Imagine you are a teenager in a new high school on the first day of school and it is lunchtime. You go from table to table and see different groups collecting together - the athletes sit at in the middle of the room flanked by the cheerleaders at an adjacent table, the academic achievers are nestled in the corner, the nerds at the opposite corner. The troublemakers are by the candy and soda machines, and the losers collect at the farthest reaches of the lunchroom. Which table do you sit at?

Regardless of which group you pick, few want to sit with the losers, for fear of being identified as a loser.

These divisions, cliques, and groups do not go away when we grow up. In many ways the world looks like one gigantic high-school lunchroom. "Us" versus "Them" is not only a childhood game, but carries on into adulthood. Try as we might, our tendency is to build up walls rather than break them down. Like attracts like. We know when and where we are welcome. We also know when we are not.

God's Greeting

As an expression of Jesus' prophetical ministry, Jesus exposed a significant flaw in pharisaical religion. The Pharisees were more exclusionary - and thus, less welcoming - than God. They erected boundary markers that kept people out, rather than let people in. In essence, they had their own table in the middle of the lunchroom, and it was obvious who was welcome. Even more, it was obvious who was not! By failing to be inclusive, they failed to live a kingdom life in a fallen world.

Our greeting is to be different. Jesus calls us to greet others with warm welcome. Our greeting is deeply influenced by the grace we have experienced in Christ. Instead of erecting boundaries to keep people out, we are to remove obstacles to people's participation in God's kingdom community. Instead of boundaries, we focus on the center. All are welcome, for there is "neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free, but all are one in Christ" (Galatians 3:28).

In contrast to exclusionary religion, Christ calls us to no less than the practice of radical hospitality.

Radical Hospitality

Radical means "getting to the root" or "arising from the source." It also communicates the meaning of "exceeding ordinary practice." One who is radically committed to something goes beyond the norm, exceeding ordinary expectations. As practitioners of radical hospitality we are called to go the second mile, to "take welcoming the stranger to the max."[1]

Hospitality has to do with making space for others. It removes obstacles to participation. It holds a welcome sign to all. It is characterized by the open arms of Christ. Vacek summarizes it well: "Hospitable love cares enough to create space in one's own life in order to welcome another in."[2]

We often speak of welcoming hospitality with the modern language of inclusivity. This is helpful language, but it does not have the advantage of connecting us to biblical language. Theologian Douglas John Hall recommends, "Instead of using the liberal language of inclusivity to describe the Christian alternative to being exclusive, then, I would propose we adopt the biblical language of hospitality."[3]

The Bible and Hospitality

As one expression of loving God with all our heart and soul, the scriptures exhort ancient Israel to "love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 10:19). Israel knew what it was like to be strangers in a foreign land - both in their slavery in Egypt and their experience in the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. Because they serve a God "who is not partial" and "loves the strangers, providing them with food and clothing" (Deuteronomy 10:17-18), they must likewise show hospitality to strangers. In Leviticus 19:33-34, they are exhorted, "When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." "Just as God protected the people of Israel when they were refugees, so God insists on proper care for other aliens now, judging harshly those who treat them ill."[4]

The example of Jesus reveals that this radical hospitality extends to all people - including sinners. Jesus was condemned by the religious establishment because he "welcomed sinners and ate with them" (Luke 15:2). Contrary to popular understanding, "loving, welcoming, and eating with wicked people doesn't make you like the sinners--it makes you like our loving, merciful God."[5] We seek to practice radical hospitality because we follow the Lord who applauded that fact that when we welcome strangers we are, in reality, welcoming Jesus: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me... Whatever you do for the least of these, you've done unto me" (Matthew 25:35).

After a lengthy detailed treatment on the gospel of Christ in his Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul encourages the church "to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2). One expression of this countercultural love is "extending hospitality to strangers" (Romans 12:13). "The Greek word for 'hospitality' used here is philoxenia, which contains within it the words for 'love' (philia) and 'stranger' (xenos)."[6]

We welcome all - those who are weak and strong in faith - because God has warmly welcomed us in Christ: "Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God" (Romans 15:7). God graces us with the gift of one another. We must make room for this gift in all its various forms. "The church is the place where, in the fellowship of Jesus Christ, we learn to love those whom we have not chosen but who are presented to us as a gift: our parents, our friends, the stranger, even our enemies."[7]

Characteristics of Radical Hospitality

In order to comprehend the rich depths of biblical hospitality, we must first lift the word from its common use. Henri Nouwen offers excellent insight in this regard and is worth quoting at length:

At first the word "hospitality" might evoke the image of soft sweet kindness, tea parties, bland conversations and a general atmosphere of coziness...

If there is any concept worth restoring to its original depth and evocative potential, it is the concept of hospitality. It is one of the richest biblical terms that can deepen and broaden our insight in our relationships to our fellow human beings...   

