Review: Hospitality Commands

Review: The Hospitality Commands by Alexander Strauch

I’ll be honest, Andrew is the one who suggested getting this book. Being the MDiv student that he is, he was drawn to a book on hospitality that was based in the exegesis of scripture related to the subject. And praise God that he is my husband, because this book is incredibly valuable and helpful.

In a mere 59 pages, Strauch deals with the main passages of scripture that command hospitality, and even manages to give practical tips for putting hospitality into practice. Strauch sets up the need for his book by pointing out how Christians have become lax in the practice of hospitality. He then places it within the rich historical background of the early church and Christian family where sharing your home and resources with brothers and sisters was commonplace and integral in building up love and unity in the early church. He also describes how the home was the place that evangelism took place before the time of church buildings. He then addresses the passages of scripture that command (yep, it’s a command) the practice of hospitality. And, as if all this were not enough, he provides tips as to how to practice hospitality, that are terribly practical and approachable.

What was most helpful about this book was the understanding it gave to the context biblical hospitality. In the early church, the home was a place where the believer could display love to brothers and sisters in Christ. The main texts that command hospitality are within the context of showing love and unity within the body of Christ. The home was also a place where friends and strangers would see displayed in the day to day and ordinary lives of those who are becoming like Christ. The gospel is adorned with the obedience of compassion, and sacrifice displayed in opening the home to others. The unbelieving world saw the faith of early believers displayed in the way that they welcomed one another and strangers into their houses.

Strauch does not make hospitality out to be the chief of all Christian virtues, but rather holds up a virtue that has become lost. While not making too much of hospitality itself, Strauch shows how this practice will cast vivid light onto the love of God in the lives of His people. This book is an approachable, clear admonition to the church to take up again this mark of brotherhood and love.