W e know from statistics that there has been an explosion of new believers in the state and federal prisons, so why is this happening?
The Broken
[1]
We know from statistics that there has been an explosion of new believers in the state and federal prisons, so why is this happening? First off, those who have been sent to jail or prison have come to an end of themselves. Often they have nowhere else to turn to and the only way out is to look up, so many have come to faith in Jesus Christ in a crisis. But the good news is, God can only fix those who are broken. Jesus still bids all to “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). Unless a person comes to an end of themselves, God cannot work in their lives. If they are full of themselves, God cannot fill them with His Spirit. God resists the proud, but He will pour out His grace on the humble (James 4:6), so only with surrender is there victory.
Repent and Believe
When a person comes to the end of their rope, often it is God Who has been waiting there all the time. Until a person is broken over their sin and realize the infinite gap that is between them and a holy God, they cannot be saved. God gives His free gift of grace to all who believe in the Son (Eph 2:8-9), but Jesus Himself in introducing the gospel said a person must repent and believe (Mark 1:15). When anyone, prisoner or free, comes to faith in Christ, they humble themselves, confess their sin and repent of their former life of sin. They will still sin, yes, but over time, they will sin less. Not sinless, but sinning less. They now desire to please God and not man or themselves because they love Him. The new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:17) now strives, out of love, to live a holier life…and generally, they will!
[2]“I was in prison and you came to me”
Prison Fellowship
Prison Fellowship(.org) is one of our partners in ministry and their example shows us what great good the church can do inside the prisons. Prison Fellowship equips Christians to serve currently and formerly incarcerated people and their families, and to advocate for justice and human dignity. This fits God’s schematic when He created human beings; no matter what, every person was created in the image of God (Gen 1:27-28) and deserves the dignity they receive. Yes, the image of God is now tarnished (just as it is in me!), but it’s not altogether absent. When we treat people with dignity and respect (prisoners included!), we agree with God that we are no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). I’ve had people ask me why I go into the prisons. What’s the use, they think, but then I say, “What if the prisoner I visited was your brother, your father or your son?” That usually stops the discussion. The foot of the cross has always been on the same level of ground we all must stand upon.
A Great Harvest
I find it interesting that many are being set free in prison while outside the walls, people are still held captive by the god of this world (2 Cor 4:3-6). We cannot say exactly why prison churches are experiencing significant growth (but God does), although much of this growth has been driven by a surge in, and adoption of, church-planting initiatives inside correctional facilities. Organizations like Prison Fellowship [3] and God Behind Bars work with local churches to establish, campus-style ministries. Other churches, like ours, have their own prison ministry. In fact, most prison ministries are not large, but rather small and come from local or regional churches where volunteers come in and counsel inmates, provide Bible studies and preaching. Perhaps it is all of these rich resources (the Bible and the people of God) that has caused high attendance and church growth, although God is working all these things together for all believer’s good (Rom 8:28), so all glory and credit must go to God. And that means all the more who will hear the gospel and might be saved.
Summary
[4]When Jesus was speaking of the end days and coming judgment of Jerusalem (in 70 AD), He identified those who were truly saved and genuinely being used by God, and those who were just playing church and pleasing only themselves. It will be “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Matt 25:31-32), so how does Jesus separate them? He says that when I was hungry, thirsty, a stranger to you (Matt 25:35), you actually ministered to Me (Matt 25:40), but also, when “I was in prison and you came to me” (Matt 25:36c). This could refer to those who would be in prison for their faith, but it’s not limited to that since we’re told to go into all the world, and that must include nursing homes and prisons. Jesus’ point is whatever we do for the “least of these” (Matt 25:40) or other believers (wherever they may be), we are actually doing this to Jesus. How? It is because He is the Head of the Church, and what we do for other believers, we are actually doing this unto Him. And by the way, all of us are the “least of these.”
Conclusion
The reason that there has been such rapid growth in the prison churches is God alone Who saves (Acts 4:12) because He alone gives the increase (Acts 2:47), but He is pleased to use us as a means to reach His ends, chiefly to preach repentance and faith in Christ. We are in such of so many volunteers and pastors to go into the prisons. In many cases, there is only one pastor to serve an entire prison church. Won’t you enter the mission field? The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are so few (Matt 9:37).
Finally, I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.
Here is some related reading for you: How to Start a Prison Ministry [5]
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.