Entertaining Angels

In the books of Luke and Acts the ancient practice of hospitality—the custom of welcoming travelers or strangers into home’s and establishing relationships with them—becomes one of the major ways through which Jesus’ disciples can answer the call towards the great commission.

For the early Christians, giving and accepting hospitality were essential to loving God and neighbour. This is especially clear in Luke’s writings, where the practice of hospitality is an effective bridge for mission in the early Church and helps to unite congregations composed of members from diverse cultures.

In Acts 9:43-10:48, Luke weaves together three stories of hospitality to depict a crucial turning point in the spreading of the gospel—the welcoming of Gentiles into the Church. Peter accepts

hospitality from Simon the tanner in Joppa (9:43 and 10:6), provides hospitality to Cornelius’s messengers—even while he is a guest in Simon’s home (10:17-23), and then accepts hospitality from Cornelius, a Roman soldier in Caesarea (10:24-48).

The Practice of Welcoming Strangers:

To fully appreciate this tapestry of stories, we must see them in light of the ancient Mediterranean practice of hospitality and the role it plays in the larger biblical narrative.

The general practice of welcoming travelers was there to combat potential threats—both threats to strangers and threats to community living.  The host protected a traveler from abuse by fearful townspeople and won the traveler’s goodwill for the town. If they both agreed, a host and guest

might exchange valuable gifts that symbolised the formation of a long-term, friendship or alliance between the two of them and their families.”

Why would anyone extend hospitality to a complete stranger, since it was so risky? A person might welcome a traveler to avoid offending Zeus, the patron of hospitality, or to establish a strategic alliance. But in a Judaism or in the church context, a follower of God showed love for God and others by extending hospitality to complete strangers. In addition, though it was not the primary motivation, some followers of God likely were motivated to extend hospitality to strangers by their desire to cultivate God’s blessings upon their own lives and households.

Hospitality is central in the Biblical Story:

There are many passages throughout the Old Testament as well as the New Testament from which to observe the custom of hospitality. The instruction in Hebrews 13:1-2, “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it,” echoes the stories of Abraham’s and Lot’s welcoming strangers who were actually Yahweh or Yahweh’s angels (Genesis 18:1-16, 19:1-23).

Likewise, the risen Jesus mysteriously appears as a traveling stranger to disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).This story provides guidelines for disciples: “Rather than shunning strangers, Jesus’ disciples would do well to journey alongside them. Rather than exclusively speaking to those they encounter along life’s journeys, Jesus’ disciples would do well to listen first. Rather than deeming others to be foolish, ignorant, and of no benefit, Jesus’ disciples would do well to assume that God might have revealed himself to strangers.

Rather than taking things at face value, Jesus’ disciples should realize that the Spirit is at work in the world around them.

Luke’s writings on hospitality remain timely today, for even more than in the ancient world, we encounter travelers and strangers from vastly different regions and cultures. Some are traveling by choice (e.g., students and immigrants), while others travel by necessity (e.g., evacuees from natural disasters and refugees from war-torn regions).”

To share the gospel and mold congregations that reflect God’s love in our mobile world that has grown defensive and harsh, we must allow God to move us past our prejudices. Through the practice of Christian hospitality the church participates in God’s peaceable kingdom, Such hospitality indicates the crossing of boundaries (ethnic origin, economic condition, political orientation, gender status, social experience, educational background) by being open and welcoming of the other.

Without such communities of hospitality, the world will have no way of knowing or understanding the Grace, Mercy and Compassion of God. Now if communities of boundless hospitality defines the church, then I say “bring it on!”

Untamed Hospitality

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:1-2

Introduction: While our culture reduces “hospitality” to friendliness and private entertaining, Christian hospitality remains a public and economic reality by which God re-creates us through the places and people we are given.

Reflection:  When the Apostle Paul urged the Roman Christians to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans12:1), he specifically instructed them to “be transformed [from the empire’s way of thinking] by the renewing of your minds,” “hate what is evil,” and “be patient in suffering” a real challenge for a persecuted little community in Nero’s capital city. Then this command: “Extend hospitality to strangers.” What a challenge?

What was Paul thinking? Today we view hospitality through the images of countless UK magazines – where in the glossy pages of these magazines hospitality is described as “delicious dinners and polite conversation in one’s own beautiful home.” Or If hospitality is more than a private time with friends, we leave it to professionals in the “hospitality industry” of hotels, restaurants, and cruise ships and the like. How could hospitality possibly be at the counter-cultural heart of early Christians life and ministry.

Lets think  a bit deeper.

We learn such “untamed hospitality” in the good news of Jesus.”  Through his life in the gospels and through the life of the first church communities we are taught to be not only guests, but also hosts in God’s Kingdom. In the good news of Jesus hospitality builds communities that can welcome outcasts and strangers, and it publicly challenges the status quo of the culture and customs of any community, town and city.

