To mimic the words from Carly Simon’s “No Secrets,” “we have a cast of
characters from A to Z....” And sadly built in prejudices with it. We are into
big names, celebrities, those who when we mention their name makes us feel good,
and hopefully install some envy in those we tell. Mention all time great bands,
and among them who has seen Emerson, Lake, and Palmer 5 times like I have?
Partied with the Beach Boys Mike Love? Been on stage with Alice Cooper for
“Welcome to My Nightmare?” Or saw The Eagles when they were a warm up band for
Robin Trower? Who? See you are impressed with names, and we all still pay big
dollars to see them. But how many warm up bands were actually the big event,
you just weren’t ready for it? We saw Springsteen at the Felt Forum, warm up
for Chicago, who we went to see. Their first public appearance playing “Born to
Run,” their opening song, and the place went nuts. The album to be released a
few months later. We left shortly after Chicago started exhausted from the
first band. So as some would tend to be more careful with their money, who they
go to see, some also take a snobby attitude to who they see. And what they
read. And who they fellowship with...for example.
So many churches today write checks in lieu of physical contact with the
poor, homeless, and those in prison. They do pen pal letters, often off of a
sample letter provided for them, preaching Jesus, but never getting to know the
addressee. Never listening, only talking, and they call that ministry. Talking
a language that only other church folk know, and telling each other what a good
job they have done taking the gospel to the lost. But ask them to visit, to sit
with one when they have done their time, and the mood changes. I have seen
it...from those who write the letters. They feel safe behind an address where
they will never have to meet one on one, safe the addressees are behind bars,
when it is them who are imprisoned by their beliefs, and when they do their true
heart is exposed. Works with pastors too, how many are much different when they
don’t have a pulpit to hide behind, and literally preach to the choir? Who
never get outside the four walls of the church, and never encounter those who
will never enter one? If you can associate yourself with the above, Jesus is
waiting, and will change your heart and add blessings to your life. And you get
to see the gospel in action. Theory vs. application. But you might get your
suit wrinkled, hands dirty, and maybe even hear the seven words you can’t say on
TV. You might encounter those who smell bad, but need a hug. Who are hungry
and need a meal. Who need the love of Jesus, not just the preaching of it. We
need to spend more time where Jesus did, outside the temple and on the street
where the action is. Where the disciples hung out, and where sin exists.
Enough exists freely within the four walls, we need to get out with the gospel
and see lives changed, yet we have to change and many don’t want to. “Don’t
mess with me, I am a Christian. I gave to missions. I give my old suits to
charity. I’ve done my part...” Parts, but not the whole part, the part that
comes from the heart. From pastors to church folk, are you willing to go where
God sends you without a pulpit to hide behind? Not just a once a month feel
good experience, but into the core of sin and be that light? Would you become
like the Apostle Paul? Would you? Where were you when you found Jesus?
But the elite, those with riches look at us differently. They like the
testimonies, at least for awhile. Then they are off to another round of golf.
Only knowing about God what the pastor teaches them, no more influence outside
the four walls. What would be your reaction if next week a man serving a long
sentence was paroled and made your pastor? No seminary, no church experience,
just the spirit guiding him. Sharing testimonies, stories, and prayers with a
dying audience. Whose words might carry less importance because of who he was,
not because of who Jesus is. Imagine such a man, writing letters to churches,
and bringing sin to light, but also forgiveness and the gospel. Suppose this
prisoner was an outlaw, rebel rouser, and had been at one time a big name among
the public. But now was forgotten in jail, and now out. Sharing his letters he
wrote to the congregations....would you be interested? Would you go to his
church? Take communion with him? What if you didn’t know what the looked like
and found yourself sitting next to him, how would you react? What true colors
would you not want us to see? Yet this man, this prisoner wrote most of the New
Testament, while in jail! I talk of the Apostle Paul. The original prison
minister. His words are spoken in your church, but would he be allowed? Let’s
pause so you can formulate your answer....
Many think it is nice I write to prisoners, they call it a prison ministry,
I correct them. I have a prisoner ministry with men and women I may never meet
this side of heaven. Who need Jesus, who love Jesus, and whose letters they
write influence and encourage me. Who are true ministers of the gospel, not
just sayers. They just live in a gated community. Who love Jesus but have
sinned, and God allowed them to be incarcerated. So others may hear the word.
Just like Paul. How many lives they touch directly or indirectly we will never
know, but God does. True ministry comes from the heart of God via the spirit
through men to those who are in need. True ministry is seeing a need and
filling it. Not directed from the pulpit, but by the spirit. Gaining access
outside the physical church, and watching the church grow outside its four
walls. Now how do you feel knowing your message last Sunday came from prison?
From a prisoner? Who was a rebel among rebels, happy to share with another
living in a gated community, just not with bars to keep prisoners in, but
prisoners out. Whose letters would you rather read?
Paul was locked up 24/7 for years, but knew a freedom few know in the
spirit. If in jail, he shared Jesus. If in the church he shared Jesus. With
fellow Pharisees, he shared Jesus. And through his letters from jail to a dying
world, to a young church, to young churches needing guidance, he shared Jesus.
And he didn’t care who knew! How many Tweets do you delete? All Paul’s brought
glory to God. Face to face, rather than Facebook. Can you imagine how big his
friend list would be? Then consider the Facebook page of Jesus, the Bible.
There long before the internet, and more impressive. Would you pay more money
to hear Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, or the Apostle Paul? Note-you can hear from him
for free weekly if you are in a God based fellowship. Jobs is gone, still time
to invite Gates.
Springsteen lit up the Felt Forum that night, we were ready for such
energy. We were ready for Chicago, mellow tunes and a brass section. We
weren’t ready for Born to Run. We got 10 minutes of rock and roll, maybe the
best rock song ever. And for the first time in public, before the album.
Guards and prisoners were treated to life from an old man in chains, not
what they were expecting. They found life within a gated community, and found
freedom they never knew existed. They heard Paul first hand, we can hear his
tales today in the Bible. I was there that night with George and Paula, where
are you with Jesus now? Locked in a cage and need escape from sin? Looking for
love in all the wrong places? There are names and there are names, none bigger
than Jesus Christ. With his gospel brought to a lost and dying world with
people like us, faces in a crowd. Who cannot contain his love for others, and
choose to live him daily. Not all gated communities have passwords, not all
behind bars are prisoners. Be set free in Christ today, get out and live for
him. This letter that will go into many prisons this week, will be read twice
by guards looking for gang messages. And hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jut because the person who it is addressed to is in jail. Unwittingly chained
to a guard like Paul was. God knows where we are, do we? We truly have a cast
of characters from A to Z, reminding me of Jesus, the first and last. The Alpha
and the Omega. Not all prisons have bars....know Jesus, be forgiven, and know
freedom in the spirit. Life is the warm up band for heaven...one you don’t want
to miss. God has “No Secrets. “
If the seat of your pants is wearing out faster than the soles of your
shoes, you need Jesus. You need application instead of theory. You need to
get out and live the gospel. Read all about it from a prisoner’s letter to the
church. He who has an ear let him hear. “Welcome back my friends to the show
that never ends..”
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com