Are We Violating Hebrews 13:2 on Social Media?

Hospitality is, unquestionably, a Biblical subject. When we read the Old Testament narrative, we should be struck by how God’s people were to be welcoming and showing care for people. That concept did not change with the coming of the New Testament, however. The New Testament Church is required to be hospitable.

It is interesting to me that the book of Hebrews contains one of the strongest statements about this subject in the entire New Testament. This epistle was written to Christians who had come out of that Old Testament law and, thus, would have known the emphasis on hospitality that was present there. Now, the writer is urging them to go forward in the New Testament law and not shrink back (Hebrews 10:39). He also, however, does remind them that some of what they were to follow under the Old Law needed to continue.

As Hebrews 13 opens, the writer gives these two commands:

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (verses 1-2)

I’ll let people a lot smarter than me figure out the whole “angels” part of that passage, but I want to concentrate on the two commands.

Often, we are quite good at the first one. We love our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are there for them when they are hurting. We pray for them. We do our best to encourage them in the Truth. While there is no way we will treat every other Christian perfectly, we simply do our best.

The other command, though, is harder. Are we being hospitable to “strangers?”

But let’s take it a step further. Is this only talking about welcoming people into our home or out for a meal? Are there not other ways we can be welcoming and showing hospitality? The phrase “show hospitality to strangers” is translated as “entertain strangers” in the King James Version. That whole phrase translates just one Greek word, philoxenia. The word generally means one who is “fond of strangers.”

But who are the “strangers?” Considering Hebrews 13:1 had talked about brotherly love, it seems logical that “strangers” in verse 2 is simply those who are not part of the brotherhood.

I say all of that to draw this conclusion: would those who are not Christians–and even people with whom we disagree–know that we are fond of them by the way we treat them on social media?

That is not to say that we avoid talking about issues and trying to share the truth. It is not to say that we show approval of immoral activity or that we shy away from calling out things that are wrong. That’s not it at all.

But do we find pleasure in hammering away at certain people or groups, and is that what we are known for?

How many who identify with the Democratic party relish in sharing things that show hypocrisy or perceived wrongs in the Republican party or in a particular politician?

Oh…and how many Republicans do the same thing toward Democrats?

How many Christians take to social media to talk about how “stupid,” “inept,” “dumb,” or “insane” someone they have never met is. Maybe it’s a celebrity. Maybe it’s a coach. Maybe it’s a politician. Maybe it’s just some random person in the news.

And then we follow that up with “hey, we want you to worship with us!”

Really?

We must speak to issues. We must be bold in declaring our faith. We must be clear in defending the truth.

But do people we disagree with–even strongly–know that we are still fond of them? Do they know that we are open to talking through things with them in a rational way, and in a way where we don’t call names and stereotype, but where we simply open God’s Word and discuss things clearly?

Or are we completely closing those doors by what we say and share on social media?

Have you ever noticed that, even though they vehemently disagreed with Jesus, the Jewish elites still were around Him often? And that was true, even when He was pointing out their errors right to their face! How could that be true? Could it not be because He was still open to hearing them, He was still willing to be among them, and He was always ready to have a clear conversation with them?

Maybe it’s about time we stopped shutting down our doors of opportunity and started actually listening to those with whom we disagree. We dare not compromise Truth, but we also dare not be the reason doors to people finding the Truth are shut.

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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn