
dinner is not the only way to be hospitable. A single father I know sometimes invites
a few men over for an evening of conversation and board games. The men bring their
own snack foods and drinks, and have a wonderful time together. A college student
can invite a visitor to the campus ministry to meet him or her at a coffee shop for
lunch. A mother with small children can invite a few other moms over to bake
Christmas cookies together. A person without transportation can be invited to come
along on your shopping trips.

In all of these situations a person new to the faith or new to your church may feel
freer to ask questions he or she might be uncomfortable asking in a Sunday school
class or other big meeting. And the better people know each other, the less likely
they are to misinterpret or mistrust one another--which adds to the harmony in
churches and families.

First, reconnect the idea of hospitality with the Host. Just as we experience Christ's
welcome through the Eucharist, we can welcome others into fellowship with God.

Second, notice how hospitality is gospel, good news, both for those who receive it
and those who offer it. "Some Christians feel crushed by the idea of having to do yet
one more thing for the kingdom. But making a place for others can make room for
God to be present with us. It puts us on holy ground and connects us with an ancient
tradition," Pohl says.

Finally, reconsider your focus. "Entertainment focuses on the host. Hospitality focuses
on the guest. We know we've lost touch when our satisfaction in worship becomes
most important. Worship is most hospitable in congregations that eagerly include
people in shared traditions. For example, congregational prayers and liturgies could
mention more about the elderly or frail," she says.

Congregations practice hospitality and commit to it. They are intentional about it,
until it becomes the norm for the way in which they live as the people of God, and
the way in which they do ministry. To do something inhospitable would be
unthinkable to them. Where hospitality is a virtue in a congregation, you will find
other virtues such as mercy, love, compassion and forgiveness. These then become

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woven into a congregation’s life, and part of their grateful, lived-out response to
God’s grace.

Let’s look at a few practical examples of how a church might practice hospitality in
worship:

1. One church did not have an immediate need for an elevator in their building.
They also knew that if someone had a need for it, they would not be able to use their
building. So in anticipation of welcoming and in preparation of someone coming who
might need an elevator, they remodeled their building.

2. Several deacons who regularly came forward to receive the offering of the
people, dressed more casually so that someone who might not wear a suit, either
male or female, would feel comfortable in this church.

3. One church decided to examine all of its assumptions about Christian community.
How did their worship help them to "be church" as Marva Dawn says. What factors
might make them appear to be a friendly church, and yet not be warm and
embracing. Perhaps a stranger might attend for a year, become known to some
people, and still remain friendless, without being intentionally drawn into the body.
What did they need to do to extend deeper hospitality so that it was more closely
linked to grace, and so that it was not a technique or a task.

4. One church made a practice of welcoming new members with the children
present in the front of the church. The children, along with the rest of the
congregation, learned the new members’ names and the pastor prayed for the new
members. The children and everyone else learned that each person is important in
this faith community. They are known by name and they are prayed for.

5. Anxious about how to seat latecomers, one church shut the glass doors to the
sanctuary before the service began. They realized they needed to make their practice
of seating latecomers more gracious and hospitable.

6. People who had different views and interests in worship came to the worship
committee with their concerns: The worship committee prayed together for the
Spirit’s wisdom and discernment in their discussion as a committee and with the
members of the congregation. The committee committed to withholding judgment as
they met with these people. They realized that prejudging would pre-empt
understanding. They could still listen with discernment. Hospitality means suspending
judgment so that you can hear and understand another perspective.

When there is a river of grace and restoration that flows through a congregation, the
hospitable congregation is committed to the needs of people, especially those who
are vulnerable and in need of hospitality. Israel was committed to and commanded by
God to offer hospitality first of all to those who were widowed, the poor, the orphans,
and the stranger. There are many others that we could add to this list. In the New
Testament we are commanded to practice hospitality to each other.

Objectives, steps to take:

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 that we should become aware of the ways we already practice hospitality by
making people feel welcome and wanted (feedback from others, broader, more
creative definitions of hospitality)
that we should take our intuitive practice of hospitality and make it intentional
that we discover the ways God has “wired” us to practice hospitality out of the
natural inclinations and spiritual gifts he has already woven into us
that we would develop and grow in this organic practice of hospitality
that we would ask God, by the Holy Spirit, to make us aware of “the other” when
our lives intersect
that we would learn to recognize the leading of the Holy Spirit when he asks us to
initiate toward the people we encounter
that we recognize and encourage these practices in each other
that we would recognize and encourage and support each other in reaching out
and making others feel wanted, and stand with each other when it is discouraging
or costly
that we would learn and practice openness and honesty about our own
brokenness and suffering, so that we can
○ face into the suffering of other people without fear
○ be wise about the depths of sin and depravity in our own hearts and,
by extrapolation, in others’ hearts so that we are not naïve
○ know our own hearts, we might move past “rescuing and enablement”
to genuine, eyes-open love that is discerning and fruitful
○ know our own limits and boundaries for ours and our family’s
protection
○ be wise in humility about what we can and cannot effect in other
people’s lives
○ out of that humility, trust God for those we are offering hospitality
instead of trying to be everything they need
○ learn wisdom and discernment by walking with each other (and making
mistakes with each other)
by doing these things, we would be fanning the spark of hospitality at Redeemer
into flame, intentionally cultivating the seeds already planted
encouraging new expressions of hospitality that follow the contours of individual
gifts and inclinations so that the practice of hospitality can be broadly expressed
throughout the body, and sustainable for the long haul
watching for people with special gifts and inclinations toward hospitality, to
support them as a body, and to perhaps grow larger ministries around them
encourage the practice of hospitality among the body for its own sake, and as a
way to learn and to grow in the discipline and virtue of hospitality
building unity in the body through the practice of hospitality among ourselves
demonstrating to the world that in Christ those who are natural enemies can be
reconciled as brothers and sisters (if we are called to practice hospitality—love of
the stranger—among ourselves, there is a tacit acknowledgment that even within
the body of Christ, we are not all of the same tribe, we are often “other” to each
other and need to practice hospitality intentionally and purposefully, reaching
across the lines and boundaries that exist among us as believers who are often
only alike in our allegiance to Christ, to demonstrate the reconciling power of the
Gospel to the watching world.)

Questions to ask ourselves:

Who is the “other,” the aliens in my life? Who is God calling my attention to?

In what ways do I already practice hospitality, perhaps without being aware of it?
(Ask those who know you for help with this one)

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How can I incorporate a more intentional practice of hospitality into my everyday life
in a way that is sustainable?

How can I support and encourage those who are practicing the spiritual gift of
hospitality?

October 19, 2008 10