"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Hebrews 13:2
Christian Hospitality is more than just offering coffee and cookies in the church's Fellowship Hall on a Sunday morning. As I see it, biblical hospitality is when followers of Jesus put pre-believers into a position to be in fellowship with Jesus!
Take a look at Mark 2:1-12, where buddies of a crippled man cut a hole in the roof of a home where Jesus is preaching. They lower-down the paralytic, putting him right smack in front of Jesus' face. From there, a miracle happens! The man is healed of both his sin AND his disease!
What a great example of the power of true hospitality that leads to true fellowship! True hospitality is God's action on our behalf, as He cuts a hole in the floor of heaven AND IN the ceiling of earth. God then lowers-down His Son Jesus. In doing so, we meet the Savior! When that happens, we gain the gift of fellowship with Christ. And, when that happens, Jesus calls us to rise up and walk brand new (verse 11) so that "...you may KNOW the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sin...." (verse 10).
On a recent trip to Easely, South Carolina, I drove past a major mega church facility on my way to doing a workshop at one of our church plants. I came to find out the mega facility had recently built a huge bowling alley for its members...only. Why? The church didn't want its members to have to bowl, or fellowship with, community folks who were not currently practicing faith. Hmm. In other words, the church wanted to separate itself from the very mission field that God created it to reach!
Christian hospitality is when we implement an "open roof policy" in our daily lives--- opening up our calendars, our pocketbooks, our homes...and certainly our church facilities so that God's hospitality of the gospel can welcome in strangers to meet His Son!
What might God's kingdom look like in your city, if your congregation began to practice this kind of "open roof" hospitality that leads to this kind of fellowship?
The purpose of the Impact Center is to provide opportunities to participate in character-building recreational activities conducted in a Christian setting.
ReplyDeleteYou do not have to be a member of the Impact Center to use the bowling lanes.
ReplyDelete"Unbelief" may be a state of mind that can be transformed by our witness to Jesus Christ and Scripture ... Our disciplined behavior and witness supports the presence of Jesus Christ.
ReplyDelete"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Matt. 18:20. Of course we desire to share the Good News. "Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 John 3:22. "Fellowship" can be a social behavior that allows us to share "that which is most precious" to us with ALL people.