What is “Openhomeaphobia”?
Openhomeaphobia is the condition that keeps us from practicing Scriptural hospitality.
Here is the definition:
open-home-a-pho-bic (op-n-hom-a-fo-bik) Lat. phobicus; Gk. phobikos 1. Someone terrified to open his or her home to guests. 2. Someone filled with anxiety due to the overwhelming feelings that his or her home is not good enough for company, the rooms not large enough, the food not tasty enough. 3. Someone who panics at the thought of fitting hospitality into a schedule jammed with deadlines, timelines, and bottom lines. Symptoms include: gagging at the word guest; uncontrollable urges to hide when the doorbell rings; sweats when the church bulletin pleads for people to include internationals for holiday meals.
The cure for openhomeaphobia is liberal and continual doses of the following mendicant. It’s from Romans 12:10-13—Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
You will know you are cured when you invite your neighbor over for a cup of coffee, hold a birthday party for a friend, throw a get-acquainted dinner for newcomers at church. If any residual symptoms develop, take a follow-up dose of 1 Peter 4:9. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Karen Mains
Other projects involving Karen right now are: Working with teams of Christian women to design Retreats of Silence, in both 24-hours and three-days formats, through the aegis of Hungry Souls. Developing hospitality initiatives that train Christian men and women how to use their own homes in caring outreaches through the Open Heart, Open Home ministries. Launching the Global Bag Project, a worldwide effort that markets sustainable cloth shopping bags to provide sustainable incomes for bag-makers in developing nations. Researching the impact of listening groups while overseeing some 240 small groups over the last three years. Experimenting with teleconference mentoring for Wannabe (Better) Writers. Designing the Tales of the Kingdom Web site.