Welcome One Another
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:5–7, ESV)
Notice the goal that Paul is presenting before us (verses 5 and 6), and the way forward to begin moving toward that goal (verse 7). The goal is unity in the church. Not one note on the piano, but chords, played in harmony, to result in a beautiful song of praise to the glory of God the Father and his Son. When we live and worship together in harmonious unity, the holiness and splendor of Jesus is made visible among us and enjoyed. That’s why church can be a taste of heaven! Because our “chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever” — and that starts now, even as we gather weekly on Sunday mornings!
How do we take a step toward that beautiful grace being offered to us? The answer is found in verse 7:
“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
Do you ever stop and think about the gospel through the lens of hospitality? Do you ever ask yourself, “How has Jesus welcomed me?”
We get some clues in the very word used for “welcome.” The New Testament was written in Greek originally, and the Koine Greek word that is below “welcome” is the word προσλαμβάνεσθε. When you look at how the Bible uses it (12 times in the New Testament), two main ideas stand out:
Receiving
First, to “welcome” someone is to receive them. Sometimes this word denotes “taking someone aside.” Imagine someone walks into church, and it’s their first time. What do they see when they walk into the chapel before the service starts? Several small groups of people gathered together in conversation, maybe prayer. There they are, the Lone Visitor, facing all these seemingly not-alone gatherings of friends. One of the most loving things you can do the moment you see this visitor is to receive them. To “take them aside,” from isolation and into community.
Didn’t Jesus do that with us? From the very beginning of his earthly ministry, he received people to himself. “Follow me” was a hospitable and gracious invitation to belong somewhere. To belong with him.
Chances are, there was a time when you were an outsider to the gospel. And Jesus, seeing you, his heart full of compassion and love, took you aside. He received you. “Follow me.” Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.
Eating
There’s no denying that biblical hospitality usually involves food. Many of the NT uses of the word “welcome” are closely related to food. Food and hospitality go hand-in-hand. Eating at the same table should level the social playing field. Nothing says “equality,” like slurping soup or trying to eat tacos without spilling on your shirts together. Providing a meal for someone also shows them you value them. “You’re worth my resources.” And especially cooking a meal for someone and having them in your home — it’s a powerful way to literally serve someone.
When Jesus’ disciples gathered with him for one final Passover meal (what we now call the Last Supper), there was no question about who was socially superior at that table. Picture Da Vinci’s “Last Supper” painting, with Jesus in the middle. But the Lord of glory got up from his seat of honor, wrapped a servant’s towel around his waist, and served his friends by washing their grimy feet.
Did not Christ welcome you at the table?
Week after week, we gather around the Lord’s Table to receive from him, our Host, the body, and the blood. The meal he provided for us was more infinitely costly to him than we can fathom. Yet he so desired that we should be one with him, that we should be received by him, that he gave his own life.
Did not Christ welcome you at the cross?
It’s shockingly easy for us to undo the sermon we preach when we receive the Lord’s Supper by our lack of hospitality one hour before and one hour after. The way to disunity in the church is easy and broad and just requires us to forget that to be Jesus-welcomed-gospel-transformed-Spirit-filled people is to be hospitable people.
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.
The First Front: Sunday Mornings
It turns out that to show hospitality is to take up arms in a spiritual battle. We push back the darkness and shine the light of Christ with how we welcome one another. And the first front of this war is Sunday morning when the church is gathered together to glorify Jesus.
I’ll never forget — perhaps you remember, too — a pastor friend of mine recalling the first time he walked through the doors of the church he now serves. He said, “So-and-so welcomed me warmly and made me feel at home. He had no idea he was welcoming the next lead pastor of his church.” The Bible says, “I’ll see you a pastor, and I’ll raise you an angel.” Seek to show hospitality to everyone, because by doing so, some have even entertained angels!
The gathered church is the focal point for the proclamation of the gospel and the discipleship of God’s people. It’s where major strides are made in the war against the enemy. So together, let’s fight the good fight by welcoming one another, as Christ has welcomed us! It matters more than we think.
What if I’m an introvert?
I’ve taken way too many personality tests. I’m either an introvert with a compulsion to be liked by other people that drives me to extroverted tendencies — or I’m just a grumpy extrovert. And I’m only half joking.
But the emotional drain of social interactions is real. Emotional and relational capacity is a resource, just like our time and money. And for some of us, even a simple conversation can seem “costly.”
In Colossians 1, Paul says that the Colossian church is doing really well with brotherly (and sisterly) love, BECAUSE of the hope that is laid up for them in heaven. God’s inspired word is teaching us that there’s a causal connection between our heavenly hope in Christ and our love for one another. Why? Because a scarcity mindset is a hindrance to love. But if our present and future are secure in Christ, if there is a hope laid up for is in heaven and guarded for us by God himself, then we have no scarcity. The riches of Christ are ours, by his grace! Therefore, we can love with costly love, yet without risk.
If you’re an introvert, or if you’re personality-test-confused like me, here’s one simple and powerful way to participate in this act of holy spiritual warfare on Sunday morning: As you drive into church, meditate on the hope you have in Christ, which is laid up for you in heaven. Think about the riches of Christ, which he lavished on you. Think about the nearness of the Holy Spirit, who fills you with strength and produces fruit from heaven on the branches of your heart. Thank God for it, and ask him to give you the capacity to love people and welcome people well. And I tell you, he will answer that prayer.
7 Next Steps
Let’s get really practical. Here are some next steps we can all take (pick one or two!) on Sunday morning to walk in obedience to the gospel in harmony, for God’s glory.
Look for people that seem new, and introduce yourself. Ask them a couple of questions about themselves, and listen.
Look for people who are sitting or standing alone, and seek to be near them. “Do you mind if I sit here?”
Give yourself and everyone else permission to forget a name! “I’m sorry if I’ve forgotten, but what is your name? I’m so-and-so.”
Invite someone to join your family for a meal after church or later in the week.
Invite someone to visit with your Home Group, and make the introduction with your Home Group leader.
If it’s appropriate, see if you can exchange information and take the person out to coffee to hear more of their story.
Ask if there are any practical needs that you can help meet this week.
I’ll sign off with 1 Peter 4:8–11 —
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)
