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By Jeff McNairn
FOR ME, one of the finer pleasures in life is being able to enjoy food. (It's
even better when enjoyed with good company!)
A while ago, I was having lunch with a friend who had had to undergo radiation
treatments on his throat. He told me that one of the side effects of the
treatments was that he had lost his ability to taste and enjoy food – everything, he said, tasted horrible.
Hearing him say this, as I savoured my baked French onion soup, made me pause
and thank God for the gift of being able to enjoy the tastes of food. Can you
imagine how much less pleasurable eating would be if we didn't have taste buds?
Not only do I love eating good food, but I also enjoy preparing it (especially
Greek, Mexican and Thai dishes). One of the things I find rewarding about
preparing food is being able to share it with family, friends and neighbours.
Some of the best conversations I have had with others have happened over food
and drink. There is something mysterious about the sharing of a meal together,
for it often breaks down barriers and allows genuine community to take place.
I am convinced that one of the best ways for us to do mission is to be a people
who are totally sold on the value of hospitality. The practice of hospitality
is one of the most underrated and overlooked gifts/spiritual disciplines in the
Christian life. Far too often it gets lost in the shadows of seemingly more
important things such as teaching, worship and evangelism.
The next time you read the Gospels, take note of how important a role
hospitality played not only in Jesus' life and ministry but also in the life of
the early church. Time and again in the Gospels, we read about Jesus sitting
down and eating a meal with people. In fact, in my devotions this morning (Mark
1-2), I read about how Jesus "reclined" at a table with "many tax gatherers and
sinners."
Why is hospitality so important?
There are many reasons, but I want to suggest just two.
First, our hospitality is a reflection of God's love and hospitality toward us.
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Romans 5:10 tells us that while we were still enemies of God, we were reconciled
to him through the death of his Son. In the death and resurrection of Jesus, we
get a glimpse of the heart and character of God. When we read stories of Jesus
eating and drinking with sinners, we see a picture of God's grace – his welcome, acceptance, friendship, love and forgiveness. My former professor,
Hans Bergsma, said in one of his books, "Human hospitality is underwritten by
God's hospitality in Jesus Christ."
Second, hospitality creates space for genuine community.
In his book Reaching Out, well known Catholic priest Henri Nouwen commented that
the world we live in is marked by hostility. People are busy, lonely and
estranged from family, friends and God. The world is full of competition,
aggression, fear and suspicion.
Hospitality combats this, said Nouwen, by offering a place where strangers can “cast off their strangeness and become fellow human beings." Hospitality, Nouwen
suggested, is not about changing people but about offering them a space where
change can take place.
There are two different words in the Greek New Testament which we have
translated into English as hospitality. The first one means "to receive as a
guest," and the second means "the love of strangers." Imagine what our churches
and our homes would be like if we truly practiced this.
St. Benedict used to tell his fellow monks that "all guests who arrive should be
received as Christ."
Just imagine what it would be like if everyone who walked through the doors of
our churches or came into our homes was "received as Christ." At the heart of
Benedictine spirituality was hospitality, offering companionship (from the
Latin - "cum" and "panis" meaning "breading together") to all without regard
for class or status.
Do you want to make a significant impact in your community? Do you want to be
more like Jesus?
I have two suggestions.
First, maybe you need to stay home from yet another church function this week
and deliberately carve time out of your busy schedule to prepare a meal for a
neighbour, friend or colleague. You might be amazed at how God shows up!
Second, be diligent in welcoming new people (or just people you don't know) to
your church. Introduce yourself – and don't be afraid to invite someone home for coffee and treats.
Jeff McNairn is pastor of the Lake Country Community of Willow Park Church. This
article is adapted from his blog at willowparkchurch.com
January 2011
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