I’m sitting here, early afternoon, out of the country, trying to overcome jet lag, and all I want to do is take a nap. But I can’t. Not if I’m going to get a good sleep tonight in preparation for tomorrow’s pastor’s training.
Already finished my Bible reading for the day. Read some Hemingway short stories I’ve read dozens of times but still love. Then I remember, tucked away in one of my bags is that book my wife wanted me to read, the one called The Gospel Comes With A House Key, by Rosaria Butterfield (affiliate link).
So I read the preface. And already, I don’t like it.
The author says, “We practice radically ordinary hospitality by bearing sacrifices of obedience that God’s people are called to offer.”
And, “Engaging in radically ordinary hospitality means we provide the time necessary to build strong relationships with people who think differently than we do as well as build strong relationships from within the family of God.”
Are we called to be those kind of people? Can we be those people? Should we? All I keep thinking is we need a home security system if we start having strangers over…which sort of misses the point doesn’t it?
“Break us,” Lord? Maybe just “bend us,” instead?
I know this is right; it lines up with Scripture. And she’s right when she says this way of living is only a reflection of the 1st century church. Just read Acts and you’re faced with “day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart” (Acts 2:46, emphasis added)
And “every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42, emphasis added).
Yet, I want to reject it like most of the church in America.
But then what kind of Christ followers are we if we’re so easily swayed by potential discomfort and inconvenience? If we agree that we’re called to be different, then let’s be different. Be less content. Be challenged.
With my jet lag wearing off, I’ll turn to the first chapter and see what else she has to say. Really, I’ll be listening for God’s voice to steer me along the way.
I may not be ready, but I’m willing.