The word radical has many meanings in our culture. Many times, it evokes negative images of extreme behavior, often detrimental, as in “today a radical group made and attack”. But combined with the word “hospitality”, it takes on a totally different meaning.
Radical Hospitality has been underlying tenant of Room in The Inn since its inception in the 80’s in Nashville. Room in The Inn welcomes people to come in out of the cold, have a hot meal and sleep in a clean safe environment for the night. Hospitality lavishly given with no expectation of repayment! This may be a radical concept, but it is not a new one.
Radical Hospitality is woven through the scripture from beginning to end. It is part of the culture of the time and setting of the scripture, and continues to be a very important part of the culture of the middle east. My husband recently traveled to Egypt, Israel and Jordan. They had the opportunity to share meals in the homes of some of the locals and were extended hospitality that would put our “southern hospitality” to shame. One meal was eaten in a Sheik’s home in Egypt. To be invited into his home is so much more than being fed. To be invited in means that you are accepted and protected, even at the expense of the Sheik’s life or the lives of his family. As they continued to travel throughout the region, they would hear comments of “they ate with the Sheik”.
In scripture, radical hospitality promises little and delivers much. Consider the story in Genesis 18. The Three Visitors
18 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs[b] of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
Abraham promised a little water and a little bread, but he delivered much more. Three seahs of flour would have been about fifty pounds of flour, enough to feed a hundred people, combined with the young calf, Abraham set a feast before his three visitors. A true example of radical hospitality.
As the men continue their journey to Sodom, they experience more radical hospitality at the home of Abraham’s nephew Lot. I have always wondered about Lot’s offer of his daughters to the men of Sodom to protect his guests. But when we understand this principal of radical hospitality, we understand that this kind of hospitality comes with sacrifice. Any righteous man would be expected to protect his guests even at the expense of his daughters.
The most beautiful example of radical hospitality is that of our Savior. Jesus, being God, humbles Himself and becomes man and with extravagant love pays our debt. His sacrifice makes the way for us to be adopted into the family of God. This is the ultimate expression of Radical Hospitality.
The final exam will be based on our understanding and practice of hospitality.
The Sheep and the Goats
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Let’s learn to engage in radical hospitality, to love our neighbors, to follow our Savior’s example and to prepare for the test!
Shirley Chupp
Marshall County Homeless Ministries/Room in the Inn
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#shirleychuppblogs