The Gospel Comes with a House Key

Good day family and an early Merry Christmas and New Year to you! Husband and I have so much to rejoice over and be thankful for - can I get an Amen?!?! As this year comes to a close, we want to share one last post, and we hope the truth in God's word continues to prove itself to be profitable to you, in all seasons and places, especially your home (2 Timothy 3:16).

The Summer of 2019, I had the opportunity to hear Rosaria Butterfield share her testimony and exhortation for “Radically Ordinary Hospitality,” at a women’s event. Her story was so inspiring, I told Husband he had to watch the recording – he agreed. Her testimony was part of the initial stirring in our hearts for the gospel and missions. For my birthday this year, a friend of mine gifted me her book, “The Gospel Comes with a House Key.” Referring to her conversion, Rosaria states, “Nothing prepared me for the unstoppable gospel and for the love of Jesus made manifest by the daily practices of hospitality undertaken in this one simple Christian home” (50). “The word hospitality approximates the Greek word philoxenia, which means “love of the stranger”” (35). Hospitality is a gift the Lord continues to refine in Rick and I, and it is one all believers are called to walk in, according to the measure and empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:11-16).

“Radically Ordinary Hospitality” is a daily and visible living out of the gospel, ‘…recognizing our homes as God’s gift to use for the furtherance of his kingdom’ (11). It includes: ‘Christ-centered table fellowship, serving and sharing’ (12). It demonstrates: “…authentic Christianity…evidence of faith in Jesus’s power to save…[He] is alive and rescues those who call” (13, 29), and it becomes, “…the bridge that brings desperate people into a Christian home… it brings the church to the people. It meets people with gospel grace where they are” (100, 197). Christ is the perfect example: “He drew people in close. He met them empty and left them full” (29). Our motive is not to feed and entertain – it is to nourish with love and completeness in Jesus Christ alone: “I know I can’t save anyone. Jesus alone saves…take the hand of a stranger and put it in the hand of the Savior… He bridges the unbridgeable…I’m not leading. I’m following. Jesus is leading” (24, 34, 58, 86).

Hospitality is a powerful witness to others around us (consider John13:35). We moved into our home August 2019. Two months later, we went up and down the block introducing ourselves as the new kids on the block and invited our neighbors for a time of prayer and free BBQ. Many were surprised saying comments like, ‘Nobody does this’ – this broke our hearts but also spurred us on. One neighbor came for lunch, and it was a delight to meet her first. On Mother’s and Father’s Day, she also gave us the sweetest and encouraging note. Over the past few months, in spite of the pandemic, we have had more opportunities to open our home and interact with her and many of our other neighbors, by name: “When our Christian homes are open, we make transparent to a watching world what Christ is doing with our bodies, families and our world” (31). The first week of November this year, we went door to door with invites for an outdoor Thanksgiving event – several members from our church and a different neighbor came. And to my surprise, I met two other neighbors, while we were setting up, and another brought us a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and note. In addition to onlookers, we also teach those in our home. Most importantly, “Your children are learning how to live and share the gospel with fluency” (116).

Our homes can serve as “hospitals and incubators” (64) to the hurting and sick around us. One evening, Rick was taking out the garbage, and one of our neighbors, sitting alone in the dark, called out to him. The man shared that he was COVID-positive and requested prayer: “Grace does not make the hard thing go away; grace illumines the hard thing with eternal meaning and purpose” (200-201). Recently, the first neighbor we met last October called me for tangible help and prayer, because her husband was facing a health challenge. At first, I did not want to even answer my phone. But by God’s grace, the Holy Spirit quickly awakened me to an honorable reaction: “When people are willing to stop and tell us where they hurt…stop what we are doing, shut our mouths, and listen with care” (200). Upon arriving home to assist, I invited her in for dinner and for the next evening. Conversation shifted to her marriage. I agreed that marriage is hard but then took the opportunity to point her back to God’s love, strength and instruction for wives in 1 Peter 3:1-5. “Grace always leads to Christ’s atoning blood…brings people into God’s protection…in our house we talk about anything, and then we go to the throne” (58, 103, 213). She is the first neighbor I have ever shared a meal with in my home, exchanged gifts and mutually verbalized love for one another. 

Believers who obey the call to love in deed and truth, are not immune to stumble or suffer. Recall my work contract with UCR was terminated in mid-October, coupled with various health challenges. This has definitely tested us, but many brothers and sisters have come alongside our family via prayer, tangible help and pointing us back to Christ: “The way is hard. It breaks you. It is best walked in the company of other broken people, accompanying one another in suffering, helping each other repent of sin, bear the cross, and make biblical sense of things” (88). Also, the first Saturday in December, I hosted an outdoor women’s Christmas gathering (link to lyrics and music) for my co-workers and neighbors. There was much to be taken care of, and one family member decided to walk into the house with sticky fingers eating a donut with no napkin or plate – no big deal, right? It sounds so silly sharing, but I snapped at them. Before they took more than three steps in or released the handle, they backed into reverse, exited and closed the door behind them. Later that evening, before leaving, the Holy Spirit compelled me to apologize: “…sin is deceptive…Christ’s own do fall. Repentance is a gift from God, and only a believer can repent…it is normal to struggle with sin and to do so openly. Repentance is a Christian fruit, not a social shame” (123, 212).

The biggest hindrance to minister to those around us is disobedience to the two greatest commandments to love God and love others (Matthew 22:36-40). For fear of one’s reputation, one may want to be removed from the lost, but we must remember, “Jesus dined with sinners, but he didn’t sin with sinners” (13). Rosaria shares that, “Accusation of loving this sinner [her neighbor Hank who was arrested for creating Meth from his house] was likely the best Christian witness we ever had” (180). Selfishness or lack of having enough may also be barriers. But Jesus’s own example of laying down His life for us should be compulsion enough: “Make sacrifices that hurt so that others can be served, maybe even saved, we are called to die. Nothing less” (42). Butterfield states their family gives, “Money, time and heart-ache – we are all in,” yet they have, “Never suffered absence of anything” (63). Pride is also deeply rooted, causing the church to behave falsely, “Our lack of genuine hospitality to our neighbors…is a violent form of neglect for their souls…it is speaking louder than words” (71, 95 and see 1 John 3:11-24). In contrast, we should foster intimacy, “…that allows for genuine differences to be discussed…truth telling…close enough to be seen in transparent and vulnerable ways…welcomes…a sweet balm of safety” (37, 45, 56, 86, 111). Idolatry of what we have or how we feel are also subtle hurdles, “Our homes are not castles. Indeed, they are not even ours…serve God more than comfort” (100, 220). Also, laziness and being too busy may block, but, “Knowing your personality and your sensitives does not excuse you from ministry. It means that you need to prepare for it differently” (214).

COVID aside, one does not have to look far to see how broken the world and people around us are. By God’s grace and wisdom, before the foundation, He already had a plan of redemption, through Jesus Christ. The more I understand God’s love for me, the more my heart breaks and is moved for others around me (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Living an ordinary Christian life is radical to the world around us – and rightfully so, it can only be done by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 15:4-5, Galatians 5:22-23). Each day, we must start with remembering what Christ has done for us at the cross, praise God and come before Him in prayer for a heart for others and repentance from anything that would prevent His Spirit from moving freely in our life or with our resources. Rosaria shares a sample prayer, “open my eyes and heart that I might see the glories of your son in every detail that unfolds by your providence today” (189). “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4-5). What scripture guides your hospitality?