Our family spent time looking for a new church. During that time we say what it was like to be one of the first-time visitors entering a worship service. In our church today we can think our church is good at welcoming strangers but until we are the stranger we do not really know if we are welcoming guests the way we should.
From the moment we drive onto the parking lot until we leave, there should be an atmosphere of a warm welcome spirit. That doesn’t mean you put someone at the front door to shake their hands. That is awkward and uncomfortable, not welcoming.
For the followers of Christ, there should be a spirit of love and joy that makes a new visitor want to stay and never leave. They will be welcome to hear the good news when they see how it has changed us. Here are some Bible verses to encourage us to have a welcoming environment in our churches and in our homes.
Hebrews 13:2 Showing hospitality to the stranger.
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
Hospitality is much more than a friendly greeting at the front door. Hospitality is showing unusual kindness and welcoming the stranger as you would family members. Biblical hospitality is treating friends and strangers with the same respect, courtesy, and value.
We welcome people into our church in a way that shows we see them as valuable people created in God’s image. What we see in this verse is that there is a possibility that we may even have an opportunity to bless an angel. That would be an amazing experience. I heard a story of a hairdresser who was caring for a homeless man, giving him a shave and a haircut.
At first, she was grossed out by the dirty man, but then this verse came to mind. And suddenly she felt as if she had been given the great honor of helping an angel. When the man left cleaned up and happy, she felt as if she had just taken care of a king. This is the hospitality to strangers.
Romans 12:13 Helping people in need.
“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
God calls us to good works. we are to show the kingdom of God in our actions. This means helping the ones who are poor and in need. This is more than saying, welcome visitors. This is giving a cup of water in God’s name. This is helping with simple things like sharing a meal or giving a gas card to help pay for gas.
In our churches today we need an understanding of hospitality. This goes beyond just a good morning at the front door as we are welcoming people. When we help the poor in the name of Jesus Christ, we are showing them that God loves them. When we provide for people in need, we are showing them God’s love in a practical way. We can’t leave Biblical hospitality up to a community or even a deacon.
Each of the members of the body of Christ has to work together each showing love in the way that God has created them to love. For some that will be a practical way of showing love. For some, it will be acts of service, and for some, it will be kind words. Whatever way we show love we each need to do this. We can show help by caring for the needs of the saints, as well as the strangers.
Galatians 3:28 Helping all races without exception
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
In the Old Testament, we read the story of the Jewish people leaving the land of Egypt. They were strangers in a new land. God uses that as an example of how we are to show empathy for people when they are new to an area, regardless of if they are different from us.
In the New Testament, we saw that at the very start of the Church God wanted to make sure that everyone was treated the same. The Jew and the Greek. This was the greatest racial tension at that time. When we show that in the House of the Lord, each person is equal that brings the glory of God to our congregation.
Throughout church history we have seen the church has been a beacon of light during times of racial tension. Men such as William Wilberforce led the church during the great awakening to show them that God sees all people as equal in his eyes.
Today we have to continue on the path these great men walked before us. We can show the world that everyone is valuable in God’s eyes and equal in the church.
3 John 1:5-8 The church shows love when they are welcoming.
“Dear friends, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.”
There are many examples of hospitality in the Bible. We see Elijah cared for by the widow Zaraphath, and Elisha who was given a place to live by the shunammite woman. The joor who had Paul in his home, the tax collector who had Jesus in his home. Lysia who showed love to everyone who came to her home, And Gaius of Corinth.
These are just a few examples. But what we see is that we are called to show kindness and open the doors of our home to help others in need. When we do this, we set ourselves apart from the pagans of this world.
The world today is full of cancel culture, shutting doors to those who think differently than they do. But God wants us to open doors to everyone, even those who think differently than we do. He wants us to show the love of God.
But he wants us to show that love in a way that is worthy of God. That doesn’t mean ignoring sin or pretending that we don’t see sin. Love is telling people God can forgive sin, and showing them a way to find peace.
Luke 14:12-14 Show the love of God to everyone.
“Then Jesus said to his host, ‘When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’”
We need to have open arms for each person who comes to our church. If we treat a wealthy woman differently than we treat poor women, then we’re not doing the goodwill of our heavenly father. God’s word tells us to treat the poor and rich the same when they are in the church. In this verse, we see that biblical hospitality goes beyond the church and into our homes.
We are to welcome the stranger at church, but then also invite them into our home. When we are having a party take the time to invite people who would normally not come.
This is most important at times such as Christmas. This is a time when people feel the loneliest. When we are making plans for our family and friends invite those who are alone at Christmas. Show them God’s love. Save a place at the Thanksgiving dinner and invite someone on your family picnic to the park.
Have a girl’s night out with the ladies from the church and invite the young lady that no one enjoys spending time with. These are the times when we show grace and love to the people that others don’t want to see. The invisible people that we walk by without speaking to. These are the ones God is calling us to love.
1 Peter 4:8-10 A welcoming spirit brings forgiveness and grace.
“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so, minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Here is an important part of hospitality that we cannot miss. We have to give without holding back, without expecting something in return. This passage was written shortly before the destruction of the temple. There was so much tension at that time.
But what we read in this passage is that there were divisions and pain in the church. God wanted the church to be a place where there was forgiveness and charity. Where people shared with each other and gave gifts. This atmosphere would be a contrast to what was seen in the world at that time. We are supposed to shine our light and make a difference in the world.
When the church is a place of hospitality and kindness the world will see what the love of God can do to change others. The world can change. Remember that it just takes a little lite to break through the darkness. If you are not sure where to start, just start with loving one person.