Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition [Paperback]

 

 

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I had a connection with Christine Pohl and had been meaning to read her book, which she was working on when I knew her. Recently the book hit my radar screen and I leapt at the chance to finally tuck into it. And tuck into it I did: the book is a banquet when it comes to thinking about hospitality- any reader would feast well.

I have another reason for reading it: I have been rethinking Christian virtues and practises and have noticed a stunning intersection between my own life, the life of the Christian Community in which I live and the practise of hospitality.

Pohl's assertion is that the practise of Christian hospitality is more than just a gathering of like minded people for a nice meal and convivial conversation (p.3) but a lost Christian virtue that when truly practised is countercultural and re-formational. Tracing the Biblical mandate through the Christian Old and New Testaments in chapter 2, she examines hospitality as moral imperative and a necessity for survival in the desert culture of the Ancient Near East chapter 1. The Christian history of hospitality carries with it some of the moral imperative, but also a theological imperative, the Gospel is transmitted through the breaking of bread around a meal table and the example of caring for the oppressed. The Gospel is preserved when the persecuted are sheltered (the second half of chapter 2). Unifying the biblical story of hospitality is the repeated references of `entertaining angels unawares'. One can never be sure if one is entertaining an angel, a homeless or Christ- better be good to the stranger.

In the second section Making Room answers the question: `But what does hospitality do?' It recognizes, empowers and gives place to the homeless. It provides rest and home for the sojourner. Hospitality goes beyond the possibility that it may be Jesus sitting at your table. Practising hospitality recognizes that all humans are made in God's image, so to be good to the stranger is to be good humanity.

On the other hand the practise of hospitality is not without its pitfalls: Here Pohl has gleaned and gathered insights from various communities that have practised hospitality. Practising hospitality, being so much more than `a nice meal with nice friends' is a crucible in which faith is questioned and belief in God and humanity is challenged. There are, as it turns out, no easy answers, and no formulaic practises to be observed; like the Nike slogan of a few years ago: "Just do it". There is moral imperative attached.

I believe this is a thorough treatment of the virtue of hospitality. Christians of all flavours and strips would do well to read it, but especially those who exercise any role of leadership in Christian communities. And who knows? If the local church hospitality committee read it they may worry less about cutting the crusts off the sandwiches and more about serving chili at the local homeless shelter. And Pohl would agree, that would be a good thing.

I picked this book up because it was suggested "in addition" to another book on hospitality that I read recently and thought was life-changing. This book is very good, it includes interesting and thoughtful ideas and it is pretty well written. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was reading some academic paper prepared in graduate school. While I liked the book fine and it definitely worth reading, I think if fails to measure up to some other books on the market right now. I would certainly suggest it for anyone doing academic work, preparing for a class or inventing some church program.

I read this book in preparation to interviewing Dr. Pohl for a magazine. It's terrific -- a thoughtful examination of practices that used to be considered an essential component of the Christian faith but which have, over the years, been institutionalized and removed from our everyday lives. How do we recapture the Biblical imperative toward hospitality in the reality of a modern world? This book doesn't give pat answers, but it does give you a framework for asking the right questions, and some suggestions that might point you in the right direction.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Making Room - an action agenda for the faith community
It is hard to know where to start. The book is elegantly written, it is full of interesting history of the early church. Read more

Published on Feb 4 2002 by David J. Weinschrott

5.0 out of 5 stars The ministry of Mary and Martha NOT Martha Stewart
In her book, Pohl makes an excellent case for the lost ministry of hospitality. She explores the tradition of welcoming stangers into our homes while discussing the ways in which... Read more

Published on Dec 6 2000 by Amanda Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars God and angels
Making Room is a narrative of the Christian story of hospitality, and is rich in historical and Biblical detail. Read more

Published on May 30 2000 by Nicola Creegan

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction!
Few ideas would seem to be as obvious as the idea that churches need to be welcoming communities. This book does more than remind us of the obvious, it opens the whole idea of... Read more

Published on May 12 2000 by Edgar Borchardt

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