Alright, folks, we’re stepping into the book of Judges, and let me tell you, hospitality in these pages doesn’t always come with warm bread and a cozy guest room. Sometimes, it comes with a tent peg, a sword, or well… the Old Testament equivalent of hospitality with a purpose.

Now, before we get into the meat of things, let’s talk about this word “spicy”. It gets tossed around a lot these days “spicy books,” “spicy movies,” you know what I’m talking about. But that’s not the kind of spice I mean. No, I’m talking about the kind of spicy that, if you’re not used to it, might make you sweat, cry, or outright refuse to take another bite. But it’s on the menu, and if you know me, you know I love me some spice! So, as the kids say, “y’all better let me cook.”

Now, let me tell you a story. No, not about how my life got flipped, turned upside down, that’s the Fresh Prince. This is about a time I flipped a guy upside down, which is much more on-brand for the conversation we’re about to have.

So, back in Vermont, my home church had an active Mercy Ministries. Every Sunday after church, we ran a soup kitchen, and as you can imagine, we got all sorts of folks rolling through. Some came for the food, some for the company, and some, apparently, for a full-contact sporting event.

One Sunday, my family and I were hanging out after service, doing the usual, chatting, meeting newcomers, the whole thing. Then, from downstairs, I heard a commotion. Now, I may be a big guy, but when I need to move, I move. So down the stairs I went, and I’m sure it was quite the sight, a 6’4”, 325-pound man barreling down the stairs like a freight train with no brakes.

As I rounded the corner, what I saw stopped me dead in my tracks; but only for a split second.

One of my oldest friends was in the middle of breaking up a beatdown. A homeless man was wailing on another guy, absolutely pummeling him. Before I could react, I watched my friend take one of the gnarliest haymakers I’ve ever seen—POW! Right to the kisser. And let’s just say, that was the moment my brain clicked into action.

The next few seconds were a bit of a blur—probably for me, definitely for the attacker. One moment, I was running toward him. The next moment, he was upside down, and then we were both on the ground. If this were a movie, this is where the dramatic voiceover would say:

“It was at that moment… he knew he had messed up.”

The Shocking Part? Not the Fight.

Now, was I surprised that a fight broke out at a soup kitchen? No. If you work in any kind of mercy ministry, you know tensions can run high. Was I surprised that the guy who just got yeeted was still angry after being stopped? Nope. People get weird when you interrupt their bad decisions.

What did surprise me?

The sheer number of church leaders…I repeat, LEADERSHIP in the church, who stood there, not only refusing to help, but actively yelling at me for “attacking” this guy. Meanwhile, my wife and a petite woman from church, bless them both, were the only ones helping me restrain him until the cops showed up.

Let me say that again for the people in the back: the women stepped up while grown men stood around looking uncomfortable and yelling at me.

I’m pretty sure when the cops were called, it wasn’t because of the homeless man attacking people, it was because I had dared to stop him. And after the cops arrived? I still had church folks coming up to me, wagging their fingers, telling me how “un-Christlike” my actions were.

And then, like a beam of sanity cutting through the nonsense, the pastor walked in, took one look at the situation, and said:

“Thank you for doing what needed to be done.”

Here’s the thing: Hospitality isn’t just about making people feel safe. Sometimes, it’s about actually keeping people safe. That day, I didn’t see a lot of men willing to do that. I saw men who wanted to talk about love and grace, but when it came time to protect the vulnerable, they suddenly found their shoes VERY interesting. Hospitality also stepping up when it’s hard, uncomfortable, or even dangerous.

We love to talk about kindness, but hospitality is in fact standing in the gap when someone is in danger, even when it makes you the bad guy in the room. Sometimes, it means flipping a guy upside down.

We’ve talked a lot about hospitality being about making people feel safe. But let’s be real, sometimes, it’s not just about feelings. It’s about actually keeping people safe. And nowhere in the Bible is that clearer than in Judges 4, where hospitality takes a sharp left turn, Jael-style.

