The Humanitarian Theory Of Punishment

                                                 When The Door Slams

He went on: "What come out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come--sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person."                                    (Mark 7:20-23 NIV)

            As a Christian, I most certainly believe in punishment. Biblical justice demands that individuals be held accountable. Throughout the history of ancient Israel, to break God's law was to invite swift, specific, and certain punishment. When a law was broken, the resulting imbalance could be righted only when the transgressor was punished and thus made to "pay" for his wrong. 

            Though modern sociologists take offense at this elemental concept of retribution, it is essential: If justice means getting one's due, then justice is denied when deserved punishment is not received. And ultimately this undermines one's role as a moral, responsible human being.

            During the 1980's we saw the incredible prison population boom, crime consistently rose. In 1990 alone, violent crime rose 10 percent, and over twenty thousand people were slaughtered in the mean streets of our nation. During the hundred hours in  which the air and ground warfare of Desert Storm bombarded Iraq, more Americans died on the city streets of their own country than in the sands of the Middle East...

            A few years ago two Harvard scholars, criminologist James Wilson and psychologist Richard Herrnstein, undertook a ten-year study to determine the causes of crime. A landmark book was published, Crime and Human Nature, In which they challenged fifty years of conventional wisdom that crime was the result of race, poverty, and social oppression...          Although they determined that intellect and genetics had some effect on behavior, the primary cause of crime was simply individual choice. Those choices...were determined by one's moral conscience which is shaped early in life and most crucially by family and friends . 

            Think about this: It is in the circle of the home where children first learn the importance of individual responsibility. Until we reclaim our families and our children, we will never deal with the moral crisis in our society. 

            This is why the distinction between prison and punishment is so crucial. Prisons, though necessary to confine violent offenders, can hardly be considered redemptive. And while punishment is clearly Biblical, American penal philosophy is not based on the Biblical principle of just deserts that it is founded on a humanistic view that crime is an illness to be cured.

            Affirmation: I will give their wealth as plunder to foreigners and as loot to the wicked of the earth, who will defile it. I will turn my face away from the people, and robbers will desecrate the place I treasure. They will enter it and will defile it. Prepare chains! For the land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence (Ezekiel 7:21-23 NIV). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.                         

                                                 Never Rest Ministries

Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do

                                                 When The Door Slams 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.                     (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)

            When the going gets tough, the tough get going." When the roads are rough, the tough rise to the occasion. They win. They survive. They come out on top! Life is a task. A tough one. Sometimes it is absolutely unbearable. Some days we do well just to survive...to say nothing of excelling. Therefore, persevering becomes essential to living--the only key that unlocks the door of hope. Through perseverance character is built, strong and solid character that brings about hope.

            Why keep persevering? Why continue standing against the strong currents of temptation, evil, fear, anger, loss, stress, impossibilities, misunderstanding, and mistakes? Why fight defection? Why overcome inferiority? Why keep on waiting? Why? Because it is the realistic arena that true character is forged out, shaped, tempered, and polished, Because it is there that the life of Jesus Christ is given the maximum opportunity to be reproduced in us, replacing a thin, fragile internal theology with a tough, reliable set of convictions that enable us to handle life rather than escape from it.

            Think about this: Because life is a task, we need strength to face it, not speed to run from it. When the foundation shakes, When Christian friends--even the leaders--are immoral and falling into apostasy, when the bottom drops out and brutal blows attempt to pound us into the corner of doubt and unbelief, we need what perseverance offers: willingness to accept whatever comes, strength to face it head on, determination to stand firm, and insight to see the Lord God hand in it all. Without it, we stumble and fall. And God is grieved. With it, we survive and conquer. And God is glorified.

            Petition: So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, "In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay. And "but my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back." But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved (Hebrews 10:35-39 NIV).  

  Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.   Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.    

                                                             Never Rest Ministries

                

                 

If You Think You Are Standing Firm, Be Careful That You Don't Fall

                                                 When The Door Slams    

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.                                                                                                               (1 Corinthians 10:11-13 NIV ) 

            When you are under pressure, are you a reactor or a responder? When you are face-to-face with the giant of lust or jealousy--when your emotions are redlined--do you find yourself thinking, Oh, God, I know what I should do. I know what I ought to do. I know I should just walk away. But I don't know if I can do it? If pressure or temptation automatically pushes you into the reaction mode, you are destined for failure most of the time. Why? It is a sure sign that you are trying to produce righteousness on your own.

