Faculty Commons,
Virtual Team Staff
[Nov. 12, 2013]~~
Philoxenia! An unwanted disease? In reality, it refers to a desperately needed practice among Christ-followers. Philoxenia is Greek for hospitality— a word literally meaning “the love of strangers” or “the friend of strangers.”
What better time to begin to practice hospitality than during our traditional American holiday of Thanksgiving? The world is sending their best and brightest to the universities near you or where you serve; these men and women are “strangers” both to our culture and to our practiced lives as Christ-committed faculty. Most international students never visit the home of one of their professors. Thanksgiving is a natural chance to change that for many of our students.
Philoxenia is Making a Place
Biblical hospitality is characterized by expressing brotherly love to strangers. That is, to treat a stranger as a friend by making a place for him or her in our lives. For the early Christ-followers, hospitality had physical, social and spiritual dimensions. It meant welcoming outsiders into one’s personal space. It included offering food, shelter, and protection.
Hospitality possesses a strong component of recognition and respect—most characteristically expressed through shared meals. In the New Testament, Jesus illustrates over and over again that “table fellowship”–the sharing of a meal together — indicates whom you respect and value. It is not surprising that the disciple’s first question to Jesus was where do you live? To which Jesus responded, “Come and see.”
Philoxenia is Sharing More Than A Meal
In the early church, evangelism and discipleship happened in the context of hospitality. In Romans 12:10-13, Paul puts “practicing hospitality” on the par with being “devoted to prayer” and “serving the Lord.” Welcoming others modeled God’s welcoming gospel. The front door of the house became the side door of the church.
It is always helpful to remember that the practice of Biblical Hospitality is not entertaining or trying to impress. It is simply “inviting” strangers into our reality–sharing with others our life, our home, our provisions.
Biblical hospitality has a different focus than entertainment. When one entertains, the concern is how beautiful the table is or how clean the house. The desired outcome is to make a good impression. But when being hospitable, one’s focus is on the people you welcome. You seek to minister to that person, to meet that person’s needs.
Philoxenia is Not an Opportunity to Get Ahead.
Sadly as Christianity grew and became increasingly institutionalized, brotherly care and concern for strangers became a social exercise for entertaining the wealthy. Hospitality in many cases degenerated into an opportunity to get ahead. We need to remember that it was not Martha Stewart who “opened her home to Jesus” but Martha, the friend of Jesus and sister of Lazarus (Luke 10:38). It was not the Galloping Gourmet who was “faithful in helping and welcoming followers of the Lord.” It was Gaius, a dear friend and fellow elder (3 John 5).
Philoxenia offers the Gift of Listening
In describing hospitality, a seasoned host once commented, “I give my guest a bowl of cereal and invite him to start talking.” Hospitality moves beyond food and shelter and opens conversation, allowing encounters of the soul. Shared meals become the vehicle for shared lives.
Thanksgiving is one occasion that allows us to introduce visitors to our country, naturally sharing the godly heritage of our nation. To converse is to extend grace and to receive grace. And besides, you just might be welcoming “angels unawares.”