In India, I have seen the most hospitality I’ve ever seen in my life. Whenever my squad has made home visits, taught at schools, put on one day VBS’s, taught at youth groups or visited churches we are always served tea and some sort of food. People’s willingness to serve & show hospitality is unlike anything I have ever seen here. As a lover & advocate for hospitality, it makes my heart sing. It’s inspired me to serve & love others well back home, just as I have been served & loved by the people here.
I have also been inspired to write this post because I feel like American churches and people are lacking the hospitality other people around the world have. I have been to a couple dozen churches, both in Asia & in America, and I can see clearly the differences between the two.
In India, it’s expected to show hospitality after any form of ministry, church service and when someone visits your house. It’s usually just milk tea and crackers, but on the occasion my squad and I have been served meals, coffee and samosas. The people who served us don’t expect anything in return. What I mean is that they don’t expect money. Here’s an example. The first night we were all India was the day before my birthday. That night they bought everyone who had a birthday in January a cake. How kind is that?! They simply show hospitality to the body of Christ because they see that as what Christ would have done.
In America it’s a little different. Hospitality is not always shown after church services, youth groups or in the homes. After Sunday services there is typically coffee/tea and there might be some sort of baked good, but almost always you are expected to give a donation or pay a set price. I’ve heard the money goes to the church, there’s no doubt in my mind that is true, but I have seen churches with a lot less in Asia give away a lot more. In homes we get closed off or lazy to show any form of hospitality in order to protect ourselves, or at least that’s what we tell ourselves.
I believe that God will bless churches & homes that show hospitality to the body of Christ, the church, people. If it’s finances that you or your church worry about, give those worries to God and listen to His greatest commandment. Love others. Love others as if they were Jesus Himself. Just like in Matthew 25:34-36 it tells as how we do to the least of these we have done to Him. Hebrews 13:2 tells us not to neglect hospitality to strangers because some have entertained angels unaware. How cool is that?! I encourage you all to start showing hospitality in ways you haven’t before, and don’t expect anything in return. Be the church. Bless people and love people.
