What Does Hospitality Mean for the Local Church?
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The Bible clearly states hospitality is not optional, but a required action (Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 5:9-10; 1 Peter 4:9). The truth might shock you, but following God’s Word brings blessings, not just for you but for everyone. So what does it look like for the local church to practice hospitality?
Where Does the Bible Mention Hospitality?
According to Vine’s dictionary, hospitality is synonymous with "love of strangers." Our local church should love strangers as taught by God’s Word. Because God has given us the entire Bible for our growth in Christ, we’ll look at the Old Testament first, which gives us many examples of both hospitable and inhospitable actions.
For example, Genesis 18 shows Abraham displaying hospitality to “strangers” in at least three ways. He greeted the men with a bow, invited them to rest, and gave them a chance to wash. Examples of Old Testament hospitality include welcoming guests (Genesis 24:31), engaging in conversation (Genesis 24:33), providing security (Genesis 19:8), and offering sustenance (Judges 4:19).
1 Samuel 25:2-38 illustrates an utter lack of hospitality. David’s men served as protectors and helpers to the shepherds who worked for Nabal, the affluent landowner. David’s acts of kindness were met with meanness and refusal from Nabal. Nabal was known by his wife to be a cruel and worthless man, but she showed kindness and hospitality to David. David said to her, “Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!” (1 Samuel 25:33). Nabal’s behavior caused his demise, allowing David to marry Abigail.
The Mosaic Law provides our strongest argument for the importance of hospitality. The Lord told the Israelites, "When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with 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” (Leviticus 19:33-34). Earlier in Leviticus 19:18b, God said, “but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.”
The New Testament treats hospitality as something which honors the Lord through our Christlike behavior (Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 5:9-10; 1 Peter 4:9). The message in Hebrews 13:2 mirrors the story in Genesis 18, where Abraham welcomed guests, reminding us to show hospitality because we might be unknowingly hosting angels. The verse reads, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Through parables (Luke 10:25-27; Luke 11:5-8), Jesus instructed His disciples to practice hospitality beyond their immediate familial and tribal circles. Matthew 25:31-46 provides a list of ways that we can show hospitality to others.
How Can Christians Demonstrate Hospitality to Others?
According to Noah Webster, hospitality is the act of welcoming and caring for strangers or guests without expecting payment, but with kindness and generosity.
In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus instructs us to care for the hungry, thirsty, strangers, needy, sick, and imprisoned. As Christ’s ambassadors, everything we do reflects Him to believers and to the world.
Hospitality goes beyond mere actions, though. Genuine humility is the foundation of serving others with hospitality. Jesus serves as the ultimate model of humility. Consider John 13 and the actions of Jesus towards his disciples. Jesus, knowing his hour had come to “depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1; cf. Mark 10:45). Humility was demonstrated by Jesus in washing His disciples’ feet, a task even a local Pharisee wouldn’t do for Him (Luke 7).
As Christians, our hospitality is rooted in love for God and others, prioritizing others over ourselves (Philippians 2:3). When we live by the Spirit and exhibit His fruit, we demonstrate hospitality (Galatians 5:22-23).
Christians who exhibit hospitality:
- Pray for opportunities to serve others with Christlike love.
- Open their homes to guests to edify believers and spread the faith to those who are not believers.
- Go into their communities and reach out to others by speaking the gospel as they do good works.
- Offer aid to the impoverished and those without shelter.
- Go visit sick people (if there’s no risk of spreading infection).
- Offer a close parking spot to another driver, unless you have physical difficulties that require proximity.
- Greet and encourage checkout clerks (instead of using self-checkout).
- Volunteer at a homeless shelter.
- Regularly check on people who are confined to their homes.
- Inquire about their neighbors’ needs.
When thinking about tangible hospitality, you’ll end up with a pretty long list. But most importantly, those who exhibit hospitality don’t grumble about it (1 Peter 4:9).
What Does Hospitality Look Like for the Local Church?
By practicing individual hospitality, church members enrich their church with love, experience, and wisdom. However, some people are unsure about how to begin. The Bible lays out guidelines for hospitality, as well as the repercussions of inaction or selfish motives.
Both the Apostles Paul and Peter encourage churches to welcome outsiders and believers alike (Romans 12:13). Being hospitable can be challenging, though, because it takes time and forethought. But hospitality is a key part of our unified, healthy church, and we should prepare ourselves for the opportunities God sends our way (1 Peter 3:15). Colossians 3:23 reminds us to work hard as if we’re working for the Lord. Hospitality and fellowship with the Lord are inextricably linked.
In John 17:11, Jesus prayed for the unity of His church, asking the Father to keep them in His name so they might be one, just as He and the Father are One. When our pastors remind us of genuine Christian hospitality and our brothers and sisters show their desire to please God, we can unite in acts of hospitality, bringing glory to Him and benefitting ourselves. Examining the Old Testament’s portrayal of hospitality and the New Testament’s teachings on the subject can help us appreciate the significance of being hospitable.
Churches can amplify individual acts of hospitality, multiplying them within the congregation and beyond. The essence of church outreach projects is really just practicing hospitality. Showing love like Jesus and sharing the good news are the ultimate expressions of hospitality. Christians should abide by Scripture, as we cannot know who the Lord will welcome into His kingdom. While we serve others, we must also share the good news of the gospel (Romans 10:14-17; James 2).
According to Acts 8:26-40, Philip, guided by an angel and the Holy Spirit, met an Ethiopian eunuch who was struggling to comprehend the Scriptures he was reading. Philip’s hospitality extended to sitting beside the man, explaining the text, and baptizing him after the Ethiopian believed. His encouragement filled him with joy as he continued his journey. Although the Bible doesn’t mention it, we can imagine his happiness spilling over as he spread the good news of his salvation to those he met.
Scripture defines the spiritual qualities needed for a church leader (1 Timothy 3:2: Titus 1:8). The list includes being hospitable. Leading with hospitality is vital for church unity. Our reputation as a hospitable church is not for ourselves; it serves to make much of the Lord Jesus, and we pray it welcomes many into the kingdom. As Rebecca VanDoodewaard states, “Biblical hospitality is about honoring God by obeying His command to “contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Rom. 12:13). It is about loving other Christians. When hospitality does become about the giver, it ceases to be Christian.
Lord Jesus, as You have filled us with Your Spirit, help us to love others with Your love through hospitality and by sharing Your Word. May You be glorified in and through our hospitality. Amen.
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