The untamed hospitable love displayed in the life of Jesus and in the early church is one of overflow. Yet we still find it difficult to embrace this way of living because we have been so deeply formed by living in a market society…. Consumerism, Competition, and Individualism already shape our lives and because of these things we are shaped and programmed to be ready to move for more money, a more “fulfilling” church, a less difficult marriage. We are taught that through our choices we are the creators of our own destiny, which is exactly what a market society with its relentless advertising campaign would want us to believe.

Untamed hospitality does not aim for self-fulfillment …but aims at allowing God to re-create us through faithful relationships, through sharing in community, through living in discipleship and through service to others. And by doing so accomplishes the challenge of the great commission.

We can learn this by careful study of the life of Christ in the gospels, and through this learn and honour those whom society has abandoned.

One example of this is found in the L’Arche communities where people with handicaps live alongside those without such handicaps. Founder Jean Vanier writes, “We have discovered that we have a common spirituality of humility and presence, close to the poor and the weak; a common call to live with them, not to change them, but to welcome them and share their gifts and their beauty; to discover in them the presence of Jesus—Jesus, humble and gentle, Jesus, poor and rejected.”

Such untamed hospitality is not held up as an individual or even a community achievement,” It’s a following of the untamed life of Jesus and of the earliest Christian community, it is his way, his ethos, it’s the fundamental basis of the good news. We must make it our way too!

Conclusion: Perhaps it is time according to Romans 12:1 that we had transformed minds and got on with the task at hand!

Untamed Hospitality

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:1-2

Introduction: While our culture reduces “hospitality” to friendliness and private entertaining, Christian hospitality remains a public and economic reality by which God re-creates us through the places and people we are given.

How do we shift gears to practice untamed hospitality?

Reflection:  When the Apostle Paul urged the Roman Christians to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans12:1), he specifically instructed them to “be transformed [from the empire’s way of thinking] by the renewing of your minds,” “hate what is evil,” and “be patient in suffering” a real challenge for a persecuted little community in Nero’s capital city. Then this command: “Extend hospitality to strangers.” What a challenge?

What was Paul thinking? Today we view hospitality through the images of countless UK magazines – where in the glossy pages of these magazines hospitality is described as “delicious dinners and polite conversation in one’s own beautiful home.” Or If hospitality is more than a private time with friends, we leave it to professionals in the “hospitality industry” of hotels, restaurants, and cruise ships and the like. How could hospitality possibly be at the counter-cultural heart of early Christians life and ministry.

Lets think  a bit deeper.

We learn such “untamed hospitality” in the good news of Jesus.”  Through his life in the gospels and through the life of the first church communities we are taught to be not only guests, but also hosts in God’s Kingdom. In the good news of Jesus hospitality builds communities that can welcome outcasts and strangers, and it publicly challenges the status quo of the culture and customs of any community, town and city.

The untamed hospitable love displayed in the life of Jesus and in the early church is one of overflow. Yet we still find it difficult to embrace this way of living because we have been so deeply formed by living in a market society…. Consumerism, Competition, and Individualism already shape our lives and because of these things we are shaped and programmed to be ready to move for more money, a more “fulfilling” church, a less difficult marriage. We are taught that through our choices we are the creators of our own destiny, which is exactly what a market society with its relentless advertising campaign would want us to believe.

Untamed hospitality does not aim for self-fulfillment …but aims at allowing God to re-create us through faithful relationships, through sharing in community, through living in discipleship and through service to others. And by doing so accomplishes the challenge of the great commission.

We can learn this by careful study of the life of Christ in the gospels, and through this learn and honour those whom society has abandoned.

One example of this is found in the L’Arche communities where people with handicaps live alongside those without such handicaps. Founder Jean Vanier writes, “We have discovered that we have a common spirituality of humility and presence, close to the poor and the weak; a common call to live with them, not to change them, but to welcome them and share their gifts and their beauty; to discover in them the presence of Jesus—Jesus, humble and gentle, Jesus, poor and rejected.”

Such untamed hospitality is not held up as an individual or even a community achievement,” It’s a following of the untamed life of Jesus and of the earliest Christian community, it is his way, his ethos, it’s the fundamental basis of the good news. We must make it our way too!

Conclusion: Perhaps it is time according to Romans 12:1 that we had transformed minds and got on with the task at hand!

Untamed Hospitality

Untamed Hospitality

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:1-2

Introduction: 

While our culture reduces “hospitality” to friendliness and private entertaining, Christian hospitality remains a public and economic reality by which God re-creates us through the places and people we are given.

How do we shift gears to practice untamed hospitality?

