Publisher's Synopsis
Welcoming the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, the prisoner, the leper, the paralytic, the gay, the lesbian, the condemned, the excluded and even sinners is the best language Christians can speak to win the trust of others if we are to change the world. We, Christians must show everyone this hospitality. We must welcome even those who do not think as we do, who do not have faith or have lost it. Welcoming the persecuted, the marginalized, the condemned and excluded, the unemployed, the different cultures helps us not to turn our backs on the other person, God, and our community. The attitude of welcoming helps to broaden our Christian horizon in order to have a decisive direction. Today, there are too many wars and conflicts in the world, so many divisions in our families, so many gossip in our communities because majority of us fail to listen, to show hospitality and welcome other who do not have the faith we have or think as we do. Instead, we condemn and exclude them as sinner, people of no moral credentials. It is because we are quick to criticize and condemn, instead of listening, forgetting that the we cannot win the trust of other or change the world by arguments and condemnation, but by learning how to welcome and listen to the other person. In fact, as far as I am concern the case of homosexuality, same-sex marriage is not a reality, but a product of socio-political solidarity. A culture that feels threatened by the authenticity of Christendom. Victims of this sickness sincerely in their hearts are very much aware that they are tied down by solidarity of deceit, political tricks, to vices, to high-life and false freedom which means doing whatever you want. They know well that their case is hopeless and in need of moral and spiritual help. But they refuse to listen simply because Christians of today have forgotten that the Christian identity, calling, journey is about listening, welcoming and changing hearts, and not about condemning and excluding people as if we are God. We fail to understand that a Christian is not the type that talks too much, but listens too much and talk less. A Christian is someone who has learned how to welcome, listen and to show hospitality to others who do not think as we do or have the faith as ours. Thus it is argued in this book, that the best way we can unlock the hearts of others is by getting close to the poor, the marginalized, the condemned such as the gays and lesbians, and even sinners. It is only when we get close to them, welcome them and show hospitality that we can win their trust and unlock their hearts. We must learn how to get close and welcome the marginalized people, closing the distance between us until touching them without being afraid to get dirty. This, Jesus teaches us when he freed the leper from the impurity of the disease and from social exclusion. This example of Jesus is an attitude that each one of us must have. Because there are a lot people who feel in their hearts a longing to draw close to Jesus but lack the courage because of our human attitude towards them. Hence, taking on others' problem and not to wash our hands off is the best way to change the world and not by terrorism of gossip and culture of exclusion.
