I Peter 4:7 – 10 reads, “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all tings have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Gander, Canada. Population 9,600 Located smack dab in the middle of Newfoundland. Canada’s most eastern province along the Atlantic. It boasts a community center, an aviation museum, four city parks, and Gander Mall. If you like, today is the last day you can attend the Don Bartlett Curling Classic in Gander.
Gander has been a very average town for most of its history except on the day of 9-11 last year. You see, Gander doubled its population in one day. 52 planes were redirected to that small town in the wake of the 9-11 disaster. One of the flight attendants for Delta tells how the town of Gander became more than average.
“We had to tell the passengers that the Canadian government was in charge and we were at their mercy. True to their word, Gander airport told our plane could unload passengers at 11 a.m. ------ the next morning. That took the last wind out of the passengers and they simply resigned and accepted that they would be staying overnight in an airplane.
10:30 the next morning, a convoy of school buses showed up at the side of the plane and took the passengers to the terminal. They were all told to relax and wait for a call that would redirect the flights. That call didn’t come until two days later. What I really wanted to tell you was what happened in those two days. We found out that Gander and all surrounding communities converted all high schools, meeting halls, lodges and churches into a mass lodging area. Some had cots set up. Some had mats with sleeping bags and pillows. All the high school students HAD to volunteer taking care of the new ‘guests.’
Our passengers were put in a high school. If any woman wanted to be put in a woman-only facility, that was arranged. Families were kept together. All elderly passengers were given no choice – they got to stay in private homes. The pregnant lady on our flight was put up in a private home right across the street from a 24-hour Urgent care facility. Phone calls and emails were available to be made when requested.
During the day, passengers were given a choice of “excursion trips.” Some people went on boat cruises of the lakes and harbors. Some went to see the local forests. Local bakeries stayed open to make fresh bread for the guests. Food was prepared by all the residents and brought to the school; others were driven to the restaurant of their choice. They were given local Laundromat tokens to wash their clothes, since their luggage was still on board.
In other words, every single need was met for those unfortunate travelers. Passengers were crying while telling us these stories. It was absolutely incredible, when passengers came on board after their stay in Gander it was like they were on a cruise. A collection of over forty thousand dollars was taken on just our plane to fund scholarships for the high school students. Why, all of this? Just because some people in far away places were kind to some strangers, who happened to literally drop in among them? WHY NOT?
If you’re looking for a good definition of hospitality, I think we have just heard one. Paul says, “Be hospitable to strangers without grumbling.” The Greek word for hospitality is two words joined together. One word means “be kind,” and the other is the word for “strangers.” It is kindness to those you may not know; sharing generously what you have with others. It’s a spirit of welcome and kindness to strangers, to Christian visitors in our community, and also to people who are strangers to God, using our homes and churches to give them rest and refreshment.
You may not know that the word, “hospital” comes from the word hospice in Latin, which meant a home which became a haven of rest for people. Believers opened up their homes and had people stay there as they were traveling. Eventually they became known as hospitals. It was the church that started the hospitals. We didn’t have hospitals. It was the church that started the hospitals. We didn’t have hospitals before the family of God began them around the 5th century. A haven for guests was their original intent.
As we look at today’s scripture, Peter writes it in a very interesting manner. He tells us that the end of all things is close at hand. There is urgency in his voice as he tells the church in Asia Minor how to be watchful and serious in prayer. How to be sober-minded and of good sense about the days at hand. Peter says that they must, above all things, have fervent love for each other. The words for “fervent” love means continuous and eager love. Love that will not let go and love that will continue on.
During the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, sentenced a soldier to be shot for his crimes. The execution was to take place at the ringing of the evening curfew bell. However, the bell did not sound. The soldier’s fiancé had climbed into the belfry and clung to the great clapper of the bell to prevent it from striking. When she was summoned by Cromwell to account for her actions, she wept as she showed him her bruised and bleeding hands. Cromwell’s heart was touched and he said, “Your lover shall live because of your sacrifice. Curfew shall not ring tonight!”
That is the kind of fervent love that we are to have for each other. We are to love one another with greatness and depth. Peter reminds us why we should do this by quoting Proverbs 10:12, “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Some scholars believe that Peter is referring to Christ’s love for us when He covered our sins on the cross. We are to love each other despite our faults. We are to show hospitality despite each other’s flaws.
What is striking about this passage is Peter’s instruction about how to be this loving. How to have fervent love for each other. Does he say that we must give all of our money to the poor? Does he say that we must tolerate other people that get on our nerves? Does he say that we hug and kiss everyone we meet? No… well, sort of. He tells us that we must, “BE hospitable to one another without grumbling.” His first instructions for us in how to be fervently and eagerly loving to be hospitable to each other.
I won’t mention any name because I don’t want to embarrass anyone here. But I found out someone’s secret ingredient. I was visiting one of the congregation members a little while ago and they had prepared for my arrival. What a spread! Homemade cake and homemade chocolate frosting. Grapes, cherries, and delicious coffee. And the best were the cookies. Some of the best I’ve tasted.
