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