Hospitality

Today we have come to think of hospitality as something we share with our family and friends. Historically, hospitality has meant welcoming strangers into a one’s home, church, or community, and offering them not only food, shelter and protection but also respect, acceptance and friendship. Hospitality as the welcome of strangers has deep roots in biblical tradition; it was understood by the early church to be a fundamental Christian practice.

In Genesis 18, Abraham and Sarah welcome three strangers, offering them water, food and rest. In showing such hospitality to those whom they first considered strangers, Abraham and Sarah are unexpectedly blessed. For the ancient Israelites, showing hospitality was intimately connected to their identity as God's people. They had been strangers themselves, and in their covenantal relationship with God knew themselves to be dependent on God for welcome, and answerable to God for the welcome they showed others. "You know the heart of the stranger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Exodus 23:9).

For Christians, hospitality takes on additional significance in the words of Jesus, who says that in welcoming a stranger we are in fact welcoming him (Matt. 25:31- 46). Leaders in the early church took these words seriously. Paul, in his letter to the church at Rome instructs believers to "extend hospitality to strangers" (Romans 12:13). And the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2).

The Bible reminds us of the central importance of showing hospitality. It encourages us to welcome into our homes, churches, and communities those whom we perceive to be strangers. In so doing, we bear witness in our actions to the gracious, generous and hospitable love of God, and follow the example of the one who incarnates that love, Jesus Christ.

As you consider hosting an open house, you may want to study biblical texts related to the practice of hospitality, or read Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition by Christine D. Pohl.

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Click on one of the links below to read other sections of this guide to an Open House:

• Introduction to the Open House Guide

• Steps in Planning and Holding an Open House

• Help to Find Muslims Living Near You

• The Experience of One Congregation in Christian-Muslim Dialogue

• After the Open House—Going Forward Together

• Basic Facts About Islam Resources

• You Are Here > Hospitality

All of this material may be downloaded, copied and used freely, with credit to National Council of Churches, USA. Copies are not to be sold.