Prison ministry is a must....please visit this cell... In a wonderful Web Site called Wit and Wisdom, I received an article written by my favorite author Max Lucado entitled: “A CHRISTIAN PRISON.” Listen to this. Near the city of Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, is a remarkable facility. Twenty years ago the Brazilian government turned a prison over to two Christians. The institution was renamed Humaita, and the plan was to run it on Christian principles. With the exception of two full-time staff, all the work is done by inmates. Families outside the prison adopt aninmate to work with during and after his term. Chuck Colson visited the prison and made this report: When I visited Humaita I found the inmates smiling- particularly the murderer who held the keys, opened the gates and let me in. Wherever I walked I saw men at peace. I saw clean living areas, people working industriously. The walls were decorated with Biblical sayings from Psalms and Proverbs. . . My guide escorted me to the notorious prison cell once used for torture. Today, he told me, that block houses only a single inmate. As we reached the end of a long concrete corridor and he put the key in the lock, he paused and asked, Are you sure you want to go in? Of course, I replied impatiently, Ive been in isolation cells all over the world. Slowly he swung open the massive door, and I saw the prisoner in that punishment cell: a crucifix, beautifully carved by the Humaita inmates-the prisoner Jesus, hanging on a cross. Hes doing time for the rest of us, my guide said softly. What a touching story wouldn’t you agree? Christianity is all about Christ paying for the penalties of our sins. One song goes this way: “He paid the debts He did not owe, I owe the debts I could not pay My Jesus took all my sins away.” I wonder why a lot of people miss this. Christianity is not about denominational quarrels. It’s not about hymnals versus overhead projectors, it’s not about church splits, personality conflicts and all those other petty stuff that surely brings grief to the Savior. It’s all about God incarnate dying on the cross so that you and I could have eternal life. It’s all about submitting our authority to the Lordship of Christ obeying His Word and allowing the power of the Holy spirit to lead us to a life of victorious living. The prisoners in this story surely got it. But sadly the prisoners outside prisons do not. I’ve traveled the country. I’ve witnessed and experienced terrible church conflicts. I’ve seen how pastors and people who profess the Name of Christ would go on endless rounds of slander and false accusations against their brethrens. You know what? They’re still in prison. I’ve witnessed superstar TV evangelists fleece people our of their hard earned money. I’ve seen charlatans holding the Bible looking straight at the TV cameras and asking for donations countless times in a day via Cable TV. I’ve seen how legalistic people possess judgmental and condemning spirits and you know what? These people are still in prison. I have a dream. To be accurate, I have a prayer. That people who profess the Name of Christ would seek to know the Truth so that the Truth can set them free. The freedom to know that Christianity is all about Jesus Christ offering His life for ours. And if only I would have an opportunity to visit the Christian prison mentioned in this article by Max Lucado, the first few words you would probably hear from me would be the words, “congratulations! You people may be in prison but you’re free. For you have known the Truth and the Truth has set you free!” God bless you.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 11:18:44 +0000
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