If we are going to be able to capture the attention of the 555,000 boomers (374,000 who are unchurched or church alumni) who are about to retire in the greater Cincinnati area, those of us who are active members must learn a new language.
There are no CDs or DVDs needed to learn this language. This language we must learn is the language of hospitality. Learning this language will allow us to love the unknown people in our area and, by the way, will cause you to love the unknown people in your area also.
In Biblical times, travelers in the desert areas of the Middle East depended on the hospitality of strangers for survival.
There are two rules to learning the language of hospitality:
1. Host first
2. Then ask questions.
Exercising this new language is not dependent on the guest’s identity – only their need.
As an unknown pastor notes: A worshipping community which is radically hospitable to outsiders is appealing to a spiritually-minded generation who can readily spot “spin and marketing.”
The Boomer Blogger
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2 comments:
Just a question: Won't adopting this new "credo" remove from the American Church the "consumer mentality" wherein one "shops" for the church that is the most palatable, convenient, or like-minded? Won't folks be forced to just "be themselves" as we (the Church) ready ourselves to greet them as the "weary, road worn travelers" they are? I don't know about you, but by the time Sunday rolls around, THIS traveler is feeling pretty beat up. How great to have a Body of Believers simply offer an understanding heart and extend a hand of friendship!
Thank you Paula.
Your comment goes to the heart of the issue. Many times, as a pastor, I did not look forward to Sunday morning because I was beat-up, tired and discouraged. The last thing I wanted to do was to find myself in the midst of a people who were indifferent towards my struggles and to each others. I remember the time when real hospitality existed. The time when several people in the congregation went to church looking for visiting families to invite to dinner.
Thanks again Phil 1:3
Ron
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