Imagine being wrongly charged, jailed awaiting trial, having to live in a cell a quarter size of your bedroom with another person (who may or may not be guilty of crime, possibly has a mental condition, may be prone to violence) and after six months with one hearing before a judge, no trial date set.
Whatever legit job you had is likely gone, if and as time passes with no resolution your partner or even spouse ends the relationship and if/when you are sentenced it is to more harsh conditions in prison, likely elsewhere quite some way from those you know, the facility far out in a rural area.
If released and again -if- you have a criminal record seeking a job becomes a real issue. Further, there are always genuine criminals about who seek such re-entry people to victimize for sake of money. When they're done with you or the police bust you again, it's full circle.
Then there is Christmas, various other holidays, some sort of "normal" which when behind bars is nothing close to what you've experienced on the outside.
Did I mention gang and one-on-one threats over most anything considered of value including sex, drugs, other contraband and even what little half-decent food or treats one might get at the institution's commissary. Sounds like a great place to be, 'eh?
For those who profess to follow Jesus, casting judgments on locked-up persons and the care or lack of it along with sometimes indifference and even brutal treatment where there are no cameras or witnesses (be it from other incarcerated persons or officers) is not only ignorant but truly outside of loving one's neighbor, even enemies if you should think of them in that way. Mind you, Jesus commands loving both.
This Christmas, those of you who profess to love Jesus and others might benefit by taking a moment to consider what it's like for those behind bars. To be sure, perhaps it's safe to say most are guilty of any number of things (as if we on the outside aren't?) and yet too many are wrongly charged, even convicted and sentenced to what some call "justice" though they are not guilty.
Consider what you might actually do beyond thoughts and prayers and you may even begin to realize there are those behind bars who are deeper disciples of Jesus Christ than most professing Christians who have never seen the inside of a jail or prison.
Consider too that at any time a false charge can come down on any of us and put us right there.
"I was a prisoner and you came to me" states Jesus in Matthew 25.
This is why I serve in various jail and prison ministry and will as long as God graces me with the ability to do so!
As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn
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