Community Faith Questions
Commentary
The 2018 movieThe Command narrated the disaster of the flagship Russian nuclear Submarine “Kursk,” which sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea in 2000. The disaster and rescue operations were stymied by governmental negligence. As the 23 sailors fought for survival aboard the disabled sub, their families were desperate for answers and updates of their loved ones aboard the sunken vessel. The constant reply was that it is their duty to trust the government process without question. Essentially the Russian government wanted blind obedience by these Russian families as the disabled submarine faced obstacles and impossible odds. In the beginning, the Russian government resisted offers for help for other nations. Is faith in the community of the Russian military and navel community reliable?
In all three of today’s lessons, the question of community faith values emerges. Does Abraham have faith in God’s command to sacrifice his son Isaac? Is Christian faith still valid if the Roman Christians still sin? Finally, who does one trust to enter the confines of their household if they claim to be part of the community of faith?
For people who have trust issues due to past disappointments, these texts are relevant. Also, for people who seek a community in whom they can let their guard down around or has their back in difficult times, these texts are informative.
Genesis 22:1-14
Is there a wakeup call a person would dread if they were told to risk something valuable for the sake of the community? For example, a worker has been elected by the group of employees to deliver some bad news to the company CEO, which could anger the power person enough to prompt immediate dismissal from the job? In Genesis, it might be fair to say that God has earned Abraham’s trust. God has been faithful since the call in Genesis 12:1-2, “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Thus far from episodes related to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) through the birth of his son Isaac, God has proven to be a reliable deity to place one’s faith in for this community of Abraham.
In the above illustration of The Command movie, it may later prove difficult to recruit sailors for the Russian Navy, especially for submarine duty. The demand for blind obedience undercuts any faith families may have in their government military or navel establishment. Not so with Abraham. Despite past misjudgments with the Hagar and Ishmael events, and Sarah laughing at God at the suggestion she give birth at an older age, God has proven to be more than faithful.
Thus far in the Genesis accounts, Abraham has proven to be a man of faith in God and God’s promises. This particular text points to a test in faith onto a next level. Pagan religions did indeed practice infanticide or child sacrifices. Malformed infants were killed to put them out of any potential future misery and that of the family. However, the God of Israel has repeatedly forbidden this. Why now for Abraham? Has his God simply blended into the other “gods” of the culture who do not cherish less than perfectly formed children?
The text could be divided into three parts for a sermon. First, be “Ready to move forward.” Abraham followed the accepted procedure or practices to offering a sacrifice to God at that time having his son Isaac accompany him. They got the fire ready for a sacrifice despite not having a lamb available. This raises the faith community question of do community members question liturgies and practices of the past? What happens when somebody questions the way communion is prepared? How many communities of faith did not use the common cup for communion during a serious pandemic or even flu season? Are there still factory prepared communion kits in the church narthex for those who still are ill at ease with face-to-face bread and wine/juice distribution? This text raises the questions of the track record of how many people trust the sanitary and cleanliness practices of the church altar guild?
The next point of this text is that of “listening” to God. Has God proven to have a reliable track record? This question is a reminder that communities of faith do take risks, try new practices and do believe that God has challenged them to think outside the box at times. How has this improved or impeded the faith of the community? Some churches have invested much money in very expensive electronic and media equipment, only to discover that maintenance and upgrade costs continue to skyrocket. Is this path still a direction to pursue, or might they want to simplify their worship center facilities?
For Abraham, he was certain that God has not let him down earlier, so he carefully listens carefully to hear what God is saying to him. Such questions of faith and trust are very much alive in communities in general. For example, common wisdom used to hold that investments in higher education for young people are well worth the sacrifice. But then again, one can ask their next-door neighbor whose college educated son or daughter still lives in the family basement due to low paying jobs, school loans and lack of opportunity in their field of study. Possibly, listening to where the chosen vocation is headed in the future and how adaptable are the skills from college to accommodate the future would be a better way to “listen.”
Finally, “trust” is a third point. Do people still believe that Gd will provide despite any catastrophic circumstances? In the movie The Command the Russian bureaucracy resisted any offers for help from neighboring nations for security and other reasons. Has God provided in the past and therefore is worthy of trust in any difficult test?
In the case of Abraham, God provided a ram caught in the thicket of bushes, and offered it up at as burnt sacrifice, “So Abraham called that place ‘The Lord will provide,’ as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided’” Genesis 22:14.
