Christian Living Today

In an earlier post we started looking at one instance of hospitality recorded in Scripture - Abraham and his three guests. The purpose of this exercise was and is to gain a deeper insight into true, biblical hospitality.

The church, as a whole, has dropped the hospitality ball. Christians, may be family in theory but we act little like family in practice. Recently this issue has become blatantly obvious to me. Thus this issue has become the focus of my personal devotions lately.

Last time we saw Abraham didn’t use his lack of a permanent home as an excuse to avoid hospitality. Thus we can conclude our current housing status has little to nothing to do with the requirement to be hospitable. Furthermore we looked at a few principles of hospitality which are clear in this passage.

We saw: A righteous man (or woman) looks for opportunities to be hospitable and: A righteous man (or woman) seeks opportunities to be hospitable.

As I have meditated on this passage lately, I have been struck by a couple other less obvious points. One: Abraham was a stranger in this land. Sometimes we excuse our lack of hospitality saying, “I haven’t been attending here long” or “I’m not part of the ‘in’ crowd” or some similar reason

If Abraham’s actions are recorded as an example for us to follow, clearly this excuse is completely irrelevant in God’s eyes. Abraham was the last person to whom these people should have looked for hospitality. He had no ‘real’ home. He was not a ‘native.’ He was a stranger, like them, not a resident, like his neighbors.

In addition, Abraham didn’t wait for a ‘convenient’ season to be hospitable. While I acknowledge there may be times and seasons when we have an honest (and biblical) reason for not exercising hospitable (today or this week NOT this year or the next five years), we often excuse our lack of hospitality as inconvenient or inappropriate for a reason which has more to do with our comfort level or our current status or our schedule or. . . (we know our reasons).

Abraham was a stranger in a foreign land. He lived in a tent. He was elderly. It was the hottest (thus the least convenient) time of day. Talk about several very valid reasons. How quick most of us are to consider just ONE of these reasons good enough to excuse our lack of hospitality. Abraham didn’t let them deter him.

One more thing I need to point out. I spoke above of our requirement to be hospitable. While I hope to dig into this more, I think it wise at the outset to point out, hospitality is NOT listed in Scripture as a spiritual gift (in other words, something one has but another does not and therefore is not required to exercise).

I say this because I have heard folks say hospitality is not their spiritual gift. Translated they were saying, “I do not have to be hospitable because that is not the area where God has gifted me.” While there are numerous places where hospitality is shown by example or commanded directly, neither the list in Romans 12 nor the one in 1 Cor 12 list hospitality as a spiritual gift. However, it is just as important to note Romans 12:13 actually commands us to practice hospitality. Hospitality is not something which is limited in its scope. If you are a Christian, this is required of you.

The third principle we see in the Genesis 18:1-8 passage is: Hospitality is not limited. In other words, we are not called to be hospitable JUST within our comfort zone or just to people we know. On the other hand, hospitality (as we will see in later passages) is also not limited to strangers. However, I suspect we are much more willing to open our home to friends than to strangers. Yet, as Calvin points out:

“the humanity of Abraham deserves no slight praise; because he freely invites men who were to him unknown, through whom he had no advantage, and from whom he had no hope of mutual favors. What, therefore, was Abraham’s object? Truly, that he might relieve the necessity of his guests. He sees them wearied with their journey, and has no doubt that they are overcome by heat; he considers that the time of day was becoming dangerous to travelers; and therefore he wishes both to comfort, and to relieve persons thus oppressed. And certainly, the sense of nature itself dictates, that the strangers are to be especially assisted; unless blind self love rather impels us to mercenary services. For none are more deserving of compassion and help than those whom we see deprived of friends, and of domestic comforts. And therefore the right of hospitality has been held most sacred among all people, and no disgrace was ever more detestable than to be called inhospitable.”

Entertaining people we know can often be done with the hopes of receiving reciprocal treatment. So how do we entertain strangers? Consider entertaining the visitors to your church and other Christians who cross your pass whom you do not know.

Fourthly we see: True hospitality is offered humbly yet boldly. Abraham did not wait for the strangers to come to him - even though, by cultural custom they could have. Furthermore, he does not treat them as vagrants or unwelcome guests but, in effect, rolls out the red carpet and becomes their servant.

