Ever since entering this class, I have been wondering what it looks like to do mission. After hearing four pastors talk about what it is like to live missionally in their neighborhoods, I noticed a common thread: hospitality.
After listening to Russ Davis New Community, Ryan Miller Branches, Justin Bryeans Kaleo, and Steve Hart Vintage Faith, I know that I can use hospitality (among other things) to live missionally wherever I may be living in the future.
There is something special in gathering for a meal with people. There is energy and conversation and compassion. It’s Biblical. From my experience, meals can generate some very meaningful and insightful conversations. These conversations can be very important in an evangelistic way. After having someone over for dinner a few times, a relationship will begin to form and from the relationship the gospel can be presented in these meaningful conversations. And this is the goal of mission right? To foster relationships with people and to proclaim the gospel?
Something that Steve (Hart) said really struck a cord with me. He said that many times we view our home as our sanctuary, so we don’t want people in our sanctuary or place of rest, but Jesus is our sanctuary and our rest. He also said that since God has given him his house, he should use it for his Kingdom. I think this is very true for many people. We need to stop looking at our home as our escape from the world and start realizing that God has blessed us with a home, so we need to use it for his benefit. And we should be willing to spend a little more on groceries every month, in order to be more hospitable to our neighbor.
–Emily M
Emily, I really like this idea. Sharing meals together and opening up your home is a great means to build relationships and share the love of Christ. I’m also the type of person who likes to have a quiet house every now and then just to rest and cool down, but when the situation calls for it, I think inviting people in is a wonderful thing.
Steve,
I totally agree with you about being afraid to miss out on community. I have been a part of that crowd for sure. Now that I do Young Life I realize the greater need for us to be in the community of Spokane and not just in Whitworth. When will we realize that mission of Jesus Christ is bigger than ourselves? Do we realize that?
Here, here…the Vintagepastor weighs in. Stirring up a little Whitworth bubble troubs.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have times where you pull the curtains and rest and sabbath and all that. I’m just saying we have many boundaries as Christians that we’ve justified (we have whole books on the subject!) and that keep us out of mission.
I see this in me and my family. I see it in the average American christian. I see it in Whitworth students who are afraid to re-arrange their lives around the mission of Jesus in Spokane because they think they’ll miss out on “community” at Whitworth… uh oh. Is this public?
We have to find joy and “sanctuary” in the grace of God, in the gospel, in the cross and resurrection, in the love of Christ, so that we can do the work of mission as a way of life, throwing all our resources in for mission. Otherwise we’ll hold on to our houses, time, money, etc, thinking that we need them for comfort and security. If Jesus is comfort, security, peace, rest, freedom, etc., then I can give it all away freely… Acts 2 & 4, right?
I loved the idea of having friends and family over for dinner in order to create conversation and community, but honestly, the idea about inviting your neighbor over is a little intimidating. The gesture of kindness would probably be so wonderful, but the bold act of actually asking will be a challenge, not to mention a step out side my comfort zone and a leap of faith!
Amen sister!!! I love this. I think we have so many blessings to use for mission and our homes would be a great place to start. What an awesome concept! Thanks for reminding us all about this!
Also, if you want to know more about En Christo, let me know and I’ll be glad to tell you all about it and help you get involved!! =]
I will now insert my shameless plug for En Christo…This is exactly the idea that our club is established on. We bring food to low-income and homeless people of Spokane, but the most important parts of En Christo are the relationships that we build as we share conversation with people over a meal. I am a strong believer in a ministry that involves food, and I love how God gives us so many opportunities to reach out to people using food!
I love that food and the fellowship shared around a table is a Biblically based practice (last supper, manna, Abraham feeding his 3 guests, the parables of the Kingdom of God as a banquet, the feeding of the 4 and 5 thousands, Jesus eating with tax collectors and “sinners,” ect)! What a great expression of the fellowship of Kingdom that we get to partake in and share with others!
I agree with this post. Community seems to develop out of sharing meals.
I love the post and I love to eat…
I agree that our home is a gift given to us that we should definitely use like you’re saying for building relationships, but I think at the same time all of us need that sanctuary to rest physically, mentally, and spiritually and I don’t think it is wrong to view your home as such a place as long as you’re not shutting others out.
I totally agree Emily. I have built the strongest relationships in my life over meals and conversation. This is one of the best ways to build community and be missional within your own home. Do you think that eating is the best/only/strongest way to build community within the home? What are some other things that we could do within our house that would be just as relational and effective. Thank you for your post!