Another direction one might explore is to ask the question related to this text is that of, “How has God provided for us in the past?” A family has their home destroyed in a natural disaster. Because neighboring families have experienced similar disasters, they send food, cleaning supplies and provide a credit account at the local store for this family. Such a community has earned trust enough, that once family recovers from the disaster, they might as well remain among these caring people, because they have earned trust. God is working through this community in case they have faith questions.
Other questions related to this text include, does God provide tests that seem unreasonable? On one hand one can observe the Book of Job. On the other hand, one can cite Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”
This text provides the preacher with an opportunity to ask the question of, what is the nature of faith in God? Also, the elephant in the room is that of when one prays and disappointments do occur. For example, a family has a fundraiser for a local child’s critical surgery. Despite, the best efforts of the medical community, the child dies! How does respond in a faithful manner here? Christians would say, death is no longer the last word. [Sources: Brueggemann, Walter, Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching: Genesis (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1982) Von Rad, Gerhard, The Old Testament Library: Genesis, (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1972)].
Romans 6:12-23
This text poses a question between the difference between God requiring moral gymnastics (Holiness Code Leviticus 17-26) and moral laxity, since we have sinned, what’s wrong with pushing the bending a few rules envelope more? The text poses the question of what it means to live out one’s baptismal identity with the community of the risen Christ?
In the 1990 movieDances with Wolves Kevin Costner plays Civil War Lieutenant John Donbar who is stationed in a distant outpost near Lakota Native American Indians. He develops a relationship with them. He is attracted by the simplicity of their lifestyle. He chooses to leave his former lifestyle behind him to be with them. After observing his behavior with a wild wolf, they name him “Dances with Wolves.” Later, the army advances out into the plains and John must decide if he will return to his old life as Lieutenant Dunbar, or remain with the people whom he has now become part of their tribal family?
This might be an illustration as to what it means to be part of a new corporate identity as a baptized (converted) Christian. Whose life habits and ways shall the person walk in? This text is an exhortation of Paul’s understanding of living in the Christian faith. Resistance to the power of sin is a common theme in this text. Once one is baptized, they are dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (6:11). Paul frames his logic in the assumption that one can choose to be a slave to sin—which lead to death, which is revealed when a person fails to keep the Hebrew Bible laws 100%...or the Christ of the church?
Christians are to live as new creatures as John Dunbar gave up his old name to now be the one whom the Lakota call “Dances with Wolves.” In some Christian traditions, people are given baptism names upon the receiving the sacrament. The Christian now lives in a new era of living under grace. Sin still assails the person. All people need God’s grace, but in different areas.
One sermon path might be asking where one needs God’s grace the most? In his lectures on Galatians, Martin Luther the reformer said all Christians are “saint and sinner at the same time” (Hultgren, 261). In today’s terms, one may be a full member of the Christian community, and still have sin their lives. One sermon path might reflect whether such a grace and sin relationship serve to attract or detract from witness toward outreach and evangelism? How often have Christians heard criticisms about hypocrites in the pew? Where does simply mishaps as humans cross the line into deliberate infractions of rules simply to see how far one can avoid getting caught?
Paul anticipates the response that since Christians are saved by grace should they sin all the more so grace may abound? His response is who is the God or power that we serve or choose to be obedient toward? Sin leads to death. The grace of God with Christ leads to eternal life. This is a simple gospel message. For those who are close to their deathbed this is welcome news. To people who underrate sin’s power of them, this is placed on the back burner. Hence, a sermon on sanctification might be appropriate. Are people given the false impression that baptism or conversion to Christianity is a “Get Out of Hell Free” card? What are the advantages of living a new life under the cross of Christ?
For John Dunbar in the illustration above he was attracted to a simpler lifestyle, which still required hunting and living off the elements. However, the soldiers who later arrived did not empathize with that position and treated him as an army deserter! Would Christians today be easily identified as deserters to the life of sin?
Another sermon path might me, “Is there a point of too much grace?” That is can God’s grace be abused? One approach I take in catechism class is that while God’s gracious forgiveness is always ours despite our breaking the Ten Commandments, there remains consequences to breaking the commands. If I threw a brick through one of their parents’ house windows, the chances are they would forgive me if they thought I was truly sorry. But I would still have to pay for the broken window. [Sources: Harrisville, Roy A., Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament: Romans, (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 1980); Hultgren, Arland J., Paul’s Letter to the Romans: A Commentary, (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2011)].
