You and I have all experienced the “get ready for company” environment. Most of our homes are already presentable and an unannounced drop-in wouldn’t be a tragedy, but when we know someone is coming we take extra steps to make sure everything is just right.
Why is it that we don’t have that same mentality when it comes to our weekend gatherings at church? I have had the opportunity to be a visitor at many churches over the past year. In most cases I felt like they didn’t know or care that I was coming. There were the occasional “greeters” that shook my hand and gave me a program, but that was about it.
Many times my wife and I would squeeze down a long narrow hallway, navigating around people who were talking or waiting, then arrive in the auditorium where people sat silently facing an empty platform. A few may be holding private conversations and others would turn to watch us attempt to get a feel for where we wanted to sit. There we sat until that awkward moment of “turn and greet someone you don’t know” was used to move the worship team or choir off the platform.
Romans 12:9-13 encourages us to practice hospitality. Here are a few things God encourages us to consider. Don’t pretend to love people . . . really love them. This means take the time and effort to engage them. We are told to enjoy honoring others. We are told to not be lazy, but work hard and enthusiastically in being the Lord’s servant.
Imagine that the Holy Spirit (God) is inviting . . . calling . . . moving people to hear from Him, to find an answer to a hurt, to renew their hope or to be with His people. We are his servants and are in charge of this event He has ordained. God is all about preparation. He says He is preparing a place for us. He told his disciples to go and prepare a place for the Passover. He said the kingdom is like a banquet prepared for many invited guests. What kind of preparation goes into getting a church ready to greet guests?
Many of the churches I have visited are cluttered and unclean. They prepare nothing to assist visitors in finding the nursery, a class, a place to sit or people to interact with. Insider language is used in announcements and even in the message. The entire environment is not visitor friendly. There is obviously no anticipation, excitement or preparation for visitors.
Think about the things you do when you know someone is coming to visit your home.
1. You clean a little extra and are even concerned about smell. (Light a couple candles.)
2. You make sure there is room in the driveway for them to park and will even move your car down the street, if necessary.
3. You watch for them and go out to greet them in the driveway, if possible.
4. You make sure they are comfortable, even if it means that you give up your favorite chair or bed.
5. You focus on them and engage them in conversation.
6. You honor your guests and make them feel at home by telling them where the restroom is, if they need it and to help themselves to the refreshments you have set out for them to snack on.
Why don’t we practice this kind of hospitality in what we call God’s house? Maybe we don’t anticipate or value visitors. Maybe we are lazy. Maybe we are hypocritical and only pretend to love other people. Maybe we have lost sight of our mission and responsibility to rescue the perishing.
We are encouraged to always be eager to practice hospitality. God’s people should be the most hospitable people on the planet. After all, we are the benefactors of God’s great hospitality as He prepared a Sacrifice for us so that He could welcome us as His children.
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