It Is Not About Us

“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’”
Matthew 22:34-40

Raise your hand if you have grown up in church or have been following Jesus for a long time…my hand going up. Our church staff, lay leaders and myself had spent two days at the Leadership Institute, a conference for church leaders. As some of us sat in a session called Radical Hospitality, the speakers was talking about the importance of making church services guest friendly and how that means we need to set aside our personal preferences for how we “do church”. What I heard in my heart was that radical hospitality is a sacrifice and that for us as leaders or longtime followers of Jesus - who have the assurance of eternity in our hearts - it is not about us.

Scripture bears this idea out. In its simplest expression being a follower of Jesus means to love God and love others. This week’s passage makes that clear. It’s interesting that Jesus isn’t really saying anything new here - his statement to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love others as yourself echoes words spoken generations earlier, they are words the Pharisees would be familiar with. Leviticus 19:33-34 says: When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 6:5 says: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. This particular passage point us back to Deuteronomy 5 and the Ten Commandments, which in case you’ve never noticed easily divides into “Love God and Love Others.”

You see it is not about us – it is about God and others. Of course as followers of Jesus Sunday mornings have something for us – it equips us for loving God and others. But it is more for the first time guest, for the person looking for something to fill that hole in their heart – that can only be filled with Jesus.

What does radical hospitality look like? Maybe it means sitting up front and in the middle of a row so that first time guests can sit in the back. Maybe it means embracing a different style of music so someone else can find the forgiveness, mercy, grace and life everlasting we already have. Maybe it means embracing scary looking change without having all the answers. Maybe it means being more involved in the community outside the walls of the church building. Maybe it means actually be the body of Christ to a hurting world. What will radical hospitality look like for you?

I really don’t know who else this message is for. I know it is helping me process something I know is important for me as I help to lead through change, change that I know is necessary and that it’s not about me. If you don’t need this – that’s ok. If you are feeling a bit convicted – good, heed the still small voice that may be speaking to your heart and take action. If you are feeling a bit offended – I’m not going to apologize, I am going to ask that pray that God reveals something new, something that will take you to a new level of faith and lead you to radical hospitality that’s not about you.

It is not about us… It is about loving God and loving others.

A Prayer
Father, forgive us for turning your church into something you never intended it be – an exclusive club where things are done our way instead of your way. Help those of us who have been walking with Your Son for a long time to understand that it is not about us – that it is about You and welcoming others into your kingdom as part of your family. Grant us the wisdom and courage to show radical hospitality and to fulfill the purpose you have for us. In the name of Jesus who teaches radical hospitality, we pray – Amen.