Jesus in jail?

1 out of every 100 Americans is in prison. What is the role of the Church? This is an interesting commentary from US News’ Tom Krattenmaker that asks this question, provides no real answers but shows that society in general is looking to the response of the Church.

One thing to note: he says “the Bible elevates the plight of prisoners” — the Bible does no such thing. The Bible tells the story of many who were unjustly imprisoned. And yet the true story behind these is that they were men hidden in the wounds of Christ. The Bible also exhorts us to visit the imprisoned, which by no means elevates prisoners but reminds us to love the broken hearted and those in bondage.

Now a religious studies professor at Manhattan College in New York, Skotnicki notes the many ways the Bible elevates the plight of prisoners: Jesus was a prisoner before his execution. The apostle Paul was a prisoner, too, as was John the Baptist and St. Peter. Many of the church’s early saints spent their time caring for prisoners and working for the release of those unjustly incarcerated.

as with many of the political and larger social issues of our time, this can be divisive, as one responder writes:

Jesus, the bible, and religion have absolutely no place when counting the numbers of people in prison. Let’s get real.

Education, politics, courts…some would say faith has no role there. so then what is the role of a living faith and the expression of Christ through His Church and us individually where we are? is faith to be sort of compartmentalized? Since we know that Jesus is the Teacher, the King and the Judge why is it that as Christians some believe suddenly He has no place that matters? Surely it has something to do with the fact that we live in a fallen world system that is irrevocably broken. And if that is true, this must mean that we must pray fervently for His return…and soon.