Pastor's Blog

I, for one, have found you and Lori very hospitable. Maybe that's because we had a prior relationship before we came to the church, but I know you've had others besides us to your home. No need to beat up on yourself! :-)

The article is interesting. I think people tend to be historically shortsighted, and react to a trend with an appeal to biblical truths or ancient Christian practices, not realizing that the trend they're reacting to also came in reaction to something else, and used its own biblical truths and ancient precedents to support its position. One could read the article and think that nothing came in between medieval hospitable practices and the Seeker Sensitive movement. Not that I've read up too much on the subject, but it seems to me that the Seeker Sensitive movement was at least an attempt at some type of hospitality--trying to create an atmosphere in which unbelieving visitors could feel comfortable, and thus create a situation in which people would be willing to visit in the first place. Of course, that's hospitality within the church, not within the home, but it's a start. (That's not to say that some aspects of the movement might have been misguided.)

Actually, the whole hospitality issue lines up somewhat with something I've been thinking recently. Usually, we tend to look at inviting people to church as the logical next step from getting to know them and perhaps witnessing to them in the workplace or some other context of acquaintance. But isn't that a bit wierd? Wouldn't it make more sense to invite them over for dinner--in other words, into our lives--before making the potentially threatening church invite? Not that I'm discouraging inviting to church--I just think that people would be more willing to come if they don't just think that's all we're interested in.

Once again, I think you've hit the nail square on the head. Inviting someone to come visit your church is not evangelism unless a lot of ground work has already been laid in relationship building.

Well Bob, expect us to the house sometime in uh, I dunno...

But i have great memories of many wonderful hours spent in your house - and your great love for our children (is it ok for Terry and I to travel together sans kids again now? :-))