Reflection: 

When the Apostle Paul urged the Roman Christians to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans12:1), he specifically instructed them to “be transformed [from the empire’s way of thinking] by the renewing of your minds,” “hate what is evil,” and “be patient in suffering” a real challenge for a persecuted little community in Nero’s capital city. Then this command: “Extend hospitality to strangers.” What a challenge?

What was Paul thinking? Today we view hospitality through the images of countless UK magazines – where in the glossy pages of these magazines hospitality is described as “delicious dinners and polite conversation in one’s own beautiful home.” Or If hospitality is more than a private time with friends, we leave it to professionals in the “hospitality industry” of hotels, restaurants, and cruise ships and the like. How could hospitality possibly be at the counter-cultural heart of early Christians life and ministry.

Lets think  a bit deeper.

We learn such “untamed hospitality” in the good news of Jesus.”  Through his life in the gospels and through the life of the first church communities we are taught to be not only guests, but also hosts in God’s Kingdom. In the good news of Jesus hospitality builds communities that can welcome outcasts and strangers, and it publicly challenges the status quo of the culture and customs of any community, town and city.

The untamed hospitable love displayed in the life of Jesus and in the early church is one of overflow. Yet we still find it difficult to embrace this way of living because we have been so deeply formed by living in a market society…. Consumerism, Competition, and Individualism already shape our lives and because of these things we are shaped and programmed to be ready to move for more money, a more “fulfilling” church, a less difficult marriage. We are taught that through our choices we are the creators of our own destiny, which is exactly what a market society with its relentless advertising campaign would want us to believe.

Untamed hospitality does not aim for self-fulfillment …but aims at allowing God to re-create us through faithful relationships, through sharing in community, through living in discipleship and through service to others. And by doing so accomplishes the challenge of the great commission.

We can learn this by careful study of the life of Christ in the gospels, and through this learn and honour those whom society has abandoned.

One example of this is found in the L’Arche communities where people with handicaps live alongside those without such handicaps. Founder Jean Vanier writes, “We have discovered that we have a common spirituality of humility and presence, close to the poor and the weak; a common call to live with them, not to change them, but to welcome them and share their gifts and their beauty; to discover in them the presence of Jesus—Jesus, humble and gentle, Jesus, poor and rejected.”

Such untamed hospitality is not held up as an individual or even a community achievement,” It’s a following of the untamed life of Jesus and of the earliest Christian community, it is his way, his ethos, it’s the fundamental basis of the good news. We must make it our way too!

Conclusion: Perhaps it is time according to Romans 12:1 that we had transformed minds and got on with the task at hand!

Coming Soon- Study Guides on the theme of Hospitality.

These guides will integrate Bible study, prayer, and worship to explore

our dual roles as a guest in God’s Kingdom and as 

host to one another. Use them individually or in a series. You may

reproduce them for personal or group use.

UP SPACES - Being in another place.

Mark 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

The Context of Mark 3:7-12:

Looking at the previous chapters in Mark's gospel we find Jesus in a number of different places, he is at the Jordan river being baptized by John, in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, in Capernaum teaching and healing on the Sabbath and in the Synagogue. We find Jesus in solitary and lonely places too! We find him in the villages, in the homes of people, Levi (Tax collector) In a home where he heals the paralysed man. We also find him by the sea of Galilee, calling Simon and Andrew, James and John, being mobbed by the crowd, this tis rue for the rest of Mark’s gospel too, Jesus is found in so many different places, with all kinds of people. 

The lake itself:

People and Places: - We see from the passage that a large crowd from seven Frontier towns that are mentioned. (Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, Perea, Tyre and Sidon,) A closer look at the history at these towns tells of there distinct ethos and culture.

Galilee: The sea was the highway for considerable traffic between Damascus and the Mediterranean, , there was a continuous development of settlements and villages around the lake, plenty of trade, . It is also reported a that there was a thriving fishing industry at this time, with 230 boats regularly working in the lake, Hot springs along the western shore, especially at Tiberias, brought multitudes to be cured. It was a frontier of activity and development.

Judea - was a a third-class Roman province, which meant that it was so unimportant in terms of revenue, there were two distinct groups of subjects: on the one hand there were the monotheistic Jews, Samaritans and Idumeans, on the other hand the Greeks and Romans, who believed in many gods.

Jerusalem. – Jerusalem was a tale of two sectors the lower city and the upper city – Commerce and Pomp, a class divide. The very poor and the very rich. Again two distinct groups of people.

Idumea – Edomites originally – Semitic people hated by the Israelites, Desert people, nomads even, held in contempt by the jewish people.

Beyond Jordan – Perea – forcibly converted to Judiasm, originally the people of Ammon and Moab who were Israel’s bitter rivals.

Tyre and Sidon, The doorway to the east, It’s people were among the richest and greatest merchants and sailors of the ancient world. It’s shipping fleets worked the trade routes of the entire Mediterranean Sea. This trading hub brought indescribable wealth to these great cities.

