Real Issuses
March 23, 2006

Well it has occurred to me that one of the major problems with jails is the lack of programs to rehabilitate criminal offenders. I used to be against these programs, feeling as though inmates should suffer for the crimes they commit. Well I am here to tell you that my view has changed. I believe the time they are sentenced to serve in jail or prison is adequate punishment. What’s more I believe that we should be taking every opportunity especially with first time offenders to mold them into more productive citizens. This means that we need to start dealing with the real issues.
What are the real issues? Well really it boils down to one issue, sin. The reason they are in jail is because of their sin. The Bible says that the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart. This means that if their heart is stuck in sin they will produce words and actions as a result of this. Programs for addictions of all sorts are good but will not be effective to rehabilitate the entire person. While in some cases the rehabilitation programs may be effective at stopping the addictions but it will never be effective in purging fully the person’s heart of sin. The symptoms may be suppressed but the disease is not cured. What these people need is a relationship with Jesus. They need to be cleansed by His blood. We need programs that help people recover from addictions by introducing them to the One who will save them.
Once the sin issues are dealt with it is time to move on to things like domestic skills, job skills, and secondary and post secondary education. I think of nursing skills, auto mechanic skills, computer skills, CNC skills, Biblical training, teaching skills and many other possibilities. Included in these types of programs would be extensions to the community. Think of it as crime prevention. A mother doesn’t have to steal for food if we can buy her groceries long enough so she can learn how to support her family. I am not talking as a government, rather as a church. Christians are to have faith. We are to have faith in God to provide us with all needs. This faith extends to the hungry, the uneducated, the weak, the poor, the homeless, the stinky, and the criminal. You see by meeting their physical needs it leads to helping their spiritual needs. A Biblical verse we are all familiar with is John 3:16. God loves this world so much that He gave His Son. If we truly believe this then we will believe that God wants us to reach out in faith. I need to do this.
I want to leave you on this note. As Americans we are often challenged to continually make our family more secure by hoarding financial gain. Keep everything saved up. I say we should start giving until it hurts and then give more. Money does not make us secure, rather God alone. This is the conviction of my heart. I pray God will give me faith to do these things and not only write about them.

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