            You may be tempted to argue that there is no time to exercise faith before exercising will. Not in the real world anyway. Things happen too fast. We are usually taken off guard. Weak minded Christians think there is no way to get a jump on temptation, rejection and jealousy...

            Yes we can get a jump on temptation, rejection and jealousy; we can make the first move. Let me ask you, how many days a week, on the average, are you tempted? How many days a week are you forced to deal with some inordinate emotion that has the potential of doing serious damage to your reputation and relationships if expressed? For me, it averages out to seven days a week. And I imagine the same is true for you. We know it's coming. Therefore, the wisest thing to do is to begin every day by exercising out faith against the anticipated onslaughts. 

            We don't need to wait until we are in the thick of the battle to claim the promises of God. By that time it's too late. Certainly there is time to express faith in the Holy Spirit when you see things buildings. But even better, go ahead and exercise your faith before the struggle begins. And when it does, you will think, I have already dealt with this in prayer.

            Think about this: A responder activates his faith before he activates his will. He believes before he behaves...The Holy Spirit dwells in you and is ready to go to work producing the character of Christ through you. All He needs is your faith. His green light is your willingness to say, "Holy Spirit, I cannot handle this. I am not even going to try. Respond through me. Give me Your perspective on all of this. I trust you my Lord God in Jesus name.

            Renewal: Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the the word of God (Ephesians 6:13-17 NIV).

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heard and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.                                    

                                                 Never Rest Ministries

Out Of The Darkness, A Bright Light Shone

                                                   When The Door Slams 

Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden, whom God has hedged in? I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water. For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has happened to me. I cannot relax or be still; I have no rest, for trouble comes.                      (Job 3:23-26 HCSB)

            No one exempt from tragedy or disappointment--God himself was not exempt. Jesus offered no immunity, no way out of the unfairness, but rather a way through it to the other side. Just as Good Friday demolished the instinctive belief that this life is supposed to be fair, Easter Sunday followed with its startling clue to the riddle of the universe. Out of the darkness, a bright light shone. 

            The primal desire for fairness dies hard, and it should. Who among us does not sometimes yearn for more justice in this world here and now? Secretly, I yearn for a world "fault-proof" against disappointments, a world where my blog articles will always find acceptance and my body does not grow old and weak...But if I stake my faith on such a fault-proof earth, my faith will let me down. Even the greatest of miracles do not resolve the problems of this earth: all people who find physical healing eventually die. 

            Think about this: We need more than miracles. We need a new heaven and a new earth, and until we have those, unfairness will not disappear.

            The Cross of Christ may have overcome evil, but it did not overcome unfairness. For that, Easter is required. Someday, God will restore all physical reality to its proper place under His reign. Until then, it is a good thing to remember that we live out our days on Easter Saturday.

            Affirmation: "Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! I know than my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another (Job 19:23-27 NIV).

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.

                                                        Never Rest Ministries

                              

            

 

To See Such A Prisoner All You Have To Do Is Look In The Mirror

                                                 When The Door Slams

The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life. Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud. The one who understands a matter finds success, and the one who trust in the LORD will be happy (Proverbs 16:17-20 HCSB). 

            A prison of pride is filled with self-made men and women determined to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps even if they land on their rear ends. It doesn't matter what they did or to whom they did it with or where they will end up; it only matters that "I did it my way." 

            You have seen these prisoners, You have seen the disobedient children who are deceiving themselves. You have seen the alcoholic who won't admit his drinking and drug problem. You have seen the woman who refuses to talk to anyone about her fears and weak decision making. You have seen the businessman who adamantly rejects help even when his dreams are falling apart. To see such a prisoner all you have to do is look in the mirror.

            "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just..." The biggest word in Scripture might be two-letter one, if. For confessing sins--admitting failure--is exactly what prisoners of pride refuse to do. These are the tools of the jailbird. Comparison. Justification. Rationalization. They sound good. They sound familiar. But in the kingdom of God they are deception.

            Think about this: These sorts of hurts--pains of the heart and mind and spirit--create an emptiness, and seem to put us in a spiritual vacuum. We can describe physical pain to a doctor or nurse, but inside pain can only be known--really known--by God.

