Neighborology: Living Out Christ's CompassionSýnishorn

Hosting

Our freedom in Christ’s love is a commitment to serving others. While loneliness promotes hostility, anger, and fear, solitude makes us good hosts. According to theologian Henri Nouwen, “A good host is one who believes his guest is carrying a gift he wants to reveal to anyone who shows genuine interest. A good host shows encouragement, affirmation, and support and welcomes the contributions of others” (Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life). We are called upon to be hosts, providing hospitality and creating space for others. As followers of Christ, we offer safe plac­es where we can welcome strangers and where healing and growth can take place.

I love the example of hospitality that Jesus provided us: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:6–8). Hospitality allows us, as Romans 13:14 says, to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ,” meaning that we have the mind of our Savior. We then turn our hostility into hospitality, putting away all antagonism and bitterness and making others better than ourselves (see Phil. 2:3). This change in attitude draws us away from old selfish patterns and leads us to imitate Christ. With this change, we are then aware of our neighbor’s needs and begin to love them as Christ loves us. Before my Christian conversion, if someone on the streets came up to me and asked for something to eat, I would be annoyed. Now, if a homeless person says they are hungry, I might offer my sandwich or a piece of fruit and, if I have time, will sit and talk with him. When we imitate Christ, we model His humility, submission, and service (see Phil. 2:1–12). The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to take action for God’s sake. Humility frees us to do the will of God. We become free from serving ourselves to serving others. In humility, we sub­mit ourselves to serve God and our neighbor without demanding anything in return. Submission allows us to value those whom God brings to us. Nouwen calls these people God’s gifts.

I’m reminded of a church member who had plans to go out with some of his buddies. On his way to meet them, he came across a neighbor who was “down and out” and in need of help. The church member immediately contacted his friends to cancel and took his neighbor to the nearest Christian rescue mission. In the name of Jesus, he gave up the right to have his own way for the sake of someone else.

In serving others, we seek to follow Christ’s example. He came not to be served but to serve (see Matt. 20:25–28). If you’re like me, saying “No” to helping others is easy. Learning to say “Yes” is a discipline that must be exercised.

In The Spirit of the Disciplines, Christian philosopher Dallas Willard states that we “may also serve others to train ourselves away from arrogance, possessiveness, envy, resentment or covetousness. . . . service is undertaken as a discipline for the spiritual life.” That kind of attitude comes from a relationship with Christ.

“We serve out of whispered promptings, divine urges” of the Spirit, says spiritual director Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline. All service is important. There is no measurement that distinguishes between small and large service. Those with servant hearts are content to serve in “hidden” ways, with no need for recognition. They serve for God’s honor and glory. Service to others requires a need for constant renewal. As God transforms us to become more like Jesus, we learn what it means to be clay in the hands of the Potter.

We learn the meaning of the hymn, “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” by Adelaide A. Pollard:

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!

Thou art the potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me after thy will,

While I am waiting, yielded and still.