Quarantine 2020 – Hospitality
April 19, 2020 6PM Study

One of the most common views of the church – any church – over history is that of hospitality. When we look at literature, history, even more recent popular culture, we can easily bring to mind this picture of the weary and broken traveler finding rest and restoration in the church – nuns take in orphans and outcasts, and the church provides safety where there is none.

Look at the idea of sanctuary – in its original meaning is “a holy or sacred place.” In Jewish tradition within the tabernacle and then the temple itself, the room outside of the Holy of holies was referred to as the sanctuary – the place where the incense burned and the bread of the Presence was offered. It was restricted to priests only, and was used as part of the sacrificial system for the sanctification of the Israelite people.

As the church grew, the definition changed to a building or room designed for the practice of religious worship. While this is not far off from its original intent, it now is opened to include being a place of gathering. Naturally, when in the sanctuary, be it at the Jewish synagogue or the Christian meeting place, all conflict and dispute was to be left outside.

This led to a third definition of sanctuary – a place which provides safety and protection. We use this definition in the establishment of wildlife sanctuaries – animals cannot be hunted by man there. In the past it has even included safety from the law, as well as safety from people of ill repute, because NOBODY violated the sanctity of the church – it was just simply not done.

What remains of these notions today is a bit of all three. As Christians, we meet in the sanctuary to worship and to practice what religious sacraments we observe – like baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and formal worship and study. We view the church as a safe place where we convene with our savior and meet with people of common faith and worship in community. We treat the sanctuary with respect – more than we might pay to other buildings, even within the church.

So what happens when we lose our sanctuary? When this place of safety and gathering is no longer a factor, much like it is today, how do we as a church maintain this view from non-believers that we are a body built on hospitality?

While we spend time in quarantine as a church, there is a world of work waiting for us in this world. People are scared, beaten down, and broken by this pandemic. They are looking for comfort – for hospitality – or even for sanctuary from life itself. So since we are in quarantine, does that mean that we have nothing to offer them?

I want to revisit the word hospitality. If you have ever taken a spiritual gifts inventory, you know that hospitality is considered a spiritual gift. Hospitality does not only cover specific activity, but it covers approach and personality as well.

The word used to describe extending hospitality in the Bible most often is the Greek word xenizein – and it encompasses both the host and guest alike. In a sense, it puts the host, or the local, on the same level as the guest, or the stranger. What this implies is that background, age, appearance, even motivation do not play a factor in hospitality. It is simple – one person thirsts, so another gives him drink, etc.

Throughout the OT, especially in the Pentateuch (or books of Moses) the term is used to illustrate a resident’s responsibilities to nourish and protect travelers who find themselves in hostile environments. Please open your Bible to Genesis 18:1-5. Here we see Abraham respond in a perfect example of hospitality as was expected:

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, 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.”

Very often we equate hospitality with welcome, which is not far off. But in every instance of hospitality in the Bible there is a piece apparent – acts of service. But what service can we provide in times like this?

In the NT, Jesus speaks of hospitality a lot, using two distinct themes. He uses the imagery of food and drink often in His teaching as the representation of hospitality. Matthew 8:11 refers to the Kingdom of God as a great banquet; In each gospel Jesus ends his ministry with a ceremonial meal where words about eating and drinking are spoken; in the Lord’s prayer we ask for our daily bread, and the end of the parable of the prodigal son is the preparation for a great feast. This first theme illustrates very strongly that first and foremost, God is our host. By him we are taken care of, and we share in His hospitality.

The second theme Jesus uses is the act of living in accordance with what is coming. This is where we can extend hospitality today, even in quarantine. One of the things that was said often in opposition to Jesus’ ministry was that he dined with sinners, worked on the sabbath, and traveled with tax collectors, prostitutes, and all manner of undesirable. His constant reply was that He had come to minister to the sick – the people who needed salvation.

Today, your contact with the outside world is electronic. Whether you find yourselves tuned into the news on TV or over the internet, your connection during quarantine is digital. Fortunately, we have a lot of digital resources – you are utilizing one this very minute. We have the opportunity to address what is essentially a captive audience. So I will ask a simple question:

How are you living right now in the digital world?

Social media is, unfortunately, full of division and finger pointing. When people are scared and out of control, the easy thing to do is to assign blame. We talked two weeks ago about comfort, fear before that. We are in a time where people are out of control.

You have a platform to spread the comfort and hope of a relationship with Jesus. Instead of using technology to complain, let’s use it to spread the word. Encourage each other, point people to the cross. Show love and reject division.

We are going to sing an old spiritual song. I think you will know it. Sing Sanctuary.

LORD PREPARE ME TO BE A SANTUARY
PURE AND HOLY, TRIED AND TRUE
WITH THANKSGIVING I'LL BE A LIVING
SANCTUARY FOR YOU

Note what things we are concerned with being a sanctuary – Pure and Holy, tried and true. It doesn’t say anything about being a beautiful building with stained glass – it says that we are to be a living sanctuary through thanksgiving and holiness.

We need to use every tool at our disposal to show the world hospitality. Help with serving the community. Hand out fliers. Give to organizations on the front lines – now is not the time to let opportunities pass you by. Use your time and access to affect the kingdom! Bevier FBC will continue to try and determine ways to reach the community during this crisis and will provide opportunities for you to extend hospitality. Stay connected – watch our Facebook page and website, and let’s be the vessels for a mighty work from God! Let’s be a sanctuary to the world!