Why Should Christians Care About People in Prison?

Why justice is about restoration & healing

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Jesse Wiese robbed a bank and spent eight-and-a-half years in prison.

After he served his time, he experienced the challenges of reentering society.  He joined the Prison Fellowship, graduating from law school, and is now the vice president of program design and evaluation at Prison Fellowship.  Now he spends his time attempting to help fellow imprisoned people flourish after serving time in prison.

In this episode, Jesse shares his remarkable journey from bank robber to attorney, while David and Curtis discuss the church’s proper spiritual approach to criminal justice, prison reform, criminal justice reform, and the difference between justice and vengeance. 

Show Notes:

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  1. Trumeau

    I disagree on some of the statistics that were talked about. I get that there is a big focus on Black men going to prison because they represent a big proportion. But I disagree that there is more non-white people in prison. For example, they are fewer Asians in prison that Whites when comparing their proportion in prison to the general population.

    Also, when will they focus on the fact that the proportion of men in prison is much more than women. In many cases, more than 90% of the prison population is men, while they represent less than 50% of the population. That's a huge discrepancy, and yet in many cases pundits take that as a given. You can't say that poverty causes people to commit crimes when most of the people committing those are men. As far as I know there is probably a similar proportion of men and women who are poor.

    Another thing that bothered me in that discussion is the assumption that prisons are creating problems that the men are experiencing. There were other institutions before someone ended up in prison, school, family, churches etc…These also failed that prisoner. But also the prisoner has to take some responsibilities. Even if the person didn’t end up, maybe his life wouldn’t have been great. So while I think that asking prisons to look at how successful a prisoner can be when getting out is worthy I believe that we are expecting too much from the prison system.

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    LisaE

    I thought the conversation went off-topic. The guest was there to discuss prison reform. David and Curtis seemed primarily interested in canvassing criminal justice reform, which is related but different. I wanted to hear more about what prisoners and their families need, and what specific prison reforms the guest would champion.

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    Wrob77

    I appreciate Jessie's testimony and his work.

    The interpretation of Matthew 25 that was offered is incorrect.

    The key to the text is "these my brothers" the least of these.

    The least of these are not any person who is in prison or hungry.

    But Christians who are in this place because of persecution not robbing banks.

    Those being judged are not christians who have neglected their duty but unbelievers who either help or neglect christians during their time of need.

    I am sure there are other passages one could use to justify prison ministry this is not one of them.

    The direct application of the passage would be say a Muslim who is saved because they helped a Christian in trouble.

    I am surprised David didn't tell Jessie to go back shoveling horse manure. He has been very clear that scandal disqualifies you from ministry. Clearly robbing a bank is as bad if not worse than any sexual scandal. Why treat Jessie differently than any Christian leaders he says should not be restored to their position?

    I think restoration is a difficult topic. But it is clear in the area of sex David does not. But robbing a bank is fine apparently.

    I would like you to do a good faith debate on pro life versus pro choice from a Christian perspective. Get the two best Christian scholars you can find and have them duke it out in love.

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      John

      Isn't the debate about "restoration to ministry" primarily about pastors? Is Wiese a pastor? I don't get that impression.

      And I suspect that what we're seeing from some Christians (rightly) is concern about what might be an equivalent of
      "cheap grace" — a quick confession and rapid return to a position of leadership. Such a concern, though, doesn't mean that a person is never eligible for restoration.

      It's all hypothetical in this case, though. Wiese didn't have a leadership position to fall from when he robbed a bank. ...

      WHERE someone is returned to matters .... Should a sex offender be allowed to be in close contact with children? No. Is it OK for him to, I don't know, work as a machinist who has no occasion to interact with kids? Totally different situation.

      Should someone who was guilty of embezzlement be hired as an accountant? Perhaps not.

      What about bank robbery disqualifies Wiese from the work he is in now?

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