After my first bite, that was when I knew there was a secret ingredient. You see the baker of these cookies would admit that when you get older it takes longer to get around and get things done. It takes patience and planning to make a batch of cookies for guests. It takes work to prepare for a guest. But more than that, it takes the secret ingredient – Love. The same love that Peter is talking about. He tells us how to show great love --- by showing hospitality.
Hospitality goes way back. Back before Betty Crocker and home-made apple pie. Back before colonial families hosted revolutionary troops overnight for protection. Back before Bedouin tribes in the Arab desert brought strangers in their tent, out of parched sand.
In the days of the early church, people’s homes were also used as gathering places for the scattered churches. They didn’t have church buildings, so they met in homes. They didn’t have church buildings, so they met in homes. People like Philemon, Priscilla, and Aquila, would invite people in, extend hospitality, and they had their worship services in these homes. We read in the New Testament over and over again that hospitality is urged on believers. For instance, Paul, in Romans 12:13, says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints. Extend hospitality to strangers.” Or in Titus 1 he says church leaders must be people of hospitality. John in his letter at the end of the New Testament commends a man named Gaius for his hospitality to brothers who were strangers to him but who traveled for the sake of Christ.
Christians from all over are constantly visiting our church and they’d like to get to know us better. People visit us every week. There are people that come to this church that need to see the face of Christ and sense the love of Christ in how we welcome them. We’re not talking about having visitors as overnight guests or to come live with you. Hospitality is simpler than that. It is an attitude towards others that takes various shapes. It is primarily an attitude. Hospitality is a generous spirit towards others. Hospitality is always alert towards the other person. It notices other people, it reaches out, invites, involves, and gives. And unfortunately what was once a benchmark of the Midwest has begun to disappear as we cloud our lives with other things.
Some people are taught hospitality by their parents. Some people catch it from other people. Some people see it and are drawn to it. I think of a few people that we have in this congregation where you can see it is born in them. Some people have to work at it. Some people have to pray for it. Hospitality is an attitude of generosity and thoughtfulness towards other people. And hospitality is a willingness to use your home and church as a vehicle of generosity and thoughtfulness.
“Oh, but you don’t know my house. It’s too small. It’s too dirty!” Karen Mains is a pastor’s wife and has written a lot about hospitality. She points out that hospitality and entertaining are two different things. She says this: “Entertaining says, ‘I want to impress you with my home; my clever decorating, my knock-out cooking.” Hospitality, seeking to minister, says this home is a gift from my Master. I use it as He desires.” Hospitality aims to serve. Entertaining quietly declares, “This home is mine! It’s an expression of my personality! Look, please, and admire.” Hospitality whispers, “What’s mine is yours.” Entertaining looks for a payment, and the payment is these words, “My! Isn’t she a remarkable hostess?” That’s not hospitality. With no thought of reward, hospitality takes pleasure in giving, doing, loving and serving. The model for entertaining is those slick women’s magazines with their alluring pictures of foods and rooms. The model for hospitality is the Word of God. Christ sanctifies our simples things and makes it holy and useful.
I want to ask about our church. Would we say that our church is a haven for guests? Look at what Peter says in verse 9, according to the Amplified Bible translation. The Amplified Bible always gives you the full expanded meaning of a text. It reads, “Practice hospitality to one another that is those of the household of faith. Be hospitable, that is be a lover of strangers with brotherly affection for unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ’s body. And in each instance do it ungrudgingly, cordially and graciously without complaining, but as representing Him.”
You might be thinking, “Look, that was great for them 2000 years ago, but now we have hotels, motels, rental cars, credit cards; why do we need to hear this today?” Brothers and sisters in Christ, hospitality is more important today than ever before. Hospitality is never out of date. Anyone who has received hospitality in the name of Christ knows this. Anyone who has been befriended, welcomed and taken in by loving people knows this is crucial.”
Are we a hospitable church on Sunday mornings? Here are some marks of what a hospitable church is like on Sunday mornings. If we are primed for hospitality, then our rooms and our grounds are neat and well-tended. Volunteers have helped to clear, arrange, set up and set out materials. I believe most of this happens weekly.
Then we need to come to church with our hearts not only prepared to worship but to welcome newcomers. Church members arrive before the service starts. We make room for visitors and newcomers. Smile! We welcome and introduce ourselves to people we don’t know. We share hymnals and Bibles. People help guide others to Sunday School classes. Nursery care is available. After worship, we make an effort to engage those we don’t know.
God blesses us with all kinds of people from time to time. They are a blessing. Be alert to those who might feel uncomfortable for any reason. Be alert to people who are alone. You might want to invite them home for lunch. Would we be willing, consciously and conscientiously, to be a welcomer of strangers here and in our homes? Would you begin to pray to God to show you opportunities to show God’s love to strangers? Father, please make us a warm, generous and hospitable people, both here and at home. Give us open hearts, open hands, and open homes. Give us an open church always. Amen.
