Christianity isn;t based on individualism, but on life expressed through family and community. We meet God in each other just as much as we meet Him in prayerful solitude. Hospitality is the friendly and generous reception into our homes and lives of friends and strangers alike. It's one of the oldest signs of a civilized society, and is central to the Gospel. God tells us it's not good for man to be alone-isolation and loneliness are not His will for us [Gen. 2:18]. Very few people can withstand the pressures of life on their own-we all need close relationships in which we can share hopes and dreams, hurts and failures. Relationships in which we are known and loved for ourselves-in which we are accepted. Most people find these relationships in marriage and family, or in some form of community life. By community I don't just mean religious orders, but also covenant communities, small local church communities, and prayer groups. These are places where people are committed to sharing their lives, and helping one another to grow as people of God.
Most families benefit from opening their arms to those who do not normally live in the environment created by parents and children -- the domestic church. The presence of natural relatives and also 'adopted' uncles, aunts, and special friends is mutually enriching. For someone living alone, the knowledge that he or she is accepted as a member of such an 'extended' family, with the freedom to come and go as they please, to be involved in family occasions and activities as a member rather than a guest, will be encouraging and releasing. Families are freeing institutions, opening the doors and windows of the jails into which we sometimes withdraw when we are alone. To Moses, God gave the family of Jethro [Ex.2:11-3:1]: God knew well that what Moses needed was love, an arm around his shoulder, a good meal, fellowship in a family. He needed to be accepted and understood. We must learn to refrain from giving advice, and simply follow the example of Jethro: "Why did you leave him alone? Invite him to have something to eat." [Ex.2:20]
The Scriptures are full of exhortations to be hospitable. Paul asks us to make hospitality our special care [Rom. 12:13], and describes an elder as "a man who is hospitable" [Titus 1:8]. Peter tells us to welcome each other into our houses without grumbling [1 Pet. 4:9]. But hospitality can be demanding. It is one thing to extend hospitality to those we like-quite another thing to accept those we haven't chosen. It requires change and adjustment, wisdom, and discernment -- not everyone who comes to our door has been sent by the Lord. Some will distract, weaken, and exhaust us. They may disrupt our family life in a way that is not acceptable; hospitality doesn't mean turning everything upside down to accommodate the unreasonable demands of others. We'll soon recognize those the Lord has sent-they're usually willing to accept whatever we have to offer. But before we can receive them, we may have to allow the Lord to turn some of our ideas and values upside down.
To be baptized in the Holy Spirit means to open wide the door of my heart and life to the Lord. It also means being willing to give Him the keys to that door. Why? Because loving the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength, and with all my mind [Lk. 10:27] will be impossible unless I give Him everything; family, job, home, security -- everything. When I do that I am no longer the owner-I become the steward. Now it's the Lord allowing me to live in His house-not me allowing Him into mine. So how am I going to react when the Lord sends along a neighbor who needs my help?
"But Lord, who is my neighbor?" I ask. It's a good question. Like the lawyer in the story of the Good Samaritan, most of us hope for an answer with limits-this one, certainly not that one. But Jesus doesn't set any limits. Our neighbor is anyone of any race or creed or social background who is in need-He includes them all. The needs of others will bring out different attitudes in me. Am I like the priest and the Levite, like the innkeeper, or like the Samaritan? To the first two, the wounded man was a problem to be avoided. To the innkeeper, he was someone to be served-but only at the right price. To the Samaritan, he was a human being worth caring for and loving. If we add Jesus to the list-the wounded man is someone worth dying for. Jesus teaches love without limits. In His terms, everyone I meet is my neighbor. When we say "brothers and sisters", such words imply a loving, caring relationship. DO our actions match up to them? Jesus isn't going to ask us who we liked-He's more interested in who we rejected and did not love. When we call Jesus "Lord" we must be prepared to give everything to Him, knowing He will use it to extend His Kingdom. Part of our calling as Christians is to offer hospitality to those the Lord sends. It may not always be easy, but it will always b e a blessing-to us as much as to those who come.
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