My initial thought was to begin this article with examples of the ways culture suffocates our personal identities with society driven labels, but you already know. And the truth is, I know too, but unfortunately, it took a powerful experience to stir a passion for change.
I, along with a few others from Calvin College, bring church to Kent County Jail in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The first time I shuffled through the metal detector, gave my drivers license in return for a badge, advanced through eleven electronically controlled entryways, and made my way up seven separate elevators, I wasn’t sure what I got myself into. But I remember a thought that clearly came to mind in the midst of the shaking of the fifth elevator: Jesus took risks for the reward of the Father. Not one person was like Him — He was the Son of God — yet exposure to unconventional circumstances was worth it every time.
I am called to be Christ-like. Therefore, now I walk in the jail excited to meet and reconnect with my brothers.
After the first day, I refuse to call these men "inmates."
“Inmate” is a belittling label. Every human is infected with the disease of sin. Furthermore, there are no levels of sin. In other words, no sin is worse than another — a distinction society neglects. My brothers messed up, just like I do daily. Now I am not pushing the fact that the crime the committed was not wrong, but God loves them equally.
As we say at the beginning of each service at the Kent County Jail, “We are happy to see you, but we are not happy to see you here.” That doesn’t just apply for these men. God surely says this to His children. We mess up and He is still so satisfied to be our Father, yet He wishes we wouldn’t betray Him in sin. But the key here is that the price Jesus paid for sin was not a loan. Death, the punishment we deserve for sin, is completely and eternally defeated. I can’t believe He chose us to pay this price for so we could know the Father. Jesus hung His life on a cross so humankind can stand beside each other in new life.
Stand beside each other. Just this past Sunday, I realized how in awe I am over this phrase. I stood next to a African American man in his mid forties wearing a green two piece outfit stamped with the pod number while singing "Amazing Grace" together. We are pretty close to being complete opposites. One of only similarities may have been that we are loved by the Maker of the world and members of the same body. It hit me then, this is truly all we need. Being exposed to an unconventional circumstance is worth it every time, even if only one brother is impacted by the Word.
My brothers in jail offer a firm handshake at the end of the service, along with a genuine smile beaming with gratitude. The building doesn't matter when we pray together for family, trials, and maybe a good meal every now and then.
Strive to desert all undervaluing labels and replace it with the only true one: Child of the King of Kings.
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! {Psalm 133:1}
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” {Romans 8:15-17}
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” {Romans 12:4-5}
