February 27
Of course, the writer of Hebrews was not referring to prisoners who were in prison for actual criminal activity, but this letter is one I wrote to a young man who is in prison for armed robbery. Two years ago he was in our local jail and chose to follow Jesus after several weeks of questioning everything I was teaching there. He is still in prison, but may well be out in a few months. I visited him yesterday and sent him this letter after our visit. It has some good points for all of us, so I decided to make it today’s instruction.
Greetings Brother, in the blessed Name of our Lord Jesus,
I really enjoyed our conversation yesterday. It was good to see you once again. It is terrific to see how God is using you there in jail. I pray daily for you to stand firm in God’s word and let your light so shine among men that they will be drawn to our Lord. Two things that stuck out in our conversation that I would like to address: 1. You are reading prolifically and that is good. I would however, caution you to be careful not to develop any theological point of view on the writings of men. Some of the writings of men can help us better understand a particular theological issue that may be a little hard to grasp, but I would steer clear of any twelve step plan for alcohol and drug addiction for example. Jesus has a one step plan, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Drunkenness is sin and needs to be dealt with by confession and repentance. Our society has excused it for so many years and relabeled it a sickness that we have made it much more important than it is. It does not require years of counseling to defeat, a support group to visit weekly to help us get over it, or any other social gospel applications. It is sin. It is displeasing to God. When on is fulfilling the ministry to which God has called him, he has no time for drunkenness.
When one has been truly transformed, born-again, regenerated, he is a new creature; old things have passed away (II Cor. 5:17). Of course he has to learn to crucify the desires of the flesh daily, but there are actually fleshly lusts more problematic than drunkenness, and they are a lot more subtle. For example, there are millions today who are addicted to wealth. I would venture a guess that many more men and women fail to take up their cross daily and follow Jesus because they are too busy making the mighty buck than those who are drunks. I suspect television and sports keep more people on the wide path to hell than alcohol. 2. You mentioned you know God wants you to get a degree from some bible college when you get out. If you truly believe that’s God’s will for you, I pray you will do it. I do not think it is God’s will for you however. If no one will listen to you unless you have a degree from a bible college, I suggest it will only be so if you haven’t anything significant to say. I have personally preached to hundreds of people in the past 38 years. I have preached in churches, in the street, in jails, in senior citizen centers, in our home, and maybe some places I have forgotten. You may never preach in a church with 3,000 people if you don’t go to bible college, but I can assure you, you will reach more people than many of those who do if you spend your time studying God’s word intensely.
I spent two years in bible college and one in seminary and really appreciated two out of about 20 teachers I had there. I learned Hebrew and Greek and my instructor on the book of Romans was incredible. The rest had us read books about the bible and taught the vain philosophy of man. After two years, I got tired of spinning my wheels and returned to the secular world of sin and depravity where I had the opportunity to preach the gospel in the streets daily and actually make a difference in the lives of sinners.
In closing, I would like to reiterate, you must do what you believe God tells you to do, I just have a hard time believing God wants anyone to attend one of the hundreds of bible schools in America that focus their attention on teaching their graduates how to preach a three point sermon, using alliteration effectively. Two things have been the most challenging to maintaining spiritual growth and connection to God in the thirty-eight years I have been a follower of Christ: bible college and traditional churches.
God bless you brother. I’m going to fill out that form today and send it in. Keep the faith, preach the gospel, and remember I Corinthians 10:11-13.
In Christ,
Brother Dave
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