Friendly Neighborhood Detention Center
Yesterday I made a trip to the County Detention Center to visit with one of our finer church members.
Statistically, I understand, there are more Baptists in the American prison system than any other religious affiliation. I am not sure how to accept this bit of information. Perhaps it means we open our arms to the disaffected and struggling, accepting people who have yet to master many of the ongoing sins that are a part of life. But I suspect it signals it is too easy to be Baptist, that one can readily affiliate with the church without a serious commitment to the Christian faith. As a church leader I have personally thought about this a good bit, and have decided I just cannot determine a moral threshold before a person can be acceptable to my fellowship. Sinners are welcome, because it seems I cannot help but be one of them. Having said this, still I expect a person who claims the name of “Christian” to be serious about his relationship with and commitment to Jesus Christ. And this should prove true in practical and discernible matters of his life.
Actually this young man is not a “member” of my church. He actively attends and we have an ongoing friendship. He is confused and has many troubling things in his life. I think I know of sufficient answers for him and am trying to influence him toward that direction. It is a slow process. I am hoping his incarceration will help to make him more open to a life change. So I pray for him, and so I go to visit him at the Detention Center.
Going through the metal detector is a frustrating experience. Inevitably I set off the alarm several time. The culprit will be my belt, metal implants in my shoes, or perhaps my glasses. Finally the guard will use the wand, and gruffly give me the go ahead. Then I must convince the next guard that I am, indeed, a real minister. I show a bulleting, newsletter, and church letterhead with my name prominently displayed. But she wants a Certificate of Ordination. I’ve been ordained to the ministry for about 25 years, but the paper of authenticity disappeared into my files many years ago. Finally I’ve secured an official-looking card from my denominational office, and it is acceptable. Of course I could have easily forged it in five minutes with Photoshop and a decent color printer, and I have both. But I guess only an idiot would fake his way into prison!
We talk to one another in a little booth, separated by two inch bullet proof Plexiglas. It makes for muffled sound and difficult conversation. I notice in my friend some hopeful signs of change in attitude. Three weeks ago he cockily told me he was glad he was in jail, that he needed the time to clear his head. Also, he was blaming everybody else for his predicament. At the end of that visit, I did not even offer to pray with him, which caught him off guard a bit. But this time he seemed much more humbled. He readily acknowledged that he had gotten himself into this situation. He spoke of how he missed his family and church. We talked a bit about life and God, nothing profound. And we prayed. I have hope for this young man. He turned 25 last month while in jail. It’s time for a fundamental change. In Christian terms it is called “repentance” and even “born again”. I’d very much like to see it happen.
On my way back to the car, which was a very long walk, I started noticing the bumper sticker upon the cars in the full parking lot. They trended toward the conservative. “God Is My Co-Pilot”- I think He should be the pilot. “You’ll Take My Guns When You Pry Them From My Cold Dead Fingers” – If that guy cuts me off in traffic, I think I’ll just smile. “Hilliary Sucks” – Hey, I’m just quoting from the bumper sticker. And there were several various stickers in support of George Bush and our soldiers in Iraq. I was disturbed with thinking that most people in this prison are religious and political conservatives, a lot like myself. But then it hit me, like the dummy that I sometimes tend to be, that these were not the cars of the inmates. They were vehicles belonging to lawyers, prison workers, and mostly family of the incarcerated.
I don’t use bumper stickers. Not political, since over half my church membership do not vote as do I. And not religious, since sometimes my driving habits do not reflect well on the Christian faith. But now I personally know someone who is employed in the manufacture of license plates. And I’ll see him again next week.
05.02.07 (10:30 am) [
edit]
posted by:
inkspector (
reply)
post date:
05.02.07 (3:55 pm)
Pastor Dave, if you can find out what the young man's reading level is (most likely very low) and get him literacy help, you would be amazed how learning how to read can change a life.
posted by:
ggirl (
reply)
post date:
05.03.07 (12:18 pm)
Maintaining your connection with this young man is really important to him, I bet. The more people care about you, the more you can care about yourself. And I do not mean in the sense of self-indulgence.
I never have bumper stickers either or tee shirts with messages on them. I don't understand why people feel the need to identify who they are by the stuff they put on their cars. I *do* find them entertaining sometimes, though.
One final thought (and I truly don't mean to be offensive). Are we not all sinners?
posted by:
LadyG (
reply)
post date:
05.04.07 (2:25 am)
That's an interesting piece of information PD about the Baptist have more peole in prison then other denominations. I hope this young man will turn his life around.
posted by:
swanktrendz (
reply)
post date:
05.06.07 (5:09 am)
Are they Baptists before or after entering prison? Just wondering.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.07.07 (12:20 pm)
Reply to: inkspector
You make a valid point. I've been connected with literacy work here in my county, especially with ESL for internationals. These people have a real hunger to know how to better speak the language, because they know it is a key to moving out of poverty. I do not know the stats, but I'm sure the percentage of prisoner who are illiterate would be astounding. This particular young man is literate and actually quite intelligent. He did not graduate from high school because of social/behavioural problems.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.07.07 (12:33 pm)
Reply to: swanktrendz
With the stat that I have referenced, the noted persons were Baptist when entering prison. Of course, as you and I know, claiming to be Baptist or Methodist or Martian or whatever does not signify a serious devotion to the cause.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.07.07 (12:34 pm)
Reply to: LadyG
I hope he does, too. I will visit with him again tomorrow.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.07.07 (12:38 pm)
Reply to: ggirl
Sure we are all sinners. Paul had the attitude that "I am the chiefest of sinners". I hope I have not given the impression that I think myself to be superior to others. Everyday I sin, in many different ways. It's a cronic and ongoing condition, only to be completely remedied I think in the next life. So, I go to visit him as one sinner trying to help another sinner.
I appreciate that we have a kinship concerning our lack of use of bumper stickers. My son, who longs one day to be a marine, has recently put on his bumper a sticker saying "Give War A Chance". I detest it, and have told him several times. He's allowed the freedom to express himself, even when I dislike it.
posted by:
swanktrendz (
reply)
post date:
05.07.07 (9:40 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave - I suppose that I would click a box that held a title rather than write none. And if I were in prison, I'm pretty sure I would be announcing quite loudly, for all to hear, that I had returned to my faith as well. Especially around early parole time.
