Comments on: The Alphabet of Grace: X is for Xenophilia https://mikefrost.net/the-alphabet-of-grace-x-is-for-xenophilia/ AUTHOR | SPEAKER | MISSIOLOGIST | AGITATOR Tue, 18 May 2021 03:30:40 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.4 By: Paul https://mikefrost.net/the-alphabet-of-grace-x-is-for-xenophilia/#comment-26209 Tue, 18 May 2021 03:30:40 +0000 https://mikefrost.net/?p=30484#comment-26209 Hi Mike, thanks for unpacking these unusual terms that really go to the heart of what it means to welcome the stranger in Christ’s name. I love that this is explained and lived out in the Bible itself. I would like to ask how we could go about applying this in a church in Melbourne that has a (established) Anglo and an associated Chinese congregation. The church has set out to become One Church rather than ‘two congregations’ acting separately and working out how to make this a reality. My strong sense is that philoxenia would be an excellent start, beginning at the ground (individual) level, but how would one go about instilling a value of philoxenia within a conservative, predominantly pure Anglo congregation that is quite used to its own ways and not necessarily seeing the missional implications of become one family in Christ. Can you point me to any of your book or publications that might help?

I was very taken by your comments in an interview that you did for Crossover (its on their website as a Missional Conversation) that avoiding segregated ethnic congregations is a ‘fundamental missional challenge in the C21 in Australia’. See:

Thanks
Paul

ps I am a student at Melbourne School of Theology and researching and critically reviewing the missional strategy and practices of BUV as an essay.

]]> By: Ada V. https://mikefrost.net/the-alphabet-of-grace-x-is-for-xenophilia/#comment-22910 Sun, 07 Mar 2021 21:44:30 +0000 https://mikefrost.net/?p=30484#comment-22910 A deep & thought-provoking post! There is indeed a difference between xenophilia & philoxenia.
On a basic structure, as you said, the 1st means “strangers are friends” but the other means I am a friend to strangers.
If we were all friends of strangers, the world would be better, wouldn’t it?

]]> By: Brad Brisco https://mikefrost.net/the-alphabet-of-grace-x-is-for-xenophilia/#comment-22844 Fri, 05 Mar 2021 02:34:48 +0000 https://mikefrost.net/?p=30484#comment-22844 Great post Mike. This has been such a great series. I love the concept of philoxenia. On my 59th birthday, I got the greek letters for philoxenia tattooed on my arm. It is not only a good reminder for me personally but it has been a great conversation starter.

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