Do
not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have
unwittingly entertained angels. (Hebrews 13:02, NKJV).
The
popular view of the Christian faith, foisted by an antagonistic
culture, is one of isolationism based on a sense of superiority.
While it is undeniable that there are so-called religious groups
naming the name of Christ who are unbearably obnoxious, toxic, and
even evil, these are not true followers of the doctrine and practice
laid down by Christ and the 1st century Apostles.
Believers
are to be in the world, just not of the world.
Permanent cloistered separation is as unbiblical as idol worship. Our
relationship with Christ is to be lived out in the world so that
others can see.
Aside from temporary retreats for the purposes of rest
and recuperation, there is no verse in the New Testament that makes
such a lifestyle permissible, let alone mandatory. Strictly isolated
Monasteries and Cloisters were brought about by the traditions of
men, not the commands of God. That is not to say that the less
exclusionist variety of these communities have not done good for the
world, for they most certainly have, but it is to affirm that
complete separation from the world in this life is unscriptural.
Further, permanent isolationism may be a grand idea for
a variety of reasons, not the least of which is sparing the world
from obnoxious groups, but religious practice is not one of them. In
fact, we are commanded to do the opposite:
I
wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral
people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral
people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or
idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone
named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an
idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to
eat with such a person. (1 Corinthians 5:9-11, NKJV).
“I
do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that
You should keep them from the evil one. (John 17:15, NKJV).
“You
are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hidden. “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16, NKJV).
It goes even further. Not only are we to be conspicuous
Christians, speaking the truth in love at every God-given
opportunity, knowing it is an offense to those who are in darkness,
even among families and in “churches”, but we are to be
hospitable in an inhospitable world.
As in the focus verse above, we are to entertain
strangers. Now this was a crucial practice in the early church,
since the gospel was spread through the ministry of traveling
evangelists who, through whatever means necessary, journeyed the
known world with little funding or advanced itinerary planning. These
men and women usually walked into a city or village unannounced and
with no entourage or sponsor, following the model set forth by the
indefatigable Paul.
Their survival and continued efforts depended solely on
the kindness of strangers.
It is not so easy today, I think, to open one's dwelling
to total strangers, even with some kind of letter of recommendation
from a trusted source. In the modern urbanized West, hospitality is a
forgotten virtue. In large part, we are barely acquainted with our
immediate neighbors, and share little of our private lives with
anyone, but that is NOT the Christian way.
The incentive provided to overcome this reluctance is
astonishing: some of those strangers, brought to our door by God
Himself, may be immortal supernatural beings of immense power and
intelligence. The Bible calls them angels, and it is unfortunate that
misuse of that term has rendered these magnificent beings a cliché,
or a caricature of their revealed natures.
Angels can and do manifest themselves in human form.
Scripture is replete with such occurrences. From Abraham's visitors
to Lots rescuers (and other such encounters), we know without doubt
that angels from Heaven walk to and from among us, ministering to the
saints (all believers in Christ), and carrying out God's will.
Now they are not to be worshipped or prayed to, or
otherwise revered, nor are they to be considered beyond their role as
holy servants of God – one day, Paul assures us, we will even judge
fallen angels – but they are to be treated with hospitality and
respect.
As I already mentioned: astonishing.
How many of us have unwittingly entertained angels?
Remember, one angel alone destroyed 185,000 Assyrian
soldiers in one night to protect the nation Israel.
Believe what you will, but if you hold the Bible to be
the authoritative Word of God, you must understand that one or more
these same individuals may show up on your doorstep.
And you are commanded to let them inside.
Despite the mischaracterizations rampant in the world,
Christianity is anything but stifling and repressive. Instead, our
faith is exciting and filled with joy. True Christian doctrine is
astounding.
But to appreciate this, you must first actually read and
study the Bible itself, as a disciple, and not rely on the lies
perpetrated about it by the Christ-rejecting world.
If and when you do, you will fall in love with its
Author, and marvel at the care and precision with which He has
revealed Himself to His children.