Look at the passage. Beginning in verse 2 we read: “. . .he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”

He didn’t offer begrudgingly. He didn’t wait around to see if someone else would be hospitable. He was not prepared to take ‘no’ for an answer. In other words - although not a thing was yet prepared, Abraham was bound and determined to show these men hospitality. I doubt any of us are so eager.

Abraham even belittled his offering of hospitality though he planned to provide them an overly abundant feast. Calvin says:

“he makes light of an act of kindness which be was about to do, not only for the sake of avoiding all boasting, but in order that they might the more easily yield to his counsel and his entreaties, when they were persuaded that they should not prove too burdensome and troublesome to him.”

Fifthly we see, True hospitality is not tight fisted nor does it count the cost. Granted, as Calvin pointed out, Abraham obviously did NOT entertain every stranger to this degree. Thus, there is little doubt he recognized something special about these strangers. However, in acknowledging their superiority, he responds readily.

He offered a ‘morsel of bread’, but look at the actual menu beginning in verse 6. “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them”

Abbe Fleury said: “We have an instance of a splendid entertainment in that which Abraham made for the three angels. He set a whole calf before them, new bread, but baked on the hearth, together with butter and milk. Three measures of meal were baked into bread on this occasion, which come to more than two of our bushels, and nearly to fifty-six pounds of our weight.”

A whole calf! Fifty-six pounds of bread! Butter and milk! This was an abundant feast. Obviously Abraham was not a skimpy host. Granted we do well to remember Calvin’s words. Abraham did not entertain (nor could he have entertained) every stranger or visitor at this level. Yet, when he recognized these men as ‘noble,’ he responded with extreme generosity.

Do NOT take this, however, as a hospitality requirement. Remember Jesus’ words in Mark 9:41 - “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” In other words, while we should be generous knowing all we have comes from our Father above, simple hospitality is all the Bible calls us to practice.

Sixthly we see: True hospitality is permeated by a servant’s attitude. The American idea of hospitality (which is more a view of modern entertainment) always pictures the host and hostess perfectly attired, flawless presented, and the center of attention - perhaps as entertainer or grand master of the house. However, while Abraham was certainly the grand master of his house, he presents himself as nothing more than his guests’ servant.

Note Abraham’s posture in verse 8. “he stood by them under the tree as they ate.”

John Gill tells us he held this posture to

“minister to them; nor will this seem strange, or that the above several things were chiefly done by Abraham and Sarah, when it is observed that the greatest personages in the eastern countries, in early times, used to perform such services, and still do to this day. . .it is here (says he) no disgrace for persons of the highest character to busy themselves in what we should reckon menial employments; the greatest prince assists in the most laborious actions of husbandry; neither is he ashamed to fetch a lamb from his herd and kill it, while the princess his wife is impatient till she has prepared her fire and her kettle to seethe and dress it. . .and, after his entertainment is prepared, accounts it a breach of respect to sit down with his guests, but stands up all the time and serves them.”

Finally notice: True hospitality is a group effort. While I am not suggesting a single person is exempt from hospitality, it is important to note the roles played by the various members of Abraham’s household. Calvin again offers us great insight:

“[Moses] presents us, in a few words, with a beautiful picture of domestic government. Abraham runs, partly, to command what he would have done; and partly, to execute his own duty, as the master of the house. Sarah keeps within the tent; not to indulge in sloth, but rather to take her own part also, in the labor. The servants are all prompt to obey. Here is the sweet concord of a well-conducted family; which could not have thus suddenly arisen, unless each had, by long practice, been accustomed to right discipline.”

Fathers. Mothers. Children. Others living in the home can and should expect to participate in the work and preparation which goes into being hospitable. Not only is this right and good and, of course, excellent training in household skills, it is also the best way to teach the next generation how to be hospitable as well as reinforce to them the great importance of acting thus.

When you think about hospitality, what comes to mind? A gorgeously appointed dinner table with fresh flowers, classy place cards, china, and cut crystal? A perfectly prepared five course meal served on silver platters? A relaxed hostess with not a hair out of place?

If this is your idea of hospitality, I can almost guarantee you cringe when you hear the word. Furthermore, I suspect you do not practice hospitality. After all, which one of us can live up to that standard? Thankfully, that is not biblical hospitality. Granted it may be the standard our world would require, but it is not even close to the biblical definition of the word.

