There's no

doubt about it, but that the women and men in uniform deserve our admiration,

gratitude, and honor. The outpouring of jubilation for the returned POWs

comes as representative for all troops of the United States. My tear ducts

go into overdrive when I see anyone of those young soldiers backdropped

But this past

Sunday, my church gave an ovation for a young man who had not served in

the military; a young man who had not put his life in harm's way; a young

man who would not merit the outstretched arm of politician for a perfect

photo opportunity.

No, this man

had just been released from jail! He had been put behind bars because

he committed a crime. But let me make a few observations about our prison

population.

First, they

are just like you and me. I remind my congregation once in a while that

the only difference between them and those behind bars is that the most

of the members of my congregation any congregation have not been caught.

Then I add, "So stop what you are doing now so you won't be caught."

The men and

women behind bars have families just like the average, ordinary "Joe."

For the most part, prisoners are good folks who exercised flawed decision-making

at the wrong time.

Second, most

prisoners are not godless. In fact, this is what so impressed me about

this young man whose Easter present was to be in church. I had visited

him four times in his jail quarters. He and I kept up a thriving correspondence.

He impressed me with a broad knowledge of the Word of God. In fact, his

knowledge was greater than the average student entering a graduate seminary.

He also impressed

me in that the guards would refer vexed and discomforted prisoners to

him for counsel and prayer.

Third, my Savior

and Lord, Jesus Christ, made it very clear to me to visit the prisoners.

In fact, at the final judgment, Jesus said we would be judged in part

whether or not we visited the prisoners: "I was in prison and you

visited me not," Jesus said. The question arose, "Lord, when

did we not visit you in prison?" Jesus responded, "In as much

as you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me."

When asked

to make prison visits, I try always to respond if for no other reason,

I might be visiting Jesus.

People in prison

don't want our pity. But the Lord himself demands that we exhibit compassion

toward them. Without fail in most congregations large and small there

are families with a loved one behind bars. Let us give them and their

jailed loved ones our love. Let us write a letter. Let us make sure they

are visited by the clergy from our own churches.

Indeed, prisoners

are not our heroes (with some exceptions like Dr. Martin Luther King,

Jr.), but they could be the very ones by whom we are judged in the final

analysis.

John Hatcher is pastor of

Outreach International

Center

1091 South Jeff Davis

Drive

Fayetteville, Georgia

30215

770-719-0303

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