Scripture: Romans 12:9-13
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, unhealthy but keep your spiritual fervor, view serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, recipe patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Thought for the Day: This passage from Romans could be subtitled, “Rules of Discipleship.” Paul clearly lays out how a disciple of Jesus lives—by being sincere, opposing evil, respecting others, and above all, being hospitable. Christianity was once one of the most hospitable religions on the planet. Christians at the time of Paul (who weren’t even called “Christians” yet) were part of an underground movement the Roman Empire did not approve of. So they moved from house to house, city to city, always welcoming and sheltering each other, without question. Early Christians welcomed anyone in need into their home, whether those people called themselves followers of Jesus or not. Everyone was welcome.
Contrast that idea of radical, inclusive hospitality and mutual respect with our churches today: most have closed communion tables and a list of rules and regulations, creeds and doctrines one must accept, memorize and proclaim before they’re “allowed” to fully participate in the community. Not to mention the cold shoulder most people receive the moment they walk through the door. Our churches have become fortresses of solitude for those already on the inside, an idea that’s all the more ludicrous when one realizes the early church was full of “outsiders”: misfits, outcasts, outlaws, rebels and radicals who wanted to overturn the inherently unjust Roman sociopolitical system. The early church welcomed everyone in with open arms. The early church always had a meal ready for the hungry and a shelter for the homeless. Always. No questions asked.
If we are to call ourselves disciples today, it might help us to remember that the people who originally followed Jesus acted very differently than most churches act today. The original people of The Way didn’t care about creeds and doctrines. They simply wanted to change the world by loving and accepting every human they encountered as an equal brother or sister in God, the way Jesus taught them to behave. It’s as radical an idea today as it was 2000 years ago. Unfortunately.
Prayer: Help us awaken to our true selves, our Christ-like selves, so that we may become the hospitable and loving people you created us as, my always welcoming and hospitable God of Unconditional Love. Amen.