How to Fear Rightly

One time - after living in Portland for a while we visited close friends that took the radical love of neighbor to a level I hadn't seen in a while.

They had people from both sides of 2 countries at war in their home. After leaving the area they went on to travel for decades - living in community to help the 'least of these' - eventually the wife getting malaria and dying while helping refugees.

Our family has had many exchange students - which was great - now we run a Airbnb - though we charge we have had a variety of people into our home - which in the current culture seems odd - even to some Christians we know.

The 'neighbors' we've had come into our home as sometimes challenged us - those wounded by a broken world and sin sometimes have ugly festering wounds. But for many times it has also blessed us. Some have been short visits - a thanks for opening our home - others have been 1..2 or 3 hour conversations - deep ones too. Celebrations (a new grandchild to visit) and sadness ( a Father/s on trip to tell son of impending divorce).

We rejoice when when we get to tell of the King we live under. The one who by His death gave His life for His enemies. Some we have talked to left the church due to some of the hypocrisy they saw - some have been raised in a Christian home but the faith was not passed on - some have never set foot in a Church and perhaps have a distorted view of Christ or Christians.

Our family - to embody what the Early Church called φιλονεξια or Xenophilia opens our home up. Xenophilia, the love of the stranger, is the word in Greek that’s translated in English bibles as ‘hospitality’. In the old and new Testament Xenophobia is a sin - a rather forgotten one - but a sin nonetheless. The early church had 'Christ rooms' to allow for wanderers to have a place to stay.

Dear Christian - join the King and by Fearing Bravely share of His Kingdom to a world that needs it.

Here are some great samples of some great quotes from Catherine McNeils book on Hospitality - what it means to Fear Bravely...