“THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE PRISONERS and you, is that they got caught.” Those were the words of one of my correctional officer friends to me while I was in training to be a volunteer chaplain at Pelican Bay State Prison. Not a very comforting thought. The reality is that sin, and its destructive forces, is never far from our door as the news reports of the past couple of weeks have borne out.
I have been asked what I think about the very public disgrace of Ted Haggard. I don’t really have much to say apart from being reminded to get on my knees and pray hard for him, his family, the church, and for me. Yes, me. You see I firmly believe that sin and Satan are just waiting to destroy the life of a shepherd, for when the shepherds are struck down, the sheep will be in disarray, and the church of Jesus Christ will be hurt. Not destroyed, but hurt. Is it harder on the pastor, than on the people in the pew? I don’t know if it’s harder, but the destruction can be greater. And so I pray.
I have been asked about the outcomes of the recent election, often with a tremor in the voice that belies the question, “What are we going to do now?” My answer? Pray for those who are over us to lead us, such is the directive of Scripture. Pray for their families, for the role of leadership is a tough, if not impossible one. Pray for the nation. Pray for yourself, that you will not fall into temptation, but rather you would rise to the LORD’s directive to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
Let us remember we are all in need of mercy, of forgiveness, of love. For it is by grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). So let us pray.