I want to talk about hospitality tonight.
You know, the faith teaching may be biblical, the hymns chosen may be inspirational, the preaching a wee bit uplifting, the pastor enthusiastic, but when a visitor finds nobody cares whether they are there or not, they are not likely to ever return again!
While perusing another churches newsletter – I read about a man who visited 18 churches in 18 weeks.
It was like a marathon of worship.
He was attempting to find out what churches were really like. What is the state of the church today.
He said, (in the article) I sat near the front. After the liturgy, I walked slowly to the rear. And then returned to the front and back to the foyer using another aisle. I smiled a lot. I dressed neatly. I asked one person to direct me to a specific place: a fellowship hall, the rest rooms, the pastor’s study. I remained for coffee, if it was even served.
And then he went on to write in his article…I used a scale to rate the reception I received.
I actually awarded points on the following basis:
10 points for a smile from a worshiper.
10 points for a greeting from someone sitting nearby.
100 points for an exchange of names with someone.
200 points for an invitation to have coffee.
200 points for an invitation to return again.
1000 points for an introduction to another worshiper.
2000 point for an introduction to meet the pastor.

On this scale, 11 out of the 18 churches earned fewer than 100 points.
Five congregations actually received less than 20 points.
The author concluded with sadness that this apparently is the state of the church today.
People are in groups of their own choosing. The sit with their friends.
They do not speak to new comers.
They do not think to make visitors feel welcome. They do not reach out at all…

We can go all the way back biblically to the days and times of Father Abraham.

Abraham was well versed in the sacred rule of hospitality. In his day and time it was actually more stringently kept than many of the then written laws.

There were constant dangers and travelers were always at risk. The rule of hospitality was that a guest, any guest would be treated with the greatest of respect and honor.

Water would be provided for foot washing and the largest feast affordable would be – prepared.

The traveler was to enjoy protection from all enemies for three days as the host was to provide sanctuary.

You know, if you think about it, this provision was actually written into the 23rd Psalm…where the psalmist writes about God – “You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies…my cup runneth over…”

Leviticus 19. 33-34 says, “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord, your God.”

Romans 12. 13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality!” Or literally, it says, pursue hospitality…the verb implies continuous action…on our parts…

Travelers in those days were rarely family. These were many times persons unknown to the community. They were foreigners, aliens, people who had different foods, different clothes, different languages and different gods. Opening ones’ home was risky business, and yet it was to be expected. It was actually said to be central to the Hebrew identity. It is what you did. You provided hospitality. The risk did not define the people – their hospitality did. It was even believed that such hospitality was central to the very character and nature of our God.

The same was true in the early Christian communities. Paul reminded the Romans to offer hospitality to the alien, and in the letter to the Hebrews – the people were reminded to show hospitality to all for in so doing, some entertained angels unaware.

In the Book of Acts the early deacons practiced hospitality throughout the community, bringing welcome to all those in need. Welcoming prophets, righteous ones and disciples (those whom Matthew called “little ones”) was a disciplined practice of the young churches.

It was who we are.
Welcome as a “practice of hospitality” doesn’t just happen. It has to be intentional. So it begs the question: Just how welcoming are you?