Christian Hospitality: How to Welcome Others Like Christ

The radical element of Christian hospitality begins with the Biblical definition of "neighbor". Humans crave comfort. We crave what we know--whether that is physical likeness, cultural likeness, or similar interests--and that tendency unconsciously creates division. In the Old Testament, "neighbor" generally references fellow Israelites, as documented in Leviticus 19:18: "Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh". This definition is expanded in Leviticus 19:33: "When a foreigner lives with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must regard the foreigner who lives with you as the native-born among you. You are to love him as yourself, as you were foreigners in the land of Egypt; I am Yahweh your God."

Jesus' emergence in the New Testament further radicalizes how our neighborly attitudes should be, especially within the context of Pharisaical separatist attitudes. In Luke 10:25, Jesus instructed a scribe to adhere to the creed in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind; and your neighbors as yourself." Searching for a technicality, the scribe asks Jesus to specify who he ought to consider his neighbor. Jesus then redefined what the culture would have defined as neighbor by recounting the story of the good Samaritan.

Now that we understand who our neighbor is, how do we practice hospitality beyond the shallow politeness expected of us by society's standards? We are to extend kindness and warmth to all we engage with. We are also to be welcoming--not necessarily just by inviting unbelievers to an event at your church--but by meeting people with love where their need is, like a warm meal, a helping hand or an encouraging word, and being the hands and feet to fill that need. As we understand the character of our Savior who consistently went out of his way to make everyone who encountered him feel loved and known, we recognize our limitation as finite beings. Pressure to overextend can cause burnout.

This is where we draw upon discernment and God as our source of infinite love and wisdom to help us determine how exactly we our to use our vessel and resources. Drawing from His infinite well will not only help us to engage, welcome, connect and help from a full cup, but also to truly receive God's eyes and heart for all whom we are called to love!

-Written by Christy Bradley