Hospitality and Charity
(1 Pet 4:8-9 KJV) And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
I have notice a trend in the Church of today, the lack of hospitality, charity and respect for the people who don't attend church on a regular basis or at all. I have been a pastor, evangelist, teacher and a music worship leader for years. I have been involved in church regularly for over 20 some years. Its been the last 2 to 3 years we have not been able to attend a church of choice for several reasons, doctrine that is contrary the bible, the distance to a suitable church is too far and a no care attitude toward outsiders of the congregation of the denominational and non denominational churches. We have lived in our location for 10 years and have never been shown their hospitality of the local churches or visited by the members of these churches as an outreach to the community. I have on the other hand have made friends and acquaintances with these other church members even when we don't necessarily agree on what we believe. I have had them over for dinners and invited them over but as to the contrary few have been hospitable to our family even when we have needed help for our own basic needs for support and prayer even when their was serious sickness and auto wrecks. It seems as though a deaf ear and blind eye is turned towards the people who would like to have fellowship but are not able to be at the places of fellowship for whatever reasons. I would say my story here is not exceptional as it plays out in communities all around the US. The elderly who can't get out, the sick and lame who cant afford the transportation, and the poor who can't afford to go and feel guilty when the minister says they need to tithe their 10 percent of an income that won't even pay for the milk for that days needs.It seems there is no love for your neighbor, and if your a liability to the church they just as soon you did not show up. On the other hand if you come to a service and you have talent, or money or something to offer like music, sing, teach, preach, or fill some position needed then your in, no questions asked. The person may not even be qualified to do the work being given them. At any rate what I'm really talking about is hospitality, the world has turned inhospitable and so has the church. We know people who get road rage, they get into a car and become a whole different person behind the wheel of the car but outside the car they become a real good "Christian" in the company of their fellowship. Or say you do something minor to someone's property say scratch the door on a car next to yours watch out you will get sued for sure it happened to me. It doesn't matter if the bible says not to sue a brother at the law or to suffer loss without retaliation or forgive the debts of others when they have no way to reasonably repay or repair the damage. It doesn't mean you can turn in your claim to the insurance and let them collect from the person who did it and say "well I didn't sue you" well YOU DID! You hired the bully on the block to take care of your dirty work so you don't have to get your hands dirty shame on you. You see when you love your neighbor you take in no count of wrongs done and you don't, well here read this verse;
(1 Cor 13:4-7 NIV) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Now when it comes to the verse below that what ever we do do it as unto the Lord, boy if we were to apply this command we would definitely be in trouble as we do most things to please self and then say we do it for JESUS, well that is a bit of meat to swallow isn't it. So think about it the next time you sue your brother or sister or be rude or inhospitable. Was it done for Christ giving thanks to God, that sure don't stack up to His word does it. So where is hospitality in this I think we need to rethink what we do before we do, we may be surprised to see what God wants us to do instead.
(Col 3:17 KJV) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Can you thank God for your rudeness or anger at the fellow who cut you off, or did not do what you wanted. Think about the things you would not be too proud of and you can come up with other examples I can.
Wouldn't it be better if we just let stuff go and not pursue the legal thing and so called right thing to do just because you have the right to by law? We hurt the brotherhood when we won't figure out the solution between believers.
(1 Cor 6:5-7 KJV) I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
Here is one for you now this is my paraphrase here so don't write me and say I changed the word here, I just added the phrase to make a point with the verses, and with the ones above you could put it together like this.
(1 Cor 6:15 KJV) Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, (and sue them at the law)? God forbid.
Here is the real verse:
(1 Cor 6:15 KJV) Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
Its talking about sexual sin here but we commit sin when we treat each other without love and hospitality.We need a big dose of ROMANS 12 check it out its worth it cause it talks about how to treat one another here is a verse from it.
(Rom 12:13 KJV) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Well that's enough for now to think about as I'm sure I could go on and on with examples of all kinds of things but the next time your tempted to be rude or inhospitable stop and think what would Jesus do?
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