Our House

The like-titled 80s hit by the English band Madness has been going through my mind since receiving some disturbing news last Tuesday night. A former schoolmate visiting her parents emailed a message informing me my old childhood home was on fire! After my father and mother both died almost a year ago, the house had been unoccupied and was slated for demolition. Still, the fire department put out the flames and later determined it was caused by an arsonist.

I have many memories growing up at 722 5th Street South in Moorhead, Minnesota. Originally built in 1902, this two-story house was bought by my parents in 1970 after renting various places during the early years of their marriage. One exciting thing for me as a six-year-old was having my own room. My little sister and I no longer had to share one. My second-floor bedroom was connected to a sun porch where I often played with my toys. Sometimes I’d open up a glass door and put on puppet shows while neighborhood kids watched from the backyard. Other times I went down to the basement and listened to records, played foosball, pool or ping-pong.

Of course, a bigger house meant more chores needed to be done. Among my assigned duties were vacuuming, mowing the lawn, weeding the garden, and picking up poop in the dog pen (which I hated the most). I also made coffee for my parents but wouldn’t drink the stuff myself until years later.

Our family’s move to the corner of 5th Street and 8th Avenue initially caused a rift with the Moorhead school system. Our previous home was closer to Riverside Elementary. The new house was still close enough for me to walk to Riverside for first grade. Officials repeatedly told my parents I had to go to Park School because of a zoning ordinance. I ended up going to Park from second to fifth grade. Then I returned to Riverside for sixth grade. Declining enrollment resulted in Park closing down (though it was later resurrected as a private Christian school).

Our house was also close to Concordia College. As a boy, I often rode my bicycle around the campus. Following my high school graduation, I enrolled at Moorhead State University because their tuition was less expensive. Fortunately, that was also within walking distance.

Meanwhile, my parents decided to build a spacious addition in place of the original garage. Construction of that began in the mid-1970s but wasn’t completed until a decade later. While the addition was in a half-finished state, I made use of the vacant space by having rummage sales. Dad contributed items such as used furniture and paid me a commission. When the addition was finally done, a large family room was used for celebrations, meals, and watching TV.

In 1985, I enlisted in the Army National Guard and then moved to Minneapolis. For a while, I’d come home about four times a year. My visits became less frequent after becoming a Christian in 1991. Mom and Dad were initially uncomfortable with my newfound faith. God later provided alternative places for me to stay in the Fargo-Moorhead area. It’s just as well since I didn’t like being around my mother’s smoking.

After Mom had a stroke and moved to an assisted living facility, Dad was okay with me staying at the house again for short visits. By this time, the bedrooms upstairs were mostly used for storage. So I slept on a couch in the family room. I didn’t mind that except when the dogs woke me up with their barking.

For years, I speculated of someday inheriting the house even though I didn’t want to settle in Moorhead again. That was never an option. Due to financial issues, Dad sold the house to Concordia College but continued renting it from them. The college had already torn down neighboring houses to provide extra parking space for students. There was recurring talk of our house coming down as well but wouldn’t happen during my parents’ lifetime. 

While it would still be nice having my own house someday, I have a more glorious home waiting in heaven. Jesus promised me a mansion in John 14:2. The house fire is a reminder never to be consumed with temporal things that won’t last forever.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” - 2 Peter 3:10

Much Ado About Megachurches

Some Christians and many nonbelievers are critical of churches that have unusually large congregations. One photo I saw online showed the huge sanctuary of a well-known church with the added caption, “Instead of building mega-churches, how about building mega homeless shelters?” How many of these critics practice what they preach by letting homeless people live in their houses? Very few I suspect. Incidentally, the church in question (Lakewood Church in Houston) has ministries reaching out to the needs of the homeless.

When evangelizing I occasionally meet people who say they don’t like going to large churches because they seem so impersonal. Walking into a new church can be a somewhat intimidating experience particularly for those who haven’t been in one for a while. That’s why many fellowships have greeters who go out of their way to make first-time visitors feel welcome. Nevertheless, a person can feel lonely in any church whether there are only ten or thousands in attendance. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly.”

I’m the product of a megachurch. In February 1991 I first visited Living Word Christian Center, a large church in suburban Minneapolis. After committing my life to the Lord a month later, I eventually became a member of Living Word. It was there I got firmly grounded in the Word of God and learned to become a soul winner (megachurches can teach multitudes of people how to share the gospel). In recent years, I’ve resumed attending meetings at Living Word during extended visits to the Twin Cities area.

