Biblical Answer

Balancing Personal Values with Biblical Teachings on Hospitality

As a follower of Jesus Christ, it is essential to balance personal values with biblical teachings on hospitality. The Bible emphasizes the importance of showing hospitality to strangers, not only as a way to care for one another but also as a way to reflect God's love and image in the world (Hebrews 13:2). This means that we should not prioritize our personal safety or comfort over the needs of others, but rather seek to create a welcoming environment for those who are different from us.

To achieve this balance, we need to adopt a heart posture of hospitality, which Nouwen calls a "fundamental attitude towards others" (Nouwen, p. 28). This means seeing strangers as neighbors and neighbors as family of God, and recognizing that every human being reflects God's image. We should not reduce people to categories or labels, but rather seek to understand and appreciate their unique experiences and perspectives. By doing so, we can create a culture of hospitality that is both radically ordinary and extraordinary.

In practical terms, this might mean calendar-ing hospitality into our Rule of Life, making it a regular part of our routine. It might also mean being open to new experiences and cultures, and seeking to understand the needs and perspectives of those around us. As we prioritize hospitality, we can expect to be transformed by the experience, and to become more like Jesus in our relationships with others. By balancing our personal values with biblical teachings on hospitality, we can create a more loving, inclusive, and just community that reflects the heart of God.