Many churchgoers would describe their congregation as “friendly,” but we should make a clear distinction between “friendliness” and “hospitality.” Friendliness is a fine starting point, but its embrace may not be as wide or as deep as Christian hospitality. Through the lens of Christian faith, hospitality becomes a countercultural expression of love that elevates us above fear of the “other” and compels us to welcome the stranger.
One of the post-resurrection stories in John offers a glimpse of how Christian hospitality bears witness to Jesus Christ. In John 21, a stranger found Jesus’ disciples fishing without success, and he encouraged them to try again. When they did, the disciples hauled in a miraculous catch (21:6). Not long after this, the stranger asked the disciples to eat breakfast with him; he had already prepared a fire of burning coals to cook the fish. Through the hospitality of a shared meal, the disciples recognized that the stranger was Jesus.
When we offer compassion and generosity to people in our congregations and our communities — especially in a socially and politically polarized climate — we bear witness to the presence of Christ among us.
As we strive to be hospitable, the goal should be to make everyone feel more seen, included and valued. One challenge for leaders is to think about what this means in worship and congregational life.
Who is in our community? Who is missing from our community? What are the barriers in our congregational structures that keep people from experiencing the love of God? A faithful reading of Scripture tells us that hospitality is not a destination. Hospitality is a spiritual practice that invites us to reflect and then act.