The term hospitality... [is] a fundamental attitude toward our fellow human beings which can be expressed in a great variety of ways...    
So we can see that creating space is far from easy in our occupied and preoccupied society. And still, if we expect any salvation, redemption, healing and new life, the first thing we need is an open receptive place where something can happen to us. Hospitality, therefore, is such an important attitude. We cannot change the world by new plan, project or idea. We cannot even change other people by our convictions, stories, advice and proposals, but we can offer a space where people are encouraged to disarm themselves, to lay aside their occupations and preoccupations and to listen with attention and care to the voices speaking in their own center...   

Just as we cannot force a plant to grow but can take away the weeds and stones which prevent its development, so we cannot force anyone to such a personal and intimate change of heart, but we can offer the space where such a change can take place.[8]

Such hospitality reveals an openness to others. It welcomes others into our world, just as they are, with no strings attached. "Hospitality means making a space for others, not so that we can exploit them or get something from them, or even so that we can make them be like us. It is showing them the same kind of grace and mercy, the same presence, that God has given us."[9]

Radical hospitality is not only open to others, but it is willing to adapt to others. It demonstrates "a willingness to change behaviors in order to accommodate the needs and receive the talents of newcomers."[10] This adaptability keeps us from the dangers that can arise from being too inbred. The blessing of closeness has a dark side; it can keep people out. We must remain open to others, and even willing to change and be changed by the presence of others.

Church members love each other so much that their lives are so intertwined and their interests so interwoven that church groups become impenetrable to new people. Closeness closes out new people who feel like outsiders looking in, and those on the inside don't even notice. Church members feel content because their own needs are met.[11]

Though we may be comfortable with the way things are, we must constantly ask, "Are we adaptable? Is our guest comfortable? Do they feel welcomed? Have we made space for their presence?"

Truth be told, we belong to the Body of Christ because of someone's hospitality. No doubt, many of us are here because "someone invited us, encouraged us, received us, and helped us feel welcome--a parent, a spouse, a friend, a pastor. Or even a stranger."[12] "If we had not felt welcomed and supported in some measure, we would not have stayed."[13]

Radical hospitality - because it is rooted in our lives - must also extend to familiar faces. Do we warmly welcome those who we have known for years? In one sense, it is easy to welcome the stranger. It is much more difficult to remain in a stance of welcome toward those with whom we are familiar. But a church that practices radical hospitality will demonstrate an open and welcoming stance for all people, at all times.

The fruit of radical hospitality is clear: "By practicing hospitality, we become part of God's invitation to new life, showing people that God in Christ values them and loves them."[14] Shnase continues,

Hospitality is more than common politeness to newcomers, name tags for greeters, or a few visitor parking spaces, although these are important. Hospitality is a quality of spiritual initiative, the practice of an active and genuine love, a graciousness unaffected by self-interest, an opening of ourselves and our faith community to receive others.[15]

Practicing Radical Hospitality

The practice of hospitality begins with leadership who intentionally plan with hospitality in mind. Schase writes,

Now imagine a Board of Trustees that practices Radical Hospitality, viewing their work as a ministry that ensures the facilities communicate maximum hospitality an unmistakable sense of welcome, and complete accessibility. The Board members might say "Our purpose is to ensure that these facilities serve the highest purposes of ministry in Christ's name, and we dedicate ourselves to the highest standards of excellence as we make the facilities as useful, inviting, friendly and open as we possibly can."[16]

This practice must extend beyond planning and shape our shared cultural life:

Our churches betray their mandate to fashion community and cure loneliness if they convey an atmosphere of judgment to those who enter. To my mind, it is blasphemous for a church or synagogue to worry about physical comfort - the heart, the lights, the seats, the sound system - but not to realize that a divorced woman who comes to worship is made to feel uncomfortable because some members disapprove of divorce.[17]

A church committed to radical hospitality will constantly revise its programs and offerings to the community. It will purposefully create new ministries to invite and welcome people. Churches committed to radical hospitality "create multiple entry points through which the spiritual inquirer can begin the journey toward faith... [they are] specialists at extending invitation."[18]

Radical hospitality is a practice that we all can participate in - it is a ministry we all share:

everyone assumes someone else is doing what needs to be done. That's why so many visitors feel alone and shunned, even in a crowd of friendly people. This won't change until each person takes responsibility for practicing Radical Hospitality as obedience to the ministry of Christ. Church members have to mature from "they ought" to "I will."[19]

Our culture experiences enough division without the church playing "us" versus "them." Our society looks enough like a high-school lunchroom. We do not need to add to this. Everyone is welcome, because God welcomes all in Christ. Our continually invitation is, "Come to the table of the Lord. All are invited. All are welcome."

© Richard J. Vincent, 2008