Matthew 10:40-42
In my younger years before the days of “boundaries” and “space” requirements in social settings, once a summer the vacuum cleaner salesman would drive up into our county home, on the gravel driveway on a cold call for the purpose of selling us a brand-new vacuum cleaner, though we were happy with the one we had. Typically, the salesman would point out how the new and improved vacuum cleaner performed much better than the older one we had (which we bought from him the previous summer). His basic “gotcha!” moment occurred when he dumped dirt all over our living room carpet, let it sit for a while, then got out the brand-new model vacuum and whisked the dirt away! He was persuasive in his presentation. One could imagine this man succeeding in selling ice to Eskimos. No money…no problem! He got out a contract for a payment plan! To drive the point home more, he might take the new vacuum cleaner and use it on other floor rooms in the house. He frames his presentation with the idea of, “I have solved all of your floor cleaning problems, what is preventing you from buying this gold standard cleaning device?”
When my tired dad got home from work, he was stunned to see a new vacuum cleaner. How could a salesman be so slick when the old cleaner was perfectly fine? Soon, my dad put up a sign saying “No Soliciting.” To ensure this never happened again, he got us a dog who chases cars and strangers out of the front yard. This is not what Matthew 10:40-42 has in mind.
In the days of the New Testament, certain prophets were welcomed or unwelcome. We get a glace of this in the Epistles of 2 and 3 John. Matthew’s intention is to have people of faith receive people who are recognized as children of God who confess Christ. We are to take a posture of being children of God and treat guests accordingly.
Matthew does have the category of “sheep and goats” who may or may not be a sincere part of the fold of believers (Matthew 25). The point of the text is to welcome the guest is also to welcome the one who sent the guest. This text resonates with the spirit of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. If the person knows the visitor is from the community of faith, then to welcome them is to welcome the God who sent them. This is the essential message of the text. The sender carries the authority of the one who sent them. As in the above illustration, the vacuum cleaner salesman carried the authority of the president of the company who sent him to make bills of sale and distribute vacuum cleaners.
One minor point of the text is to receive a cup of cold water meant it passed through hands. Cups did not have flat surfaces at the bottoms as modern kitchen ware does today. The cup was transferred from hand to hand when the water was drunk. This implied a close, touching relationship with people who are welcomed guests. Today, how would a family’s children feel if a guest walked in and grabbed the television remote and changed the channels? Who in the family or friendship circle has that level of rapport? These are basic hospitality questions for of faith to consider these days.
Also, when does one view hospitality as being abused? There was a local ministerial association who had hotel voucher system for travelers whose vehicles were broken-down on the freeway exit of their town. The congregations felt good about giving travelers a room for the night, a tank of gas at the local gas station and sandwich from the gas station sandwich shop. Then a pastor recognized a name on the log from last year and the year before. Has the good-natured ministerial association clergy become a “de facto” annual traveler’s motel service? Now the Romans 6 question of grace comes into play here. Most Christian churches I have served, tend to err on the side of grace, even for those who abuse it. One never knows when their own family will be stranded alongside a road or highway out of state.
To conclude the above story, not many salesmen came to our family home when the sign and dog were present. Unfortunately, nobody told the pastor this as he was on the schedule to pick up kids for midweek church. Upon entrance into the dirty, muddy driveway, his small light blue Beetle Volkswagen fought furiously against the barking and clawing on the small vehicle of the large family dog before the kids called him off. The pastor was persistent despite the obstacles. And now look who in that same family later became a pastor, and who now calls way ahead of time before he visits anybody in his churches? [Sources: Culpepper, Alan R. The New Testament Library: Matthew, (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2021); Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio Rhetorical Commentary, (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2009)]
Practical Application
What are the assumptions churches make when it comes to welcoming visitors? This would depend on the size of the congregation and setting. A larger church might have a greeter at the door and a welcome packet of church gifts and articles for the guest. Is this an assumption that the guest is a customer who is looking for a new product? Then in another church, a person is new in town and sits on the pew somewhere in the back 2/3 of the church to go unnoticed. But a long-time older person welcomes the person and asks the guest about their past church experience and do they need help with getting familiar with this church’s worshipping practices? Still, another person got fired from a job and is very depressed to the point of not wanting to be seen in public. They visit a liturgical church who has a low attendance Saturday evening service. The person asks the clergyperson if they can take communion at this church? The pastor sees the droopy eyes and wrinkled clothes of the visitor. The pastor replies, “Our table is open to all people who trust in Jesus.” No further theological questions about communion theology or sacramental views are necessary. Sometimes, when people feel the least worthy of the welcome at the communion table is when they need it the most. This is the spirit of Matthew 10 and Romans 6.