So, picture this: Sisera, a big-shot enemy commander, is running for his life. He’s sweaty, desperate, and looking for a place to crash. Then he spots Jael’s tent, and he thinks, “Jackpot! Safe place, friendly face.” Oh, buddy, if only you knew.

Jael, ever the gracious host, welcomes him in, gives him a drink, lets him get comfortable. But this isn’t your average Airbnb setup. Nope. This is strategic hospitality. She’s got a bigger mission, one that ends with a tent peg to the temple. Why? Because Sisera was a massive threat to her people, and she wasn’t about to let him waltz in and continue his reign of terror.

Look, I know this kind of thinking doesn’t sit well with a lot of people today, especially in the church. “We should just love people! We could never harm anyone!” But let’s be clear: protecting your people isn’t unbiblical. It’s actually one of the most biblical things you can do.

I remember watching a video years ago where women were asked if they could take a life to protect their own child. And I was shocked, and disgusted, at how many of them hesitated or flat out said no. If someone is coming after my family, that hesitation doesn’t exist. And it shouldn’t. That’s not a lack of love; that’s a fulfillment of responsibility.

Now, this isn’t just about physical safety. Emotional, psychological, and spiritual safety are just as critical.

Let’s talk physical safety for a second. I know plenty of people who don’t like the idea of churches having armed security. They think it’s un-Christlike. But have you seen the number of church and school shootings lately?

One of the best quotes I’ve ever heard (and I wish I could remember where) was:

“If a shooter comes into my church to harm my congregation, I will show them the love of Christ. And I will show it to them one bullet at a time while I protect my people.”

Why is it so hard to understand that we can offer safety by being dangerous?

It’s not just about protecting people from physical threats. Some of the most dangerous battles people face happen behind closed doors.

Maybe you have a friend in an abusive relationship? Emotionally manipulated? Controlled? Torn down? They want out, but don’t know how. What do we do? Stay silent? Ignore it? Act like it’s not our business?

No. If we truly believe in hospitality, the kind that makes people safe, we have to be willing to stand up, look their abuser in the eye, and say, “No more.”

Yeah, it might make us unpopular. It might be uncomfortable. It might even put us in danger. But hospitality isn’t about staying comfortable. It’s about doing what’s right.

Now here’s where it gets even harder.

Every single one of us knows someone; family, friend, church member, who’s in spiritual danger. Maybe they’re walking themselves straight into it. Maybe they don’t even realize it. Either way, it’s our job to step in.

And yet, how often do we take a “not my circus, not my monkeys” approach? How often do we see people drowning spiritually and do nothing?

Maybe it’s a church teaching flat-out heresy. Maybe it’s a town being led astray by some smooth-talking pastor who cares more about power than the gospel. Maybe it’s someone we love dabbling in something that’s leading them further from God.

Listen Linda, you’re not going to win a popularity contest for calling it out. It will be like the Wicked soundtrack you will be going from, You’ll be popular…, to, Loathing, pure un-adulterated loathing…, quicker that you can click next. But we are not called to be popular. We’re called to stand in the gap. To warn. To protect. To offer a way to safety.

Jael knew the risk. Inviting Sisera into her tent wasn’t just an act of kindness, it was an act of war. She saw the bigger picture. She knew that sometimes, real hospitality isn’t about making guests comfortable. It’s about making the world safer for everyone else.

That kind of hospitality takes guts. It takes sacrifice. It takes a willingness to act, even when it’s dangerous. Even when it’s unpopular.

Jael’s story in Judges 4 reminds us that hospitality isn’t just about warm fuzzies and good vibes. Sometimes, it’s about grit. It’s about knowing when to offer kindness and when to take a stand.

True hospitality makes people safe. Not just comfortable, but safe. That means stepping in, speaking up, and sometimes, standing in the line of fire. Whether it’s protecting our homes, our churches, our friends or their faith, hospitality…real, Godly hospitality, requires boldness.

So, let’s welcome like Jael. Boldly. Purposefully. And always with an eye on the greater good. Hospitality isn’t just about open doors; it’s about standing in the gap. Welcome boldly, protect fiercely, and never be afraid to flip a table… or a guy if necessary.

Stay Salty.