Radical Hospitality

Here at the church we are starting to read and study together Bishop Robert Schnase's book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. We are looking at each chapter together in small groups, sermons and classes. Today I will begin to blog some of my own thoughts on the various chapters in the book.
The first chapter is on Radical Hospitality. What catches my attention first is the word radical. I love radical. I am not usually thought of as radical myself, but I enjoy the sentiment of being rooted, grounded, and branching out from that foundational sense. Some radicals take things too far, they change for the sake of change, stir up trouble. Radical in this sense is not helpful overall to society in general.
How do we calm, usually status-quo upholding Christians, get back to being so deeply rooted in our faith that we stir up changes God would want? What needs to change in us for us to be radically different from the world around us? I think often about becoming better each day. I want to improve in life on a daily basis. Sometimes this has to do with drinking more water and sitting still longer, but more often than not my attitude is what needs altering.
Being rooted in Christian love, hospitality can naturally grow out of our desire to be loving, like God is loving. God gave us many examples of hospitality in the Hebrew Bible before ever becoming an incarnational presentation of welcome through Jesus Christ himself. Entertaining strangers and angles is part of our story from long ago. Then, later, we see Christ offering a sense of welcome to everyone but the upholders of status-quo. Outcasts, oppressors, and people who felt like nobodies were welcome in Jesus circles.
All people are worthy of the love God offers. We all know someone who needs more love. I guess the challenge I see for all of us is to root ourselves so deeply in love that is starts to be the fruit we express. So, if that is what we are talking about, I want to be radical. I want to be extreme in love. I want to love like God. I'll love strangers, angles, outcasts and nobodies.

Dear God, help me love like you. Help me get back to the origins of faith. Let my roots go deep into scripture, spiritual practices, thinking and experiences that transform my life. Let me be more Christlike in welcome. Teach me radical hospitality. Thanks, Amen.