Alternative Application
When does a church decide being a welcome place is being a good or bad neighbor? If the church has been vandalized, do they keep the church doors open or locked? Must there be a staff person present if neighborhood kids who do not attend the church wish to use the restrooms?
In all three of today’s lessons, the question of community faith values emerges. Does Abraham have faith in God’s command to sacrifice his son Isaac? Is Christian faith still valid if the Roman Christians still sin? Finally, who does one trust to enter the confines of their household if they claim to be part of the community of faith?
For people who have trust issues due to past disappointments, these texts are relevant. Also, for people who seek a community in whom they can let their guard down around or has their back in difficult times, these texts are informative.
Genesis 22:1-14
Is there a wakeup call a person would dread if they were told to risk something valuable for the sake of the community? For example, a worker has been elected by the group of employees to deliver some bad news to the company CEO, which could anger the power person enough to prompt immediate dismissal from the job? In Genesis, it might be fair to say that God has earned Abraham’s trust. God has been faithful since the call in Genesis 12:1-2, “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Thus far from episodes related to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) through the birth of his son Isaac, God has proven to be a reliable deity to place one’s faith in for this community of Abraham.
In the above illustration of The Command movie, it may later prove difficult to recruit sailors for the Russian Navy, especially for submarine duty. The demand for blind obedience undercuts any faith families may have in their government military or navel establishment. Not so with Abraham. Despite past misjudgments with the Hagar and Ishmael events, and Sarah laughing at God at the suggestion she give birth at an older age, God has proven to be more than faithful.
Thus far in the Genesis accounts, Abraham has proven to be a man of faith in God and God’s promises. This particular text points to a test in faith onto a next level. Pagan religions did indeed practice infanticide or child sacrifices. Malformed infants were killed to put them out of any potential future misery and that of the family. However, the God of Israel has repeatedly forbidden this. Why now for Abraham? Has his God simply blended into the other “gods” of the culture who do not cherish less than perfectly formed children?
The text could be divided into three parts for a sermon. First, be “Ready to move forward.” Abraham followed the accepted procedure or practices to offering a sacrifice to God at that time having his son Isaac accompany him. They got the fire ready for a sacrifice despite not having a lamb available. This raises the faith community question of do community members question liturgies and practices of the past? What happens when somebody questions the way communion is prepared? How many communities of faith did not use the common cup for communion during a serious pandemic or even flu season? Are there still factory prepared communion kits in the church narthex for those who still are ill at ease with face-to-face bread and wine/juice distribution? This text raises the questions of the track record of how many people trust the sanitary and cleanliness practices of the church altar guild?
The next point of this text is that of “listening” to God. Has God proven to have a reliable track record? This question is a reminder that communities of faith do take risks, try new practices and do believe that God has challenged them to think outside the box at times. How has this improved or impeded the faith of the community? Some churches have invested much money in very expensive electronic and media equipment, only to discover that maintenance and upgrade costs continue to skyrocket. Is this path still a direction to pursue, or might they want to simplify their worship center facilities?
For Abraham, he was certain that God has not let him down earlier, so he carefully listens carefully to hear what God is saying to him. Such questions of faith and trust are very much alive in communities in general. For example, common wisdom used to hold that investments in higher education for young people are well worth the sacrifice. But then again, one can ask their next-door neighbor whose college educated son or daughter still lives in the family basement due to low paying jobs, school loans and lack of opportunity in their field of study. Possibly, listening to where the chosen vocation is headed in the future and how adaptable are the skills from college to accommodate the future would be a better way to “listen.”
Finally, “trust” is a third point. Do people still believe that Gd will provide despite any catastrophic circumstances? In the movie The Command the Russian bureaucracy resisted any offers for help from neighboring nations for security and other reasons. Has God provided in the past and therefore is worthy of trust in any difficult test?
In the case of Abraham, God provided a ram caught in the thicket of bushes, and offered it up at as burnt sacrifice, “So Abraham called that place ‘The Lord will provide,’ as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided’” Genesis 22:14.
Another direction one might explore is to ask the question related to this text is that of, “How has God provided for us in the past?” A family has their home destroyed in a natural disaster. Because neighboring families have experienced similar disasters, they send food, cleaning supplies and provide a credit account at the local store for this family. Such a community has earned trust enough, that once family recovers from the disaster, they might as well remain among these caring people, because they have earned trust. God is working through this community in case they have faith questions.
