Hospitality is the practice of inviting people into our lives and stories. It’s a messy, inefficient practice. Inviting people in is a vulnerable act of love for others. Our messes and weaknesses are quickly exposed.
But isn’t this where Jesus is? Isn’t this where he is best revealed to a watching world? Jesus enters into the world’s mess to reveal himself. He makes his home among our brokenness and invites people into his story.
When we practice hospitality and invite people into our homes, they’ll see the mess and shortcomings in our lives. Yet our neighbors also will see God’s grace manifest in our families and relationships. Through the practice of hospitality, people will see Jesus because of life’s messiness, not despite it.
The Painful Reality of Our Post-Christian World
Doing youth ministry in a post-Christian world is difficult. Often it lacks the shine of traditional youth ministry. There’s no glory in being sent to a lost culture, being present with the people there and sharing your dinner table with a student who has no desire to ever attend a church. The work is slow and intentional and will receive little praise or recognition.
However, as we embrace doing youth ministry in our current culture, we must remember: Jesus didn’t call us to efficient programs or growth models. Jesus calls us to himself and then sends us to people.
There is no greater work than being sent by Jesus to a people who do not know him, being faithfully present with them, and inviting to share in the story God is working into our lives. This is the way of Jesus, and it’s the way of youth ministry in our post-Christian world.
