My wife's 18 year old, un-churched cousin is staying with us for several weeks this summer and watching her struggle through one of her first "Sunday experiences" has got me thinking a lot about the top of hospitality If you ask most churches, they will tell you that hospitality is important, but if they are anything like our church, their hospitality plan has nothing to do with people. Our "hospitality committee" is concerned with how are collection center looks, the state and position of our furniture, and how up to date our bulletin boards are. Is anyone else picturing Martha running around with her hair on fire?
I have a hunch, in the story of Mary and Martha, both sisters were practicing hospitality (or at least a perception of hospitality). Jesus was a visitor in their home after all. Most churches ascribe to Martha's interpretation of hospitality. I contest that seekers are hungry for hospitality as defined by Mary. Getting back to my wife's cousin. I empathized with her as she struggled to sing songs she had never heard before, bending awkwardly to read the lyrics from a half blocked screen, unable to find the hymn fast enough as our pastor called them out with absolutely no time given before they began. And yet, when asked about her experience this is what she had to say "I like it! The pastor shook my hand after the service and he seemed really happy that I was there."
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