            I think God permits this kind of inner anguish for a good reason. Physical hurt is almost outside of us, something we can drive it from our thoughts. But inside pain is within our thoughts, and forces us to cope with the problem. God may allow it because He knows this kind of suffering can be more purifying than any other kind of pain. We are forced to face it and deal with the situation at hand.

            "Blessed are those who mourn..." To mourn for your sins is a natural outflow of poverty of spirit...But that's not always the case. Many deny their weakness. Many know they are wrong, yet pretend they are right. As a result, they never taste the faultless sorrow of repentance. 

            The Beatitudes: "The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted. The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled. The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy. The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God. The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God. Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs (Matthew 5:3-10 HCSB).  

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.                        

                                                       Never Rest Ministries

 

"Love Your Neighbor As You Love Yourself"

                                                When The Door Slams

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good             (Romans 12:17-21 NIV).      

            Looking at hospitality as the creation of a free and friendly space where we can reach out to strangers and invite them to become our friends, it is clear that this can take place on many levels and in many relationships. Although the word stranger suggests someone who belongs to another world government than ours, speaks another language and has different customs, it is important, first of all, to recognize the stranger in our own familiar circle.

            When we are able to be good hosts for the strangers in our midst we may find also ways to expand our hospitality to broader horizons. Therefore, it might be worthwhile to look carefully at the four types of relationships that can be better understood from the perspective of hospitality: the relationship between parents and their children, the relationship between teachers and their students, and the relationship between professionals--such as doctors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, ministers and priests--and their patients, clients, counselees and parishioners. The relationship between government and their politics. 

            In all four types of relationships we become involved at some point in our own history. The complexity of life is exactly related to the fact that often we find ourselves involved in all four types of relationships at the same time and on both sides. While being a father to our children, a teacher to our students, a counselor to our counselees, and politician to their politics we also remain child, student and patient in other contexts. 

            Think about this: While trying to be a good mother, we often still have responsibilities as daughter; while teaching in the daytime, we might be sitting on the other side of the classroom in the evening; and while politician are giving advice to others, we realize at times how badly we need it ourselves. We all are children and parents, student and teachers, politicians and healers and in need of care. And so we move in and out of each others' worlds at different times and in different ways...They all stand together under the great commandment: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself " (Mark 12:31 NIV). 

            Affirmation: Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering (Hebrews 13:1-3 NIV).     

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.  

                                                        Never Rest Ministries                           

God Has Only Called You To Be Faithful, God Did Not Call You To Be Crazy!

                                       When The Door Slams  

            Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kind, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (James 1:2-5). Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7). 

            God can take your trouble and change it into treasure. Your sorrow can be exchanged for joy, not just a momentary smile, but a deep new joy. It will be a spiritual experience of new hope that brings brightness to your eyes and a song to  your heart. In the midst of the darkness, you will learn lessons you might never have learned in the day. We all have seen dreams turn to ashes--they are ugly things, hopeless and heartbreaking.

            Tears and sorrow come, but each time God will be there to remind you that He cares. Romans 8:28 means that God causes all things in our lives to work together for His good. Flowers can even grow on dung hills, and compost makes great gardens. God is offering Himself to you daily, and the rate of exchange is fixed. It is your sins for His forgiveness, your tragedy and hurt for His merciful healing, and Your sorrow for His joy. 

            Give God your pain and sorrow; give Him the guilt you feel. Tears and heartaches come to us all. Leaning on your own understanding is crazy. Remember, you are not alone; many are in God's waiting room for what seems like forever, learning lessons, suffering pain and growing. But the fertilizer that helps us grow is in those valleys of darkness and pain, not on the mountaintops.

            Think about this: The painful crown of suffering precedes the golden crown of glory...So keep this in mind that you are not responsible for what you cannot control and that God has only called you to be faithful. He did not call you to be crazy.

            Real genuine spiritual healing is a process. It takes a long, long time for the deep hurts to be resolved. Sometimes it seems that they will be with us forever, but understanding them helps dissipate their pain. Life isn't always what you want, but it is what you got; so, with God's help, choose to be happy in faith--and God will see you and your loved ones home self.

            Renewal: Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil (Proverbs 3:3-7 NIV).

 Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.

                                                                Never Rest Ministries