Other questions related to this text include, does God provide tests that seem unreasonable? On one hand one can observe the Book of Job. On the other hand, one can cite Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”
This text provides the preacher with an opportunity to ask the question of, what is the nature of faith in God? Also, the elephant in the room is that of when one prays and disappointments do occur. For example, a family has a fundraiser for a local child’s critical surgery. Despite, the best efforts of the medical community, the child dies! How does respond in a faithful manner here? Christians would say, death is no longer the last word. [Sources: Brueggemann, Walter, Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching: Genesis (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1982) Von Rad, Gerhard, The Old Testament Library: Genesis, (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1972)].
Romans 6:12-23
This text poses a question between the difference between God requiring moral gymnastics (Holiness Code Leviticus 17-26) and moral laxity, since we have sinned, what’s wrong with pushing the bending a few rules envelope more? The text poses the question of what it means to live out one’s baptismal identity with the community of the risen Christ?
In the 1990 movieDances with Wolves Kevin Costner plays Civil War Lieutenant John Donbar who is stationed in a distant outpost near Lakota Native American Indians. He develops a relationship with them. He is attracted by the simplicity of their lifestyle. He chooses to leave his former lifestyle behind him to be with them. After observing his behavior with a wild wolf, they name him “Dances with Wolves.” Later, the army advances out into the plains and John must decide if he will return to his old life as Lieutenant Dunbar, or remain with the people whom he has now become part of their tribal family?
This might be an illustration as to what it means to be part of a new corporate identity as a baptized (converted) Christian. Whose life habits and ways shall the person walk in? This text is an exhortation of Paul’s understanding of living in the Christian faith. Resistance to the power of sin is a common theme in this text. Once one is baptized, they are dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (6:11). Paul frames his logic in the assumption that one can choose to be a slave to sin—which lead to death, which is revealed when a person fails to keep the Hebrew Bible laws 100%...or the Christ of the church?
Christians are to live as new creatures as John Dunbar gave up his old name to now be the one whom the Lakota call “Dances with Wolves.” In some Christian traditions, people are given baptism names upon the receiving the sacrament. The Christian now lives in a new era of living under grace. Sin still assails the person. All people need God’s grace, but in different areas.
One sermon path might be asking where one needs God’s grace the most? In his lectures on Galatians, Martin Luther the reformer said all Christians are “saint and sinner at the same time” (Hultgren, 261). In today’s terms, one may be a full member of the Christian community, and still have sin their lives. One sermon path might reflect whether such a grace and sin relationship serve to attract or detract from witness toward outreach and evangelism? How often have Christians heard criticisms about hypocrites in the pew? Where does simply mishaps as humans cross the line into deliberate infractions of rules simply to see how far one can avoid getting caught?
Paul anticipates the response that since Christians are saved by grace should they sin all the more so grace may abound? His response is who is the God or power that we serve or choose to be obedient toward? Sin leads to death. The grace of God with Christ leads to eternal life. This is a simple gospel message. For those who are close to their deathbed this is welcome news. To people who underrate sin’s power of them, this is placed on the back burner. Hence, a sermon on sanctification might be appropriate. Are people given the false impression that baptism or conversion to Christianity is a “Get Out of Hell Free” card? What are the advantages of living a new life under the cross of Christ?
For John Dunbar in the illustration above he was attracted to a simpler lifestyle, which still required hunting and living off the elements. However, the soldiers who later arrived did not empathize with that position and treated him as an army deserter! Would Christians today be easily identified as deserters to the life of sin?
Another sermon path might me, “Is there a point of too much grace?” That is can God’s grace be abused? One approach I take in catechism class is that while God’s gracious forgiveness is always ours despite our breaking the Ten Commandments, there remains consequences to breaking the commands. If I threw a brick through one of their parents’ house windows, the chances are they would forgive me if they thought I was truly sorry. But I would still have to pay for the broken window. [Sources: Harrisville, Roy A., Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament: Romans, (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 1980); Hultgren, Arland J., Paul’s Letter to the Romans: A Commentary, (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2011)].
