Today we're pleased to share with you an audio essay written and read by Rosaria Butterfield,

entitled Five Myths About Hospitality.

Rosaria's book is The Gospel Comes with a House Key, practicing radically ordinary hospitality in our post-Christian world.

Five myths about hospitality, written and read by Rosaria Butterfield.

Myth number one, only people with the gift of hospitality are expected to practice it.

Hospitality is not a gift unto itself, but a means through which other spiritual gifts are displayed, mercy, serving, giving, and evangelizing. The dynamic teaching on hospitality

found in the New Testament shows that hospitality is rooted

in our love for God and our brothers and sisters in Christ and our desire to see all of our

neighbors know the salvation of Jesus. When Christians refuse to give or receive hospitality, that speaks to their lack of love,

first for the body of Christ, next for their neighbors, and ultimately for the Lord.

1 Peter 4, 8 through 10.

Myth number two, hospitality is woman's work.

Hospitality is a biblical mandate for church elders, who are men entrusted with the teaching

and ruling leadership of the church. The call to practice hospitality goes out to elders,

men, first, and next to the rest of the body. Hospitality requires old-fashioned hard

work on the part of everyone, men, women, and children. It is often inconvenient, costly,

and during times of persecution, dangerous.

Table fellowship, Bible teaching, singing of Psalms, prayer,

caring for each other's basic needs,

and providing housing for both brothers and sisters in the faith,

and also the stranger in our midst,

all fall under the umbrella of hospitality. 1 Timothy 3, 1 through 2.

...