Preachin' in Prison

“Like Elizabeth Taylor said to her fifth husband, ‘I’m not going to keep you long.’”

I laughed and settled into my chair. This was going to be a treat.

It was a Sunday afternoon in Atlanta. I sat in a prison’s visitation room, listening to the words of a wise man. One of the inmates had asked us to contact John Eldridge, a pastor who had once been the chaplain at Walker State Prison. The inmate hadn’t seen Chaplain Eldridge in some time and was wondering if he’d be kind enough to visit Atlanta to preach to the prison congregation on a Sunday afternoon. I reached out and Chaplain Eldridge kindly obliged.

Today, I share with you some of his message, one from which we could all benefit, one that needs no commentary. I hope his words resonate with you as much as they resonated with me and the men at the prison that Sunday.

 “Scientists tell me we’re a bunch of protoplasms. Psychology tells us we’re rats in a maze. Philosophy tells us what we’re doing as rats in a maze. Historians tell us about the past. Statisticians tell us facts about the future. When it comes down to it, we’re all just confused all the same. There are two ways to look at ultimate reality. There’s the M&M theory, or there’s a God in Heaven that’s sovereign, that spoke the world into existence. M&M, matter and motion, there is no God. There was a larger piece of matter with more energy behind it that overtook you. If there was no God it wouldn’t matter if Rosa Parks was under the bus, on top of the bus, or hanging off the side. If there was no God everything would be permissible. You and I are a bunch of rebels. God did something that shocked humanity. Didn’t come in guns a-blazing with bull whips. He stepped down the staircase of Heaven and placed a baby in a manger. Not to condemn the world. He already knew we were condemned, already knew we had a record. He sent Heaven’s best for the world’s worst. Hung out with thugs. Died next to two thieves on a cross. I don’t have to rely on my own works to be redeemed.

Religion is that kinda stuff man comes up with to justify himself before God. Salvation is a gift from God. Grace. God accepts us. You may not have been accepted where you were raised, in your community. But you can make it in a harsh world with harsh rules if you know He’s for us and He accepts us. It’s good to know even if there wasn’t a momma or a dad that didn’t love you, there is one that loves you more than your own mother loved you. Jesus saved me from wrath and made me pure. He died for me. That is the full Gospel. He died for me and He lived for me. Jesus paid it all. Sin has left its crimson stain he washed it white as snow.”

Chaplain Eldridge concluded with the following words. “Everybody goes to God, only the saved meet a Father. The others will meet a God of wrath.”

When I walked out of the prison that evening, I saw some rocks outside. On them were painted words, “Freedom” and “Hope.” Our art class at the prison had painted them some weeks ago. They shone brightly in the sun.

Free of sin. Hope for a better future. That’s all we need.

Amen.

Spencer