The Hope of Hospitality

Luke 5:27-35

There is something about traveling that connects people deeply. I remember going to band camp – with the intensity of the practices, the heat, and the ferocity of the card games (spoons), it was a crazy, team building crucible. Hosted at Peru State College in NE – they were great, but it was basically camp-picnic tables and spaghetti every night. We headed out as strangers, but we came back as family. These are the kinds of experiences Jesus wants us to have – with believers and non-believers alike.

Christians are called to live in the world, but not be of the world. How? I think for many in the church today, it’s easier to not be of the world (separate – consider the Amish) than to be in it.

“Being known as a friend of sinners has an edge to it I hadn’t felt before though. But it is a compliment, really. This is what Jesus does. But I sure feel the edge. That edge was ours now, like it or not. And here is the edge: Christians are called to live in the world but not live like the world. Christians are called to dine with sinners but not sin with sinners. But either way, when Christians throw their lot in with Jesus, we lose the rights to protect our own reputation.

The Gospel Comes with a Housekey, 182-183

It’s easy to teach how not to be of the world–don’t sin! Churches spend lots of time devoted to that. The challenge today is living CONNECTED in the world. We find ourselves so different from non-Christians that it’s like staring at mannequins – we may want to help, but they are so far separated from us that we have no real hope of reaching them. Let’s turn that around and discuss relating to the non-Christians around us.

Find the Common Denominator (v27-29)

Those who have been in the church a long time can struggle connecting with non-Christians because the “gap” is to wide—nothing in common. You may not be able to relate to a person’s sin choice (good!), but sin isn’t a person’s totality. There are many components that make up a person’s life, Christian or not. Yes, we have been saved and have a vastly different trajectory. We’re secure in the boat, but still not far from those in the water drowning. The only difference is that Jesus has already pulled us up. The gap really isn’t that far. Ask a few simple questions and you’ll most likely find one. Sandler sales training teaches that the easiest thing to do is get people talking about their favorite subject. Just ask them about themselves. Where are you from? Do you have a favorite hobby or sport? What do you (or did you) do for a living?

Remember that You Need a Doctor Too (v30-32)

You will find there are lots of connecting points shared with others. Yet, understandably, those who have been in the church a long time can still struggle to connect. Their sin is right there, and we’ve been walking away from ours for as long as we can remember. AA has a powerful and humbling reminder. The term alcoholic is always used in the present tense, never the past tense. Even if it’s been 50 years since your last drink, you are still currently an alcoholic. This helps to keep you grounded and on the same page with yourself and those around the table with you that may be starting the sobriety journey that day. What makes a Christian a Christian is their humility in realizing they need help and turning to the One who can help – Jesus. None of us are here because we’ve earned anything – it’s all a gift. How many of us, before we came to the Great Physician, insisted that we didn’t need to go see a doctor? Our goal is simply to help people see that going to the doctor worked for us and can for them.

Learn When it’s Time to Fast (v33-35)

There are times when we should encourage people to “go to the dr” and even to call out a person’s sin – but there are also times that call for laughter, tears, hugs, etc. Being friends with sinners means we must realize that there is a time for everything. We can’t just harp on the Roman’s road every time they see us – that will only serve to drive them away. This is as simple as caring about a person and as complicated as understanding the fullness of the grief process. This is why there will never be a formula for leading a person to Christ – each person is truly different and unique; they process things in their own way and handle things in their own time. Just like you do. Consider this perspective on grief as an example.

For those who have not heard: I washed the orange cup today. ‘The orange cup’ is not a metaphor. It’s a small, plastic cup—one of several in a multicolored set. It is perfect for the bathroom sink. It’s just big enough for a sip of water in the middle of the night, or to wash down daily meds. I had not washed it since before January 1st. Before you get too grossed out, I had not used it either. You see, that little orange cup is the last thing in the house that Mark’s lips touched on January 1st, before he was loaded into an ambulance, never to return. I had picked up the orange cup several times before, thinking it was time to wash it and put it away. But each time it wasn’t. I would hug that little cup, cry a little (or a lot), and return it to the counter next to the sink. It wasn’t time to wash it—until today. Today, I washed the cup. When my mother died, her house coat (bath robe) was hanging on the back of the door in the bathroom. When my Dad died 5 years later, it still hung in the same spot. He had given away or tossed a lot of Mom’s items, but just not that house coat. Had he lived another 10 years, I think it may still have been there… or maybe not. Deep, profound grief is just weird. So, keep that in mind when you wonder why grieving people do (or don’t do) what you think they should do, or what seems normal. Grief is really weird. They’re just not ready to wash the cup.”

Amy Boardman Rejmer

Sharing Jesus with people is just choosing to be their friend in this world. Learn to love and care about others, not just to get them to sign on the heavenly line, but to walk through this world side by side.

Next Steps

If you are truly following Jesus, he’ll protect you from bad influences and use you as a good influence. Don’t be afraid to connect deeply, allowing them into your life. A life well-lived is a crowded bus, filled with the good, the bad, and the crazy – and all together.

1. Attend an event mixer where you walk up and meet people. A block party, chamber networking, etc. Practice “getting to know you” questions.
2. Remember your past – 2 reasons: 1, so you won’t go back to it, and 2, to keep you humble with non-Christians. We are not better than anyone, just blessed to be in the boat.
3. Practice with friends when it’s time to laugh vs cry. For example, if you have a friend who’s grieving, practice sitting with them and not trying to talk, fill the void or find the right words. Just be and trust that’s enough in the moment.

I will never forget the bus trips to band camp – the 2+ hour drive in a non-AC school bus filled to the brim with students, every window open, rushing wind in summer’s full heat. So many voices, so many friends, so many connections. God made you for community, which includes community with non-Christians. Who is on your bus?