Hospitality is the key to outreach with the Christian message.  There are so many reports of those, especially young adults, who will not connect with the Church because of negative perceptions and experiences.  This kind of damage is hard to undo but it can be reframed when we listen.  Listen to the story.  Listen to the pain.  Listen to the hurt.  Acknowledge the pain that is heard and do not cast judgement.  As we listen we let the story unfold.  Hospitality is to give without asking anything in return.  We give and we love with the love of Christ.  May each of us strive for graciousness and hospitality.

Shane Claiborne’s book, “Irresistible Revoltion,” is absolutely profound.  However, what he writes about is really not new.  Shane is bringing back for me the passions that I had when I was in high school and college and reminded me of our work for civil rights, ecology, peace and justice.  The late 60’s and early 70’s saw the church become involved with justice issues in profound ways, resulting is some dramatic changes in the culture. 

I was discussing my thoughts with a 23 year old that had read the book and liked it, and told him that Shane had me stirred up with a desire to change lifestyle and approaches to ministry.  I said it felt good to be back where I was.  Then he asked me a profound question, “Why did you quit doing it?”  I hated that question because I didn’t have a good answer.

Somehow, how got caught up in day to day ministry, graduate school, raising a family……I don’t know…..life just took over.  I look back and truly hope that my ministry was about justice, stewardship and redemption.  I think it was.  But why didn’t I do more?  I don’t know.  Good question?  But I am committed to it now.

Shane Claiborne is raising the prophetic questions that must be raised.  The questions are uncomfortable and the challenge is at times almost overwhelming.

I began to pray with questions about how I might more directly serve the poor and the marginalized.  God has answered that prayer in ways that are absolutely powerful.  I cannot write about it here because of some privacy issues involving those with whom I am working, but, let’s just say that God has taken me where God has called me.

Would love to hear from those who have read this book!  Check out my brief book review…..

The YM 2008 Conference was wonderful. Dan Kimball did a wonderful job of raising questions. We could discuss the answers….I don’t think we would totally agree….but I LOVE the questions.

Kimball went back and wrote on his web page about the conference and then he did this part:
« Imagining Martin Luther if he was just starting out in ministry today

It had never occurred to me that the Reformation was a young adult movement. Luther was only 29 when he nailed the 95 thesis. The young adults of today are bringing about another new movement in the Church and in many ways it is a breath of fresh air.

If we intend to be authentic in our ministries we must be about the business of dialog and discussing the elephants that Kimball says are on the table. Kimball raises most of these issues in his book, “They Like Jesus but not the Church” which I find to be a powerful book. It is so important to raise the questions. The answers will come as we submit to the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit lead.

Bottom line……it is about hospitality and a ministry of listening as together we seek how God is calling each of us to do ministry.

The second day was very helpful. Kimball didn’t say it this way but my filter puts it in terms of my own belief and practice. The challenge is to be able to read and assess the context of the individual or group in order to respond appropriately (would this be another form of proper distinction of Law and Gospel). The reading comes as we listen with the heart of God to the hearts of those around us.

Kimball pointed out what research shows to be the major issues that cause young adults to love Jesus but not like the Church. He says the church is viewed as judgmental, homophobic and afraid of divergent thinking. What can one say. He is correct.

His point though, is that we need to be aware of who we are and attend to the ways in which we respond to those around us. My thought would be that we learn to become transparent so that we love with the arms of Jesus and connect to the needs of those around us as we become aware of the suffering of Christ.

He had some great creative worship ideas that work in his setting. However, even he is quick to point out that worship expression is a matter of culture and context. You cannot just transfer a worship setting or style from one place to the other. Authenticity is grounded in living out the context and as the Spirit leads.

It still is a matter of hospitality.

I am attending Youth Ministry 2008 sponsored by the LCMS Office of Youth Ministry.  The speaker is Dan Kimball, author of Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations and They Like Jesus But Not the Church.   Kimball contends that the Christian sub-culture has created a “bubble” that prevents interaction with the surrounding culture.  Kimball is right on target in many respects and is in agreement with many authors from the past ten years who have said the same thing a bit differently.

Kimball raises the excellent point that the culture around us has formed images of the church (many images well deserved) that prevent interaction and causes the unchurched to want to avoid the church.  Research indicates that the popular perception is that Christians are judgmental, homophobic, narrow minded and closed to those aroung them.  One would find it very hard to argue with this research.  It isn’t just young adults leaving the church for the very same reasons.  The Church is in crisis and the question is does the Church know it?  If the Church does know it, what is the church doing to respond.

Tomorrow Kimball plans to offer insights as to how the Church might respond to the situation.  I do like the fact that he has already said that there are no easy answers that apply to every setting.  He does not appear to be simplistic in his approach.

Personally, I am convinced that we are seeing once again that “hospitality” is the main response to be offered.  The Rule of St. Benedict (Chpt 53) states, “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.”  In practice this means that all whom we encounter are to be viewed as Christ.  We are called to view each person as Christ and treat each person as if s(h)e is Christ.  When we view each person as Christ it is very difficult to treat them with judgment and fear.  A Church that practices the hospitality of Benedict will be known as a welcoming Church.

Outreach does not require special programs.  Outreach does not require deep theological knowledge.  Outreach is a matter of hospitality.  Matthew 25, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”