A Texas church has drawn national attention—and stirred deep debate—after unveiling a nativity display that reimagines the Holy Family as modern-day immigrants confined inside a metal cage wrapped in barbed wire.

Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas erected the display on its front steps, which are painted in rainbow colors. The outdoor scene features silhouettes of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus standing behind a chain-link fence, accompanied by signs reading, “Holy is the refugee” and “Holy are the profiled and patrolled.” Inside the church, a second installation includes empty chairs, protest-style signage, and a manger beneath a wooden board marked with the phrase “ICE WAS HERE.” Other signs inside ask pointed questions: “Where is Mary?” “Where is Joseph?” and “Where is Jesus?”

The church introduced the display on December 8, describing it as a deliberate and prayerful statement rather than a seasonal decoration. In a Facebook post, church leaders explained that the nativity was meant to confront harsh realities faced by migrants and the unhoused. “Our nativity isn’t a photo-op. It’s a prayer in the shape of a family,” the church wrote. Leaders said the use of fencing and wire was not intended to shock but to convey what they described as the truth.

According to the church, the display is intended to encourage reflection on those who are often overlooked during the Christmas season. “If love came into the world through a family with no room to stay, then every unhoused neighbor matters. Every migrant matters. Every family seeking safety matters,” the post continued.

Some passersby expressed support for the message. Nearby resident Sean Garman called the display a relevant commentary on immigration enforcement and due process, while another resident, Sarah Perkins, viewed it as a modern interpretation of the Gospel, noting that Jesus and his family fled violence and lived as migrants.

Associate Pastor Isabel Marquez told Fox 4 Dallas that the nativity was designed to reflect real experiences happening today. “This topic is sending a message to everyone,” she said. “It is a way to say what is a reality happening here for many people,” Marquez added that the church’s intention was not to issue political demands but to emphasize the biblical call to treat others with compassion and dignity.

The display, however, has raised concerns among many Christians who worry that sacred imagery is being used to advance political narratives rather than proclaim the central message of Christmas—the incarnation of Jesus Christ as Savior of the world. Critics argue that while Scripture clearly commands believers to care for the poor and vulnerable, blending the nativity with modern policy debates risks obscuring the Gospel and dividing the Body of Christ.

This is not the first time Oak Lawn United Methodist Church has made headlines for public social statements. In recent years, the church has taken visible stands on cultural issues, including LGBTQ advocacy and clergy appointments that defied denominational leadership.

As Christians reflect on this controversial nativity, the conversation highlights an ongoing tension within the Church: how to faithfully engage social issues while keeping Christ—not politics—at the center of Christmas.