03 August 2011

As Ancient as Sweet Iced Tea: A Theology of Hospitality Part 2

When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:33-34

Hospitality is not an inherently "Southern American" ideal (although iced tea on the veranda does sound lovely about now--thank you for offering). Actually, there are plenty of countries around the world, especially in Central Asia and the Middle East, whose generous hospitality far exceeds anything we've ever come close to experiencing or offering in the U.S, but then again, the roots for their hospitality go much deeper and there is actually a very rich history behind why they do what they do. God's people, the Israelites, were the ones who brought many of the ideas about hospitality and how to treat others kindly to the ancient world.

Believe it or not , hospitality or kindness to others is God's idea. We see that borne out in Scripture over and over again as God demonstrates His lovingkindness toward us by setting into motion the greatest rescue plan and love story ever. We see His hospitality displayed through the lives of the people in the Bible: Abraham, Joseph, Rahab, Boaz, King David, the widow and Elijah, and on and on!

In short, God's people have always been a hospitable people. In fact, protection for and proper treatment of foreigners, strangers, and travelers was built into the fabric of their laws for right living right from the very beginning(Exodus 22:21, Leviticus 19:18; 33-34). Israel's empathy for outsiders stems from their former status as foreigners and even slaves when they were in the land of Egypt. God instructs them to allow their history as strangers in a foreign land to inform their compassion for others. In other words, it takes one to know one. Who better to extend hospitality than someone who knows what it is like to have been treated inhospitably? This is pretty much where the idea of the "Golden Rule" is born--the Israelites were commanded and encouraged to display kindness to others in light of the fact that they would like to be treated that way themselves.

It is also interesting to note that God's instruction to Israel about the treatment of strangers comes in the midst of His instructions to them regarding their relationships with each other. Leviticus 19:18 says, "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." So not only does their hospitality flow from their history as outsiders themselves, but it is an overflow and an extension of the love they are to be displaying toward each other.

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