Here’s another picture. The stage: a tent under a shade tree in the middle of a hot, dry land. The time: mid-day with the sun burning high and hot overhead. The characters: A past prime man fanning himself in front of his tent and three hot, weary, dusty travelers coming on the stage.

I don’t know about you, but the idea of entertaining strangers while living in a tent - well, that is definitely not my idea of hospitality. Yet this is the setting for the second example of hospitality given in Scripture. You’ll find the story in Genesis 18:1-8. Here we read:

“Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.” So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.”

I have read this story many times but never really looked at it from a hospitality perspective. However when I did, I found some valuable lessons.

First: we see Abraham sitting in his tent door. Why? Most likely, since it was the hottest part of the day, he sought to catch any breeze which might pass his way. John Gill also says he sat there, “partly to cool and refresh himself, and partly to observe if any passengers passed by, to invite them in; this being a time of day when such needed refreshment, and it was proper for them to lie by a while, and not proceed on their journey until it was cooler.”

So the first principle we gain from this passage: A righteous man (or woman) looks for opportunities to be hospitable.

How often do we look for opportunities to practice hospitality? For that matter, how often do we even think about hospitality - in particular, being hospitable to people we do not know?

Matthew Henry suggests we are more likely to be comfortable with good works which we practice freely and frequently. In other words, we are more likely to be hospitable if we practice hospitality. Furthermore, he adds. “Where, upon a prudent and impartial judgment, we see no cause to suspect ill, charity teaches us to hope well and to show kindness accordingly. It is better to feed five drones, or wasps, than to starve one bee.”

Second: we should share what we have more than willingly - eagerly. When Abraham saw the three men, ‘he ran from the tent door to meet them.’ Now this is an interesting picture. Here you have a past-prime man in the hottest part of the day running to greet his guests. Was he that eager for company?

Not likely. John Gill says he did not wait for them to come to him, “but, to show how ready he was to entertain them, he arises from his seat at the tent door and ran to meet them, and gave them an hearty welcome to what he would provide for them.”

Let’s change the scenario a bit. You are standing in the vestibule of your church. In walks a young couple you have never seen. They wear decent clothes. Their smiles are pleasant. They seem a bit shy, but maybe it is just walking it a crowd of people they do not know.

What is your reaction? Do you promptly head their way? Do you shake their hand? Do you offer your name and inquire of theirs? If so, you’ve done the ‘norm’ - maybe even a bit more. However, is this really the modern-day equivalent to Abraham’s response to these strangers who entered his ‘space’? Hardly!

John Trapp reminds us, “Charity is no churl. “The liberal man deviseth liberal things”; {#Isa 32:8}“

Yet you may object. I don’t know those people. They could be scammers or thieves, robbers or rapists. True. However, do you really think it was safer in Abraham’s day? I doubt it. Yet he didn’t treat his proposed guests to anything less than a hearty and prompt welcome. Remember Matthew Henry’s words above - “Where, upon a prudent and impartial judgment, we see no cause to suspect ill, charity teaches us to hope well and to show kindness accordingly.”

If this is the way a righteous man acts, what does that make us to be if we do less?

Next time we will dig deeper into this passage. However, lest you are thinking you are off the hook (as it were) because Abraham knew who his guests were and thus treated them well because of who they were, I will close with these words from John Calvin:

“they appeared to be nothing else than men. And this was done designedly, in order that he, receiving them as men, might give proof of his charity. For angels do not need those services of ours, which are the true evidences of charity. Moreover, hospitality holds the chief place among these services; because it is no common virtue to assist strangers, from whom there is no hope of reward. For men in general are wont, when they do favors to others, to look for a return; but he who is kind to unknown guests and persons, proves himself to be disinterestedly liberal. Wherefor the humanity of Abraham deserves no slight praise; because he freely invites men who were to him unknown, through whom he had no advantage, and from whom he had no hope of mutual favors.”

I believe I ‘ranted’ a bit in my last post on hospitality. My apologies. Ranting really is not necessary. However, the hospitality issue has really been brought to the forefront in my thinking lately.

As a result, I am doing some research and reading. As usual, I will seek to consolidate my thoughts by writing them down. Thus I expect there will be some posts on hospitality in the future - this being one.