Matthew 10:40-42
In my younger years before the days of “boundaries” and “space” requirements in social settings, once a summer the vacuum cleaner salesman would drive up into our county home, on the gravel driveway on a cold call for the purpose of selling us a brand-new vacuum cleaner, though we were happy with the one we had. Typically, the salesman would point out how the new and improved vacuum cleaner performed much better than the older one we had (which we bought from him the previous summer). His basic “gotcha!” moment occurred when he dumped dirt all over our living room carpet, let it sit for a while, then got out the brand-new model vacuum and whisked the dirt away! He was persuasive in his presentation. One could imagine this man succeeding in selling ice to Eskimos. No money…no problem! He got out a contract for a payment plan! To drive the point home more, he might take the new vacuum cleaner and use it on other floor rooms in the house. He frames his presentation with the idea of, “I have solved all of your floor cleaning problems, what is preventing you from buying this gold standard cleaning device?”
When my tired dad got home from work, he was stunned to see a new vacuum cleaner. How could a salesman be so slick when the old cleaner was perfectly fine? Soon, my dad put up a sign saying “No Soliciting.” To ensure this never happened again, he got us a dog who chases cars and strangers out of the front yard. This is not what Matthew 10:40-42 has in mind.
In the days of the New Testament, certain prophets were welcomed or unwelcome. We get a glace of this in the Epistles of 2 and 3 John. Matthew’s intention is to have people of faith receive people who are recognized as children of God who confess Christ. We are to take a posture of being children of God and treat guests accordingly.
Matthew does have the category of “sheep and goats” who may or may not be a sincere part of the fold of believers (Matthew 25). The point of the text is to welcome the guest is also to welcome the one who sent the guest. This text resonates with the spirit of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. If the person knows the visitor is from the community of faith, then to welcome them is to welcome the God who sent them. This is the essential message of the text. The sender carries the authority of the one who sent them. As in the above illustration, the vacuum cleaner salesman carried the authority of the president of the company who sent him to make bills of sale and distribute vacuum cleaners.
One minor point of the text is to receive a cup of cold water meant it passed through hands. Cups did not have flat surfaces at the bottoms as modern kitchen ware does today. The cup was transferred from hand to hand when the water was drunk. This implied a close, touching relationship with people who are welcomed guests. Today, how would a family’s children feel if a guest walked in and grabbed the television remote and changed the channels? Who in the family or friendship circle has that level of rapport? These are basic hospitality questions for of faith to consider these days.
Also, when does one view hospitality as being abused? There was a local ministerial association who had hotel voucher system for travelers whose vehicles were broken-down on the freeway exit of their town. The congregations felt good about giving travelers a room for the night, a tank of gas at the local gas station and sandwich from the gas station sandwich shop. Then a pastor recognized a name on the log from last year and the year before. Has the good-natured ministerial association clergy become a “de facto” annual traveler’s motel service? Now the Romans 6 question of grace comes into play here. Most Christian churches I have served, tend to err on the side of grace, even for those who abuse it. One never knows when their own family will be stranded alongside a road or highway out of state.
To conclude the above story, not many salesmen came to our family home when the sign and dog were present. Unfortunately, nobody told the pastor this as he was on the schedule to pick up kids for midweek church. Upon entrance into the dirty, muddy driveway, his small light blue Beetle Volkswagen fought furiously against the barking and clawing on the small vehicle of the large family dog before the kids called him off. The pastor was persistent despite the obstacles. And now look who in that same family later became a pastor, and who now calls way ahead of time before he visits anybody in his churches? [Sources: Culpepper, Alan R. The New Testament Library: Matthew, (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2021); Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio Rhetorical Commentary, (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2009)]
Practical Application
What are the assumptions churches make when it comes to welcoming visitors? This would depend on the size of the congregation and setting. A larger church might have a greeter at the door and a welcome packet of church gifts and articles for the guest. Is this an assumption that the guest is a customer who is looking for a new product? Then in another church, a person is new in town and sits on the pew somewhere in the back 2/3 of the church to go unnoticed. But a long-time older person welcomes the person and asks the guest about their past church experience and do they need help with getting familiar with this church’s worshipping practices? Still, another person got fired from a job and is very depressed to the point of not wanting to be seen in public. They visit a liturgical church who has a low attendance Saturday evening service. The person asks the clergyperson if they can take communion at this church? The pastor sees the droopy eyes and wrinkled clothes of the visitor. The pastor replies, “Our table is open to all people who trust in Jesus.” No further theological questions about communion theology or sacramental views are necessary. Sometimes, when people feel the least worthy of the welcome at the communion table is when they need it the most. This is the spirit of Matthew 10 and Romans 6.
Alternative Application
When does a church decide being a welcome place is being a good or bad neighbor? If the church has been vandalized, do they keep the church doors open or locked? Must there be a staff person present if neighborhood kids who do not attend the church wish to use the restrooms?
