By: Rosaria Butterfield
Publisher: Crossway
Dates Read: December 14 - January 1
Pages: 220
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
Some dear friends of mine gave it to me with a note inside that said "every Christian should read this book," so I did.
The Gospel Comes with a House Key talks about what the author calls radically ordinary hospitality. People who live out radically ordinary hospitality see strangers as their neighbours and neighbours as family of God. They don't see their homes as their own but as God's. Hospitality is something they are seeking out (and planning for) every day all the time.
Butterfield came to know Christ by a Christian couple showing her radically ordinary hospitality every Sunday. She was invited into their home even though she felt as though she did not belong there. They fed her, talked with her, shared with her, and beared burdens with her. Now she does the same things with her neighbours and many individuals from different walks of life.
Butterfield takes us through stories of her and her husband practicing hospitality. She often begins with a story from her own experience and than uses that to give some practical ways in which we can practice hospitality. She bases everything on biblical truth and talks about the hardships and joys that come from radically ordinary hospitality.
The book was a beautiful reminder to love our neighbours and to love our enemies. It was an excellent follow up to my last read, Everybody, Always. Bob taught us to love everybody, always. Rosaria is teaching us ways to actually do it. She talks about some marginalized populations and some people that the church has often been not so friendly too. She challenges all of this and calls us to do better and to start in our very own homes.
It was a great book to read, but, ironically, it's not something we can start putting into practice right now due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. However, I feel like there are many ways to start even in lockdown. Phone calls and messages and porch gifts are all very manageable right now and I would guess that is what Rosaria is doing herself.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: I don't think my friends were wrong. Maybe every Christian should read this book.