Have you ever taken a drive in the country? I did the other day. I was struck by the number of signs along the road. Besides the address placards, one sees name signs - “The Cooper’s” or “Lazy S Ranch.” However, the most common signs were: “Welcome Friends” or “No Trespassing.” I guess it is a sign of our times that the later far outnumbered the former.

What is sad is when we walk into a new church and feel like we somehow missed the ‘No Trespassing’ sign at the door. Granted, our attitude toward strangers is bound to be affected, at least to a point, by the general attitude of the community in which we live. If we live in an area where the ‘Welcome Friends’ signs outweigh the ‘No Trespassing’ signs (something I fear is growing more rare by the moment), we are likely to carry this attitude into our churches.

If we live in an area where the opposite is true, it will probably influence the way we treat the ‘strangers’ who walk through our church doors. The question is, Should it? The answer: no!

Krister Stendahl put it this way. “Wherever, whenever, however the kingdom manifests itself, it is welcome.” If we can’t be welcoming to those walking through our church doors, what does this say about our Christianity?

I’m not talking here about greeters or formal welcoming committees. I’m talking about how YOU respond when someone you do not know walks into your church. Do you go about your business and leave it to the ‘greeters’ to welcome them? Do you smile and turn away? Do you say ‘hi’, maybe shake their hand, then consider you’re part done?

In her book, “Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition”, Christine Pohl says, “Hospitality is a lens through which we can understand much of the gospel, and a practice by which we can welcome Jesus himself.”

Read that again. Does it ever cross your mind the way you treat the strangers who enter your fellowship is they way you treat Christ? Consider these verses from Matthew 25 verses 32 through 46:

“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Did you notice the words, “righteous” and “cursed”? What is a mark of the righteous? The cursed? Hospitality! I am not saying hospitality is a requirement of salvation. This is not in keeping with the rest of Scripture. What I believe this passage is teaching is that hospitality is a ‘sign’ of salvation. In other words, as Christians we should be hospitable. If we aren’t, why not?

There really are just two churches out there - there is the church where you walk in and feel welcome. The people are friendly. They treat you like family - and they should. Then there is the church who is so superficial (if they are friendly at all), you wonder why they bother.

Most people who walk through our church doors are people we should expect to spend time with in eternity. Those who are not Christians certainly will not be impacted if we don’t reach out. So, there is NO ONE who walks through our church doors who we shouldn’t be happy to see.

Think about it. How do families treat each other? While there are dysfunctional families, in a ‘normal’ family, we don’t just say ‘hi’ or exchange smiles or shake hands. Think about a family reunion. At most family reunions, family members are brought together who rarely (or perhaps never) see one another. We consider the reunion a success if, at the day’s end, everyone is visiting with someone and there are no ‘cast-offs’ left to fend for themselves.

If you desire to be the ‘righteous’ who treat others as if it were Jesus to whom you were ministering, if you want your church to really exhibit a family atmosphere, if you want to exhibit the reality of your Christian profession, if you want all the family members who walk through your church doors to feel ‘welcome’ not ‘cast-offs,’ you must seek to connect to the strangers who cross your path - particularly within the circle of your church activities.

How do we do that? Do more than just say ‘hi’. Try to start a conversation. It is much easier than you might think. Ask about the other person. Volunteer similar information about yourself. Go beyond the ‘hi’ and hand shake. Show real interest in the other person. Better yet, invite those ‘strangers’ home. Show them your Christian label is real. You may be surprised at what you find.

If you find this whole idea inconceivable - If the idea of talking to a stranger more frightening than a trip to the dentist, I can sympathize. Friendliness to strangers is NOT my strongest character trait. However, we both need to remember the primary reason why we are so uncomfortable reaching out to people we don’t know. We are too proud!

Ouch! I know that hurts. I HATE to think of myself as a proud person, but reality is, the REAL reason we are uncomfortable in the presence of people we don’t know is we are far too focused on ourselves. We don’t know them well enough to be uncomfortable around them because of who ‘they’ are - it is because of who we ‘think’ we are. We don’t want to do anything which might put us at a disadvantage or make us look any less than how we ‘think’ we should look.

So, when you or I fail to reach out to someone else - well, we are committing at least two sins. We are failing to show we are Christians by our love AND we are allowing our pride to make us respond in a less than Christian way.

Philip Hallie put it very succinctly: “Deeds speak the language of the great virtues far better than do words. . .Words limp outside the gates of the mystery of compassion for strangers.”