Zetland Park Methodist Church Pastoral Letters
‘Our prison population’
There is always a lot of talk in the press and other sections of the media about ‘our prison population’ and increasingly difficult it seems for the judiciary to seek and be seen to maintain law and order without ‘overcrowding’ the prison system. The entire system is on the verge of utter collapse with the fear of a massive increase in crime and criminality. There is utter disgust as criminals are ‘let loose’ after serving what many folk regard as a derisory part of a jail term, while the ‘victim or their family’ are wracked in pain and anguish. The barbarity of crime and the age range of those perpetrating them is equally astounding, and the entire basis of living and civility seems to have gone, and very few ‘in power’ have either the authority or indeed the will to do anything about it.
It seems to be down to the question, ‘Who rules?’
And that in itself can evoke many an interesting answer, for each and all have their mind set on a particular circumstance. Each and all have their own basis for government and how ‘punishment’ should and must [in some circumstances], be meted out. The debate ranges wide and far from the anti-terrorist legislation which is lumbering through Parliament as I write to the nuisance who tips the dustbin and creates a noise in the middle of the night ---- all are our concern; each causes a degree of problem that needs to be addressed so that we can claim that right ‘to live in freedom, peace and in safety’.
Some will blame the ‘environment’ in which these ‘criminals’ live, but that is as far as the debate usually goes ---- we DARE NOT voice a potential solution because of some politically correct charley hovering in the wings. In my travels I have experienced a number of ‘environmental challenges’ which have not been open to the majority. Like the family destitute in a repossessed house, sitting on orange boxes and drinking tea out of filthy jam jars --- what do you do when offered ‘a jar’? Or the broken-down home where as you walk over the carpet, it crunches ---- you dare not look under it or indeed sit on the disheveled furniture. Or the street littered with broken glass, beer cans and other rubbish which can rip a car tyre to shreds in moments ----- the crime rate is excessively high, but through it all is a desperate cry for ‘help’. The opposite side of the coin is the utter and at times obscene affluence of church leaders resting in luxury beyond the vision of oh-so-many parishioners –where do we stand in all this, if at all?
Do we ‘have a voice’ if our leaders appear to be silent? Do the media regard the church at all as an influence in the community, let alone the country? Having ‘lost our clout’ how do we regain that position where right is championed and all are at least given the opportunity to live and not just ‘survive’?
I’ve just been reading a passage from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, one of his earliest letters to a Christian group and he wonderfully recalls the influence they had on him as they sought to ‘share the Good news of Jesus’. BUT, they are NOT trained for that, will come the stern, Victorian type reply!!! So what!
Why is it that even in this so-called enlightened 21st century society we stick rigidly to such archaic principles? Do you know, and indeed, do you recognize, that if we put as much effort into our sharing of the Gospel as we did into criticism of Church and members/staff/friends, the world would be a radically different place?
I’ve been hammered on a number of issues recently and it hurt, because I felt that in and through it all I was doing the Lord’s will and seeking to progress His Kingdom, but there were a few within the wider Church circle in the section who considered their long-held views, tarnished with the rust of ages, were still relevant and should be maintained at all costs! There are times when I feel that I am in 1st century Palestine listening to the Scribes and the Pharisees.
There is ‘energy’ there ---- why cannot we use it to ‘build the Kingdom, as opposed to destroying its members?’ The world will remain a ‘mess’ until we as God’s representatives here on earth get our act together and
- put Jesus at the centre OF EVERYTHING
- get stuck into the study of His Word and sacrifice our so-called ‘precious time’, which was given firstly by God
- put effort into worship, prayer and praise however many are present, because whatever the number remember Jesus is ALWAYS there
- Be prepared to seek and embrace change while holding fast to the principles of faith and its understanding.
- The world is growing and evolving our ‘faith’ needs and must do the same.
- encourage one another ‘whatever the circumstance’
- Be assured that the Lord is here and His Spirit IS with us.
- The Cross is ours to behold. Stick ‘yesterday’ on it, and behold a bright future only in Christ Jesus, risen, alive and among us.