Large churches doing the work of the Lord are having an impact on their communities and nations. David Yonggi Cho pastors the largest congregation in the world. Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea has about 830,000 members. Dr. Cho pioneered the cell group concept that plugs individuals into smaller groups connected with the church. Back in 1962, only 2% of South Koreans were Christian. Today it is around 30%.

Heaven will be like a megachurch. Revelation 7:9 talks about “...a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb...” During His earthly ministry, Jesus sometimes ministered to thousands of people at once such as when He multiplied the loaves and fishes. Wouldn’t He be more pleased seeing huge crowds gathered in His name instead of at a sporting event?

Scripture doesn’t state the ideal size of a congregation that can provide sound biblical teaching and opportunities for spiritual growth. So whether it’s a megachurch, a smaller local fellowship, or even a new one just starting up, the best church to go to is the one God has assigned you to. If you’re not already plugged in somewhere, ask God to show you where that place is.

“But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.” - 1 Corinthians 12:18

Unequally Yoked

For over a decade now, I have traveled as a missionary lodging at various places where I usually didn't have to pay rent. At the time of this writing, I am seeking a home of my own instead of constantly living out of a suitcase. One day I browsed through the website Craigslist thinking I could find a fellow believer who already has a home and is looking for a roommate. However, I noticed this disclaimer at the top of the Craigslist housing ads…

“Stating a discriminatory preference in a housing post is illegal - please flag discriminatory posts as prohibited.”

One example cited by the Federal Fair Housing Act as a “discriminatory advertisement” is stating the religious preference of a desired applicant. This means if I had my own house or apartment and sought a roommate, I couldn’t legally advertise my wanting another Christian living with me. This reminds me of an incident that occurred last July where a Michigan woman faced a civil rights complaint after posting an ad on her church bulletin board seeking a Christian roommate.

God-fearing people are often accused of being intolerant when setting limitations in line with Scripture. Yet there are times we must “discriminate” and avoid close contact with selected people. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 warns, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever.” These verses are most often used to advise single Christians not to marry non-Christians. I’ve heard many stories of believers getting hitched to non-believers thinking that will help them win their significant others to the Lord. Often those marriages end in divorce.

Being “unequally yoked” can apply to other situations such as business partnerships and especially roommates. Certain boundaries need to be set if a believer is to have a home that is truly a place of refuge. Personally I couldn’t handle living with someone who smokes, constantly plays ungodly music, or practices witchcraft.

Of course, not all professing Christians make good roommates. During my travels, I have stayed with some difficult people. Several years ago while visiting Florida, a man whom I’ll call “Bernie” invited me to stay in his home. Shortly after moving in with him, I discovered that Bernie was a beer drinker. The next day I had a vision of a beer truck crashing into his house. I felt led to warn Bernie that “his house would collapse” if he continued drinking. Bernie rejected the warning claiming that God often spoke to him while he drank. Over the next few days, Bernie’s behavior worsened. While I tried to sleep, he watched R-rated movies late at night, stomped on the floor, and hollered out curse words. Eventually, I had to move out since Bernie continued giving place to the devil with his drinking.

Another time I lived with a widower who once went on a missionary trip and so I had the whole house to myself for three weeks. I tried to make use of the privacy by fasting and praying but had a difficult time entering into the presence of God. When I talked to a pastor about this, he correctly discerned it was due to certain objects in the house. My roommate still held onto idols that belonged to his deceased wife, a Buddhist of Japanese ancestry. A fellow missionary who also occasionally stayed at the house had encouraged this man to do some “spiritual housecleaning” a few weeks before. When my roommate returned from his trip, I advised him to get rid of additional items but he was opposed to the idea. Not long afterward, we started having other differences and I knew it was time for me to move on.

God has used situations like these to help me grow in Christian character. Nevertheless, 1 Corinthians 5:11 commands, “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.”

There are exceptions when the Lord wants us temporarily residing somewhere for the purpose of ministering to the lost. In Luke 19, Jesus briefly stayed at the home of a tax collector named Zacchaeus. Keep in mind that Zacchaeus initially sought after Jesus by climbing a sycamore tree to see Him. Later the tax collector showed remorse for his unethical business practices and said in verse 8, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

In October 1996, I made a temporary move to Toronto, Canada. During my first four nights there, I stayed at a youth hostel. The first night I shared a room with a young German man and led him to the Lord. Eventually, God led me to a home available to Christians attending revival meetings in the city.

