A Texas church has ignited a powerful conversation this Christmas season with a nativity scene unlike any other. Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas chose to depict Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus not in a stable, but confined within a stark metal cage, encircled by barbed wire.
The scene, deliberately placed on the church’s rainbow-painted steps, presents silhouettes of the Holy Family behind a chain-link fence. Bold signs accompany the display, proclaiming “Holy is the refugee” and “Holy are the profiled and patrolled,” immediately challenging traditional imagery.
Stepping inside the church reveals a second, equally poignant installation. Empty chairs stand as silent witnesses, surrounded by protest signs and a simple manger positioned beneath a weathered board bearing the chilling words, “ICE WAS HERE.”
Further within the sanctuary, a series of haunting questions are posed: “Where is Mary?”, “Where is Joseph?”, and the most resonant, “Where is Jesus?” These aren’t rhetorical questions, but a direct call to conscience.
The church explained the display wasn’t intended as a spectacle, but as a visceral prayer embodied in the form of a family. They deliberately chose to represent the Holy Family within the confines of spaces too many people are forced to inhabit – spaces defined by tarps, fencing, and unforgiving wire.
This provocative depiction is rooted in a deep ethical concern for migrants and those experiencing homelessness. Church leaders hope to compel their congregation, and the wider community, to consider who is being marginalized and overlooked during this season of giving.
The message resonates with those who encounter the scene. One local resident described it as a powerful commentary on the current political climate at the border and the injustices faced by those arrested without due process.
Another observer connected the display directly to the core tenets of the gospel, pointing out that Jesus himself was an immigrant and a migrant, seeking refuge and safety. The nativity scene, they argued, is a modern interpretation of that ancient truth.
Associate Pastor Isabel Marquez emphasized the intentionality of the message, stating it’s a direct response to the realities faced by many. She underscored the fundamental call to treat others with the same compassion and respect we desire for ourselves.
This isn’t the first time Oak Lawn United Methodist Church has taken a bold stand on social issues. In October, the church painted its steps in vibrant rainbow colors, a defiant act of solidarity with the LGBTQ community.
This display followed a directive from the state governor to remove all rainbow-decorated crosswalks, threatening funding to any municipality that refused. The church’s actions demonstrate a consistent commitment to advocating for marginalized communities.
Previously, in 2022, the church openly defied a bishop’s decree by appointing two openly gay pastors, further solidifying its reputation as a progressive and inclusive faith community willing to challenge convention.
Through these actions, Oak Lawn United Methodist Church isn’t simply offering a Christmas display; it’s issuing a powerful challenge to its community to confront uncomfortable truths and embody the spirit of compassion and justice.