Some questions to ask at this point:

1. Is Jesus really interested the people who are involved in commerce and trade?

2. Has Jesus got a heart for frontier towns, and trading ventures?

3. Is Jesus interested in the exchange of money and wealth?

4. Does Jesus have an interest in the class divides of emerging societies and cultures?

5. Does Jesus have a missional agenda for the frontiers that he sees? 

Jesus by the lake:

“Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake” vs7

1. Some of the commentators suggest the reason for withdrawal from Capernaum was because of the opposition?

2. Some of the commentators suggest the reason for withdrawal from Capernaum was because he was under pressure?

3. Some of the commentators suggest the reason for withdrawal from Capernaum was because he needed a retreat?

4. Some of the commentators suggest the reason for withdrawal from Capernaum was because of the need of the people.

As I was reading through this passage I began to see things in a different light. I believe it could be God speaking. Often this starts with a whisper. Here is the whisper that is in my heart.

Withdrew, - placed his focus somewhere else. This word “Withdrew” puzzles me. Anachōreō – (Literal translation means – UP-SPACES - to move on or to be in another place)

I'm going to focus on this for a little while, in this study.

To be in another place:

Jesus and the disciples moved on to another place, another place, full of greater challenges, of real need, of commercial activity, of class divide etc… the fact is that they moved on. I’ve begun to imagine what it is like to be in another place. (In heart, mind, spirit, and presence) Ive begun to reflect on this, as I consider mission and church planting.

1. This may mean we may need to be in another place physically

Employment,

Housing,

Community,

There are more things than this, add your own.

the bottom line is that we as disciples of Jesus will need to learn what it means to travel light, not lumbering, but responsive

2. This may mean we may need to be in another place mentally.

A different theological mindset.

A world view change.

Repenting and getting things right, seeking reconciliation,

laying to rest of the past.

Again there are a few of the challenges, you can add your own.

3. This may mean we may need to be in another place socially

This will be a challenge to our privacy.

"Our" way of doing things.

Our prejudices will have to be dealt with.

There will be dangers, opportunities and risks as we seek out new friendships.

Developing community will be important. 

Learning a new language, learning about a community's culture and customs.

4. This may mean we may need to be in another place spiritually.

The reluctance for personal discipleship, accountability, and responsibility may have to be dealt with.

We will need to open ourselves up to God in new ways.

Conclusion/ Reflection. 

I'm challenged by this thought on "UP SPACES" on what it means to be different people, with a different outlook, occupying a different space, with mission in mind.

I’m hoping that this whisper will grow in the days to come, and that it will grow in all of us, that we may people a people who are rising to the challenge of being in another place with God.

Landing in the Margins

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. NIV

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish. The MESSAGE

Jesus is our ultimate model for finding identity, acceptance, and legitimacy from the Father. As we pull back the curtain on His life, we discover that Jesus knows what it’s like to be marginalised. He understands how it feels to have society shove you to the side, to not really be accepted, and in the end to be totally rejected. He can identify with life in the margins because when God came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, He landed in the margins. On purpose. And He chose to land there because it’s in the margins that broken lives get mended, prisoners are set free, and the poor hear the Good News.

Ex-drug dealer Brian Morris becomes Caerphilly pastor

I found this in the BBC News Website - I'm so pleased  stumbled upon it.

A former drug dealer who was jailed for 12 years is to become a full-time minister at a Welsh village church.

The congregation at Oakdale Baptist Church near Caerphilly unanimously voted for Pastor Brian Morris to take up the role. He had admitted to parishioners that he once had a £100-a-day heroin habit and was jailed for smuggling cocaine. Mr Morris, 57, who has just graduated in theology at Cardiff University had been working part-time at the church.

He will take up his new position next month.

He was jailed for 12 years at Swansea Crown Court after being arrested when armed police raided a hotel where he was found with a kilo of cocaine. He said: "I was sitting in a police cell waiting to be interviewed by police when I heard a little voice. "It said 'this could be the chance to turn your life around, to become a better person'.

"It was like God shaking me awake and saying 'have I got your attention now?'."

He was locked up in Dartmoor where he began studying for the first time in his life and even launched a prayer group for other prisoners at the jail. Pastor Morris still carries his old prison identity card as a reminder of his past After five years he was freed on parole and joined the Baptist church where he trained to be a pastor.

He added: "I have come through a tumultuous time with lots of hurdles and I could have given up easily. "To get voted in with my background shows people still trust me and that anyone can be forgiven." The married father-of-five has written a book about his experiences called Chased by the Dragon, Caught by the Lamb. And he has just completed a degree in theology after a two-year course at Cardiff University. 

But he still carries his prison identity card as reminder of his past.

He added: "I don't hide what I've done - hopefully I can bring a bit of good through my story."

Thank God, that he still listens to voices of those on the margins.