Archives

The Church Is An Inn

We have all heard the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus, in answering a Pharisee, tells a parable about how a Samaritan sees a broken man on his travels, takes pity on him, and then saves him from the situation. This story is a beautiful description of how showing love to your neighbor transcends schedules and affinity. Showing love requires empathy, work, and the knowledge of how to help. Being a neighbor is being there for someone when they need it.

Some commentators of this text have given an even deeper spiritual reflection of the rich symbolism embedded in the text. John Gill in his commentary reflects on the broken man as one who is near death because of sin. The priest and Levite who pass by on the other side can be seen to represent the moral and ceremonial law that recognize brokenness without giving mercy. The Samaritan in this perspective is a Christ type figure that is willing and able to give compassion to the broken man.

But where does this Christ type figure or Christian bring the man to? Where does the man find rest, get nourishment, and heal? Gill goes on to relay how the Inn is a Church of Christ and how the innkeepers are ministers of that church. We do not often think of the Inn or Innkeeper when this story is told. No doubt it is because they are background characters. They are not the focal point of the story. However, in reflecting on the Inn as the church and the keepers or hosts of this inn as ministers of the gospel, a deeper reflection emerges from the story.

The Samaritan doesn’t just recognize brokenness and stay with the man in it. The Samaritan doesn’t do what the world often does and perpetuate brokenness by validating it while offering no solutions to fix it. He doesn’t affirm it or try and convince the broken man that he is indeed not broken. Neither does he try and encourage ire from the broken man towards his assailant. The Samaritan also doesn’t try and fix the man’s problem out in the world. He doesn’t attempt to provide rest, nourishment, and wellness on the road. He does provide immediate care but all with the purpose of getting him away from danger and to the Inn, or as Gill and others have written, to the Church.

If we are to follow the law of Christ, we are to be like good Samaritans. We are to recognize hurt, be willing to help, and understand that Spiritual healing, rest, and food is only found in the Body of Christ. The world can recognize brokenness but fails in providing wellness. Each individual Christian must recognize that they are not a church unto themselves. We have an inn to take them too and keepers that can help. We have a place of rest, a place of wellness, a place to eat and celebrate; the Church.

Mr. Nate Gilmore, Content Editor for Holiness Today

Published: 10/26/2021

Archived News