Episode 117: Hospitality as the End and Means of Mission with Edward Smither

Ed Smither discusses his work on the book Reading Revelation Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message, and Methods of Revelation (the fourth book in a series on scripture and mission) and explores the themes of mission and hospitality within the context of scripture. He emphasizes the importance of understanding mission as crossing boundaries and the role of hospitality as both a means and an end in mission work. The conversation delves into the significance of ancient wedding feasts, the contrast between xenophobia and hospitality, and the contemporary expressions of love and welcome in church communities. Smither also reflects on the shift in mission focus from compassion to addressing global injustices. Recommendations from this episode include Foretaste of the Future, Making Room, Rereading Revelation, the late Walter Brueggemann, the late Rich Mullins, Caedmon’s Call, Andrew Peterson, International Justice Mission, Mission as Hospitality, The Gospel Comes with a House Key, Hans Boersma on Lectio Divina, and Anglican Spirituality.