The Gospel Comes With a House Key (Rosaria Butterfield)

In The Gospel Comes With a House Key, Butterfield calls Christians to practice "radically ordinary hospitality," with her charge and prayer being to "let God use your home . . . for the purpose of making strangers into neighbors and neighbors into family." She sprinkles a few principles among dozens of story-driven examples. She and her husband are certainly 'radical' in approach, freely offering their home, meals, time, service, and even vehicles. They welcome all- the sinner, the rich, the poor, the Christian, the atheist, the broken, the whole, the druggie, those who agree, and those who do not. They visit those in prison and befriend them, sending aid as well as prayers. They open their lives and resources to all regardless of background or disposition. Why? Because the Gospel comes with a house key.

Christ changes our lives and demands that we carry our cross, pouring ourselves out for others. That looks like many things, and one of them is practicing hospitality. We recognize that everyone- strangers and sinners included- are "marked by the dignity of the God of the universe but also by the imputation of Adam's sin." People are valuable not because they have a specific identity (gender/race/creed/etc.) or achievement but because they are made in God's image. And we are to love them, in part by opening our homes. "When our Christian homes are open, we make transparent to a watching world what Christ is doing with our bodies, our families, and our world . . . [and] our unsaved neighbors watch us struggle with our own sins." "Christians are called to live in the world but not live like the world. Christians are called to dine with sinners but not sin with sinners." Butterfield's call is for us to open our homes in a "practical, unfussy, and constant" way. Have people over- all the time. Have a meal ready, a table over which to talk, a shoulder on which to cry, etc. Have your guests be a part of your home, helping with chores. Give and receive lavishly, as "the principle of both giving and receiving builds a community and glorifies God."

Hospitality "sees our homes as hospitals and incubators." It is risky- it may mean suffering. It is costly- living below your means so you can serve others more. It is gritty and messy- they may not love you back. It is not fancy. "Hospitality shares what their is; that's all. It's not entertainment. It's not supposed to be." She offers a few principles:

• Respect the reality of your neighbor's lives and households
• Pray that you will be a safe person to hear the burdens of your neighbor's hearts
• Understand the Biblical difference between holiness and goodness and don't be afraid to celebrate the goodness of your unbelieving neighbors
• Don't accuse of ill will people who hold to a different theology
• Know why it matters most that we are made in God's image
• Start somewhere. Start today.

And a few basics:

• Ordinary hospitality cares about the things that neighbors care about
• It works from strengths and interests
• It looks out for old people
• It relocates to neighborhoods hit hard by drugs, crime, and poverty
• It includes the children and values their concerns

Review

The content was outstanding; the delivery, frustrating. Butterfield is story-driven in approach (that's fine), but in a seemingly stream-of-consciousness way that drove me up a wall. There are outstanding principles and examples in there- just be prepared to meander with the author. Most examples are from her household and what they do. Text does not convey tone; the cynical could read this as high-handed or showing off. But I don't think she means it that way. She's living what she preaches and exhorting others to do the same.

Her work is timely and critical- "Often, we Christians have no idea how to open our hearts and our homes to include people who need to be there." Yet we must realize that "God uses us as living epistles" to our neighbors. Overall, her work was a powerful reminder and challenge to me and my household. We love having people over but don't want them to see our mess. Hosting means hours (or days) of preparation . . . that's not how love (or the Gospel) operates. Meet people where they are- and where you are. We need community; may we do our part to grow that in our neighborhoods and lives.

Rating: B+