Hospitality
I want to ask you a question. What is hospitality?
You might think it is getting someone what they ask for, or you might define it as an industry where the customer is always right. But hospitality is more than that.
A: The dictionary defines hospitality (after it sends you to hospitable) as:
given to generous and cordial reception of guests
B: promising or suggesting generous and friendly welcome
C: offering a pleasant or sustaining environment
And, Wikipedia defines it as:
Hospitality is the relationship between a guest and a host, wherein the host receives the guest with some amount of goodwill, including the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Louis, chevalier de Jaucourt describes hospitality in the Encyclopédie as the virtue of a great soul that cares for the whole universe through the ties of humanity
But what is it really? I was watching this TED talk on hospitality and it got me thinking.
Does the church do service?
Or do we do hospitality.
Service is done out of obligation…it is done to someone.
Hospitality is done from the heart, it is done to elevate someone.
As Christians we experienced God’s hospitality and then we are sent out into the world in God’s name.
In fact I would put forward that on Christmas we experienced our own hospitality intervention.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. – Galatians 4:4-5
This thought forces us to reflect on our relationship with God. Our attitude with God.
Because humanity did way more than ruin the evening, we trashed the relationship.
We are the sheep that wanders off.
We are the prodigal kid that screams I hate you at the parent.
Yet God intervened. And because of that we live in a hospitality intervention. This is our great weapon against this world. It’s what allows us to shine out with hope, instead becoming self-focused and get wrapped up in ourselves. This is what allows us to reach out and show love because we are secure that in Christ we have enough.
It allows us to intervene, because God intervened.
I know each of you know how to do it. How do I know; because you just finished doing it…
That person you said Merry Christmas to.
The gift you bought, that you didn’t have to.
That crazy Aunt or Uncle that you still see, who will ask the questions you don’t want to answer, pinch your cheeks or otherwise simply grates upon you will still get a smile.
And many others that challenge us.
So my encouragement is to not stop now that the holiday is over.
Continue to look beyond yourself because God looked outward.
God gave you gifts my friends, he intervened. Given and shed for you.
He has brought you into the church.
Your move,
See you Sunday!
-Pastor Dan