Visitor or Guest? How to Exceed Expectations

inviting and welcoming corporate lobby

When you have someone over to your house, do you think of them as a visitor or a guest? Although a thesaurus lists visitor and guest as closely-linked synonyms, the context in which they are used often implies distinct differences. 

Visitor or Guest

Consider the nuances of the two words in the following sentences.

Visitor

• The museum gets visitors from all over the world.

• Visitors to the office must sign in at the desk.

• There's a visitor waiting for you in the lobby.

Guest

• Our guests should be arriving soon.

• Only invited guests are allowed inside the banquet hall.

•  He played at the country club as a guest of one of the members.

In these sentences, the visitor sounds like an outsider and the guest an included and welcomed insider.

Exceeding Expectations

In his bestselling book Platform: Getting Noticed in a Noisy World Michael Hyatt discusses creating a WOW experience for customers in a corporate lobby. Such an experience means the lobby exceeds expectations, rather than merely meets them.

Hyatt—not of Hyatt Hotels—argues that the “receptionist” should always refer to visitors as guests and that “the term visitor implies someone who doesn’t quite belong and whom everyone hopes leaves quickly. The term guest suggests someone who is to be honored and shown hospitality.”[i]

Should Christians not apply this same advice to our lobbies? Our lobby may not be a corporate office, but it could be our website, our church, our home, our whatever. As Jesus says in Matthew 5:47, “If you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” 

Allow me to share a recent personal experience that did not meet expectations, much less exceed them.

I visited an out-of-town church. Below is a snapshot of the name tag I picked up from a table on the way in. Notice how the word Visitor jumps out, and worse, the card is printed in red. The vibe is businesslike.

Visitor Name Tag

I’m happy my church pastors always verbally welcome guests who attend our services, and our information cards include a warm, written greeting.

So, back to the original question: Do you consider the people who come to your home guests or visitors? Before writing this, I would have replied, “It depends. Is the person a friend I invited over or someone who just showed up?”

What if my obnoxious uncle dropped by? Or a disagreeable neighbor I wished were a stranger?

Visitor or Guest: What Does the Bible Say

The Bible teaches we are to treat all visitors as honored guests. The specific term visitor does not appear in the Bible, but a search reveals the words foreigner, stranger, and sojourner are closely associated with the word.

The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. Leviticus 19:34 NKJV

God commands Israel to love and welcome foreigners. This teaches we should extend the same kindness and respect to visitors and strangers as we would to those who are familiar.

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 NIV

This verse suggests that welcoming visitors could prove significant, as we may entertain angels or experience divine encounters.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. Matthew 25:35 NIV

When we welcome visitors as guests, we are directly serving Christ.

The Bible contains numerous other references detailing how visitors should be treated. So, out of obedience to our magnificent God, let’s work to change the lens through which we view our visitors and our guests.

It may not be easy. It won’t be natural. But start with small steps.

Here’s one idea. If you don’t already, introduce yourself to someone new at church. If you are aware of a visitor in the building, view them as an honored guest and greet them accordingly.

Oh, and the megachurch I mentioned earlier with the fancy peel-off name tag I declined to wear. I had trouble finding the sanctuary in the crowded, bustling building because I entered the wrong door. My demeanor signaled I didn’t know where I was going, but not one person greeted me or offered help.

The church’s music was inspiring and the preaching solid, but I left that service feeling very much an outsider.

Have you been treated like a foreigner in a strange land? Or felt excluded? What did God teach you through that experience?

I'm thrilled to have you as a guest today! Won't you have a seat and stay awhile? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments or through email.

Immersed in His Love,

Candyce

[i] Hyatt, Michael. Platform: Getting Noticed in a Noisy World. Thomas Nelson, 2012. p. 15.

Platform: Getting Noticed in a Noisy World