“No Room at the Inn”

Turned Away When it Mattered the Most

We’re all familiar with the traditional Bible story of Mary and Joseph and the many children’s plays where prepubescent children, dressed as the couple, go from one inn to another only to be told, “No room!”

Such a sweet memory, yet did you know that in ancient Bethlehem there were no inns at all? The story got skewed along the way. Perhaps some thought it too harsh or controversial, so they tried to make it more palatable to families with innocent children who might ask too many questions…. (Sadly, the church has always shied away from the harsher things in Scripture, especially those pertaining to sexual sin.)

The reality is that the Greek word  “katalyma,” often translated as “inn,” actually refers to the guest room (guest chambers) in the family home.  You see, Joseph was taking Mary, his pregnant fiancé, to the family home in Bethlehem to be counted in the census where he was born and raised, among his relatives.

But his family couldn’t tolerate having their son bring his pregnant fiancé into their home. What a disgrace that would have been!

So instead, the Savior of the world was born in a cave (no, not a wooden stable), alongside the farm animals. 

Does the correlation hit home for you? It did for me this Christmas.

Will we be like Joseph’s family and reject our LGBTQ kids because of their sin? Or will we open our homes to them with unconditional, uncommon love? We can do that without condoning their sin or compromising our own faith. 

Now, the question regarding allowing them to bring their partners as well? Well, that, in my mind is a personal one to be made by each family.

For me personally, I would need to request in advance that they respect my faith and my home by not showing physical affection for each other while there. Likewise they would not be permitted to sleep together in my home. Even if they are “married” by civil law, they are not married in God’s eyes, as He defines and established marriage.

But I digress.

The main point here is to not turn away our precious kids because of their choices, but instead, to show them deep and unrelenting love in the context of our faith in Jesus. Because after all, isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 NIV

As one pastor recently stated, there are many ways of being lost in this world. Our sweet kids are lost—they have lost their way. That doesn’t mean they are bad; it simply means they need more love, compassionate understanding, and models of true faith in Christ—and they need us to stand in the gap for them (in prayer) as long as they remain lost.

My heart is with each of you this Christmas as you face the difficult challenges and heartbreak with your kids. 

Even so, we have reason to celebrate, for Hope was born and still lives. His name is Jesus.✝️

Much love to you,❤️🎄❤️

Mary