Another time in San Antonio, Texas, I found myself needing lodging and spent one night at the Salvation Army where I got to lead four homeless people to salvation. There was also a time in Spain when I shared a room with a Muslim from Algeria. He asked me many questions about Christianity. Many spiritual seeds were planted.

God might also lead you to temporarily take in an unsaved person who is in need of lodging and medical care. Jesus talked about this in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).

Still, we need to use discernment and not extend hospitality to every person who knocks on our door. Christians would be wise not to share their home with people who consistently challenge their faith in Jesus. Look at 1 John 2…

9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;

11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

So don’t let worldly people talk you into being unequally yoked with roommates who will give you constant trouble. God wants us to have homes that are like heaven on earth.

“My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” - Isaiah 32:18

Hospitality and the Harvest

Being a missionary can be an exciting adventure but it will challenge one to go beyond their comfort zone. In her book “Tramp for the Lord,” Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom wrote about traveling from place to place having to sleep in a different bed every night. This elderly Dutch woman was grateful for the many people who gave her places to stay so she could share God’s love throughout the world. I believe Corrie reaped a harvest of hospitality as a result of her family hiding Jews from the Nazis during World War II.

Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines hospitality as “the act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality.” There are numerous examples in Scripture of God’s people extending hospitality. In Genesis 19, Lot eagerly invited into his home two traveling strangers who turned out to be angels. Lot not only housed and fed his guests but also protected them from the Sodomites. In return, the angels warned Lot to get his family out of Sodom because of coming judgment.

Hospitality was more of a necessity in Bible times. The few inns that existed back then didn’t have the amenities like the Hiltons and Marriotts we have today. When Jesus was born into this world, His parents didn’t stay at an inn because there was no room for them. Later during His earthly ministry, Jesus and His disciples often stayed in people’s homes and received provision from their hosts. The Lord told His disciples in Luke 10:7, “And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.”

When the Lord sends me somewhere to minister or receive ministry, I’m often provided with a room in somebody’s home. Until recently I questioned why God hadn’t provided finances for me to stay in hotels more frequently. Then while on a road trip to South Carolina, a fellow missionary pointed out 3 John 5-8 to me…

5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers,

6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,

7 because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

Verse 5 in the New Living Translation says, “Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you.”

While I enjoy staying at a nice hotel now and then, the Biblical example for hospitality seems to be in people’s homes. The only incident in Scripture I’m aware of when the Lord commended someone for putting up another at an inn was in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Aside from lodging costs that can become rather expensive, one drawback to staying in a hotel is you don’t know what kind of people previously stayed in your room and what they were doing. That’s why I make sure to pray and anoint with oil every hotel room I stay in before settling into it.

Sadly, hospitality among the saints in Western nations has diminished due to selfishness and a growing distrust of strangers. It doesn’t help that some so-called Christians don’t tell the truth and try to take advantage of others. Once I talked to a woman in Florida who has a ministry of feeding the poor. She told me about another woman we knew who through manipulation stayed at this minister’s house against her husband’s wishes. This woman lied by claiming she had a job but didn’t. As a result, the minister lost $300 because she helped this woman get her own apartment and the rent never got paid.

Nevertheless, hospitality is something God expects from His people especially to those who want to be leaders in the church…

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” - 1 Timothy 3:2

“Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers (the Amplified Bible clarifies “of the brotherhood”), if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.” - 1 Timothy 5:9-10

“For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,” - Titus 1:7-8

Blessings will result when God’s people show hospitality to one another. In 2 Kings 4, the Shunammite woman went out of her way to build a spare room for the prophet Elisha. Later when Elisha wanted to bless the Shunammite woman in return, he found out from his servant Gehazi that she had no son. Elisha prophesied in verse 16, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” She gave birth a year later. Not long afterwards, the child died but Elisha raised him from the dead.

Sometimes I’ve turned down lodging offers because I didn’t have peace about staying in particular places. I’ve also been conscious about not “wearing out my welcome.” As Proverbs 25:17 says, "Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.” It should go without saying Christians must avoid abusing privileges given while being a guest in someone else’s home. At the same time, hosts must avoid enabling individuals who are purposely being lazy. As 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NLT) says, “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

One thing people will be judged on when they stand before the Lord is how they treated the brethren that needed a place to stay. As Jesus said in Matthew 25, “I was a stranger and you took Me in” (Verse 35) and “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Verse 40) It also says in 1 Peter 4:9, “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”

So if you have a spare room in your home, I encourage you to make it available to fellow believers and especially to ministers that travel through your town. That’s another way you can help fulfill the Great Commission.

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” - Hebrews 13:2