Pastor's Perspective - Prison Break

In recent months I have been given some unique touring opportunities. Last month, through a connection here at the church, I was privileged to tour the president’s plane while it was parked over at Travis AFB - a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Notice I didn’t call it Air Force One? Some readers would be quick to point out that it is only officially that specific call sign when the president is on board. Despite semantics, it was an amazing morning that I will share about it in my next article submission.

Several months before that, I was given the opportunity to tour the notorious San Quentin State Prison. A corrections officer pal who works there, invited my wife, daughter and I join him and his family for the annual ‘Family Night’ event hosted by the institution. After the residents were locked away for the night (Thank you Lord!), the entire facility (accept for a few cell blocks) were open for guests to meander and explore. We were able to tour the infamous ‘yard’, the massive mess hall, the hospital, working areas, and even the execution chamber. For hours we asked every question we could and were amazed by the answers. The heaviest reality moment came when we were allowed to go into an actual occupied cell. Only a few could walk in at a time due to the cramped conditions. As I walked deeper into the cell, I could touch both opposing walls simultaneously. It struck me that this was the life for two inmates, two grown men. This was their ‘normal’.

Two weeks ago, we as a nation collectively gasped at the breaking news coming from Cleveland, Ohio. Three young women and a child escaped their imprisonment from a nightmarish suburban scenario after ten long years. As I peck this out, details are still being disseminated of the horror they endured together at the will of a very deranged and perverse mind. Thankfully, through courage and opportunity, they escaped. As I watched the news unfolding, I wondered if after almost a decade of captivity, if their condition over time somehow took on a rhythm of normalcy.

I share and link the prison tour and the abduction story together to make an observation – though foreign to most – imprisonment can become normal – regular – daily life. Again, foreign, but true.

God tells us in the Bible that every single member of the human family is imprisoned. Our inherent sinfulness and fallen nature stands in direct opposition to the Lord’s holiness. We are each born with a spiritual birth defect called unrighteousness. Scripture labels us as follows: lost, blind, dead. We are incapable of finding our way to God – lost. We are demonically deceived – blind. We are devoid of all hope – dead. This is our normal.

For many in Solano County, captivity has become our normal. We are enslaved by fear. We are chained by shame. We are incarcerated by guilt. We are shackled by regret. Yet, over time, we’ve grown to accept it and live with it. Our self-imposed prison cells are simply the human condition. So, just get used to it, right?

The Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:1 tells us this – ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free’. Jesus Christ left glorious and perpetual worship, became a man, lived a sinless life, died an agonizing death on a cross and rose three days later so that you could be free!

Are you living in that freedom?

My article is not to judge you or convey any spiritual elitism. Though I’m a pastor of a local church, I’m a real person just like you. Like you, if you’re willing to admit it, I’m a mess. I still struggle with a lot of stuff in my life and I’m still clearly under construction. All I really know is that for many years I lived a life of needless imprisonment. Stuff that I thought gave me a sense of freedom and autonomy, only lengthened my sentence and tightened the chains on my life and potential. Then, I met somebody named Jesus and He set me free – free to live a bigger life than I could ever live just by myself – free from guilt and shame – free indeed.

My challenge is simply that you would stop and take a good look at your life like I did, and ask yourself, “Am I really free? Perhaps like me, if you’ll be honest, you’ll see that your normal isn’t all that normal – that you’ve simply learned to live with things that Jesus died to take away.

Friend, imprisonment can become normal. Don’t let it become your normal.

Jesus died to set you free.

Are you?

The great news is you can be!