What Is Biblical Hospitality?

A term in the New Testament often translated as hospitality is Philoxenia, which is a concatenation of two Greek words: Philos and Xenos; literally it means Stranger Lover. Therefore, the practice of hospitality is the practice of loving strangers. However, this definition is entirely insufficient due to the over-use (misuse) of the word love in our culture and the misunderstanding of the word stranger.

As applied in scripture, the word stranger does not refer to someone who is unknown to us, but rather someone who is away from their home, their family, their support group, or their resources; they are in a place that is foreign to them. Another word for stranger is sojourner. It may very well come to pass, after practicing biblical hospitality for some time, our guests will be people that we have previously met and/or loved.

This brings us to the word love. In this context, love means becoming the resource, support group, family, and/or home for the sojourner. The host is responsible for the care and safety of the sojourner as the host would care for and keep safe anyone in their home.

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Why should I care about Biblical Hospitality?

Throughout the new testament we are reminded to practice hospitality. Almost all of the new testament authors encourage or speak positively about the practice. Jesus uses hospitality when he sends his disciples out on their first "solo" ministry tour. He relies on hosts to provide hospitality and for his disciples to accept it. It is modeled for us through accounts of the lives of people like Abraham in Genesis. It is modeled for us by our heavenly father.

What are some challenges to practicing Biblical Hospitality?

Understanding Biblical Hospitality and the importance placed on it in scripture, it might seem obvious that, as Christians, we need to take-up and propagate this practice. As someone who is committed to biblical hospitality and have experienced the benefits that come from opening our home to host others, I struggle with implementing the full-cycle of this practice in my life. As I will explain, the challenges are great.

First, we live in a time and a culture where we do not have a town square to hangout in when in a strange city and in need of hospitality. In ancient times, the town square was the sojourner’s network. It could be argued that every town has one or more local congregation and that by contacting that congregation you could be placed with a hosting family. However, in our culture, “blind calling” a pastor looking for hospitality would be viewed negatively by both sojourner and host alike. This process is complicated more by the fractured nature of the multiple denominations and varied beliefs that adds to the apprehension and anxiety of a sojourner. The Sojourn.Network addresses this issue by becoming that acient town square.

Second, most people do not plan the practice of hospitality when renting, buying or building housing for themselves and their family. The cost of housing is one of the largest cost that we have on our monthly budget. Adding a guest room or addition for that rare time that you may be asked to house a sojourner can be seen as an unnecessary and costly expense. Additionally, with the rapid rise and success of the overnight bed and breakfast boom, those with a spare house, cabin, or even a room, may already be using it to produce income. Even if we have a spare room or even floor space, we typically do not see that as suitable for housing strangers.

Finally, and this is where I struggle, it is far easier to be a host than a sojourner. When I travel with my family across the country to reach a destination, it is convenient to plan our nightly stops based on maximizing the distance traveled and finding lodging close to the path of travel. Our culture supports this concept with the myriad of hotels, motels, and other overnight accommodations. If we are going to practice biblical hospitality, then we need to be willing, not only to become generous hosts, but to rely on hosts for our lodging needs as we sojourn. That is what makes the process work. When the process works all involved grow closer each other and with the Lord and Savior. We will be blessed as we practice biblical hospitality.

What is Sojourn?

Sojourn is a ministry dedicated to helping Christians practice Biblical Hospitality. It is a private (members only) network where members willing to be a host will create a listing as a potential respite for a weary traveler (Sojourner) and where a Sojourner can find a host to meet his need. The way that this will look may vary between encounters. Generally speaking, a member will locate a host through the sojourn network whenever they have travel plans or even finds themselves away from home unexpectedly and in need of a meal and/or lodging. The sojourner will contact the host using the hosts member contact method to see if the host is able to provide for the sojourners' specific time/accommodation request. The accommodation will generally include a meal, lodging, and fellowship during the meal.

How do I join?

Sojourn is a members only network. Ideally every member will have been referred/sponsored by another member. In this, way there is a natural, community generated, accountability. The initial members will use the Sojourn App to invite people they know, people dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ, people for whom they are willing to be the sponsoring member. That candidate will receive an invitation via text or email that will allow them to become a member.

About us

Welcome to Sojourn, where Christian hospitality meets modern technology.

Founded by a father-son duo to create a community where like minded individules can connect and be spured on in their walk with God. At the helm of Sojourn is a dedicated pastor with a heart for fostering genuine connections and extending hospitality to all. His programming skills bring to life the technological backbone of our app, ensuring it serves its purpose effectively. The other half of the duo is not only a skilled programmer, but also a dedicated laborer. His hands-on approach and tireless work ethic infuse every aspect of Sojourn with a sense of dedication and care. Together, with input and assistance from the rest of the family, form the foundation of Sojourn—a place where faith, technology, and hospitality intersect.

We envisioned Sojourn as more than just an app, it's a platform for fostering meaningful connections, facilitating hospitality, and nurturing community. Whether you're seeking a place to belong, looking to extend hospitality, or simply desiring to connect with others on your journey, Sojourn is here to accompany you every step of the way.

Join us as we embark on this journey of faith, technology, and hospitality. Welcome to Sojourn—where every step is an opportunity to connect, grow, and journey together in faith.