Gospel-Motivated Hospitality from the Gospel Coalition

The Biblical model of hospitality is linked with the rest of our Christian life & is an overflow of it all. Because of this I am blessed by Rosaria Butterfield’s story. The Lord has used it instrumentally in my family’s life as we have embarked on this journey of rethinking our hospitality.

In this short clip from the Gospel Coalition, Rosaria sits down with Kathleen Nielson (director of women’s initiatives for the Gospel Coalition) & Gloria Furman to discuss Biblical hospitality. If you have a few minutes, I would encourage you to have a listen.

The things here that challenged my heart the most as I heard Rosaria’s story once again primarily involved the motivation for hospitality. Why do we do it? Is it for the purpose of sharing the Gospel? Yes! Is it to make friends? Yes! Is to be neighborly? Yes! Why must these things be mutually exclusive? Living out our Christianity means loving people. Not loving people because they are Christians (although we do have a special responsibility to other believers), not loving people because they agree with us, not loving people because we feel comfortable with their life decisions, instead loving people because they are created by God, they bear His image & we love Him.

How often do my heart & my home reflect that?

“We need not fear imagining life from another point of view – that’s actually not heresy.”

When Rosaria said that I instantly imagine all the fearful Christians I have known who appear to think that the least interaction with someone means automatically agreeing with them. However, as I examine myself, I can find tendencies toward that at least implied by the people who occupy my home & the conversations we have.

As I examine my own heart, my own propensity to speak rather than listen, my own quick answers to big problems, my own preconceived notions about what hospitality should look like, I am very convicted.

Sharing the gospel sometimes gives me anxiety – I know this sounds terrible, I also know most of you know what I’m talking about. I hate the idea of a “bait and switch” where you lure people into relationship with you & then spring your Christianity on them. Because I hate the latter idea I can often feel like I am not being a consistent Christian if I don’t immediately share the gospel in its entirety the moment I meet someone (or very close to the beginning of a relationship).

The call issued by Rosaria’s comments & her personal story is one that proclaims that we are Christians all the time. We can treat people with respect, host them in our homes, listen to their opinions & stories, love them where they are, & share our lives & hearts with them. We are new creatures in Christ. In sharing ourselves honestly with them, the gospel will come forward. If we are honest with them they will know there is a difference in us, those conversations will happen.

I love that model. That is a model I am praying the Lord would build a passion in my heart for – life lived for the sake of the gospel all of the time, watching in amazement as God chooses to use me for His will.

I also love several of the other moments in this video including Gloria Furman’s discussion about different cultures and teaching our children to “receive gladly”. I’m sure a book could be written on her insights in just that one area!

All in all this short video has given me much to think about & much to pray God would do in my heart & my home. Please give it a few minutes of your time!