We often think of “hospitality” as a spiritual gift—some have it, others do not. And we often think of it as a “feminine” gift. Yet, this passage commands all believers to practice hospitality.
What do you think Biblical hospitality looks like for those who don’t have the “gift”? Is it only something we do inside our homes? Where else can we practice it? How can we get away from the gendered view of hospitality?
Tongue on Fire 
As long as we associate ‘hospitality’ with our house and entertainment, we will keep it ‘gendered’. My wife is a much better cook than I am. I help, but she is most likely to dust, vacuum and do laundry. She is also the ‘social secretary.’ I leave the decisions of who and when to have over up to her. This compact has really challenged me to think beyond the four walls and shifting my definition of hospitality away from “entertainment” and “social gatherings”.
As I write this, I’m hearing the news of the hundreds of people who have lost their homes due to yesterday’s tornadoes. My prayers are with those in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio who are without shelter and are in need of hospitality.
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The study notes in the Life Application Bible regarding hospitality states, “Christian hospitality differs from social entertaining. Entertaining focuses on the host – the home must be spotless; the food must be well prepared and abundant; the host must appear relaxed and good natured. Hospitality, by contrast, focuses on the guest. Their needs – whether for a place to stay, nourishing food, a listening ear, or acceptance – are the primary concern. Hospitality can happen in a messy home. It can happen around a dinner table where the main dish is canned soup. It can even happen while the host and guest are doing chores together.”
This note really hit me because I am always so worried about how it all looks and what I don’t have, etc. My focus needs to be on others and not on myself!
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Thanks for sharing this. In church today, we discovered that the Greek word translated “hospitality” literally means “love of strangers”–philoxenia. So often our hospitality focuses on the people we like and are most like us. Biblical hospitality is about meeting the needs and “making room” for people who are disconnected and isolated from us. THAT’S challenging, forcing us outside of our comfort zones.
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I want to see the American church embrace philoxenia and reject xenophobia. I am thankful for churches who love undocumented workers and advocate for them.
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Amen! We are doing our best to be among those churches. We have done actions in support of the DREAM Act and against the Secure Communities Act which destroys families. We need comprehensive immigration reform. Unfortunately, those currently in positions of influence and power don’t seem to see it as a priority. And in the meantime, thousands of families are destroyed every day.
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