Over the years I have known many people who worked in the criminal justice system. In one particular church, one of my members was a county Sheriff while at another church a member worked in the area prison as a guard. The prison guard once said to me, “Did you know that we have an inmate in our jail who knows you?” Looking puzzled I said, “Really… Who?” He smiled with a big grin and said, “Jesus! It seems that he lives down at the prison because almost every inmate who comes through there says he has gotten to know Jesus.” Then he burst into laughter.
Yes, it seems often the case that when people find themselves in trouble and the truth of their actions come to light, it is God that they seek. I guess it is human nature to seek redemption and forgiveness for the things that we have done wrong. This week we have two individuals who have expressed their faith in God as they have faced public humiliation and legal turmoil. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and Idaho Senator Larry Craig have been the focus of the media spotlight. Both have expressed their wrongdoing and both have begun the campaign to limit the damage done to their reputations. Vick has pled to a felony while Craig pled to a misdemeanor, but both have major problems. Vick faces jail time and has already been banished from the NFL, while Craig is being pressured to resign from his elected position.
Fox news correspondent Mike Straka wrote about Vicks sudden turn to Jesus. Vick said, “Dogfighting is a terrible thing and I reject it ... I found Jesus and turned my life over to God. I think that's the right thing to do as of right now.” Straka states “Gee, that didn't take long. I didn't think the curtain on the "finding Jesus" act would rise until after Vick went to jail, but alas, it came on the same day he made his plea deal official. It took Paris Hilton a few hours in the slammer before she met Jesus, and Vick does it even before lockup. Who knew?”
The problem I have is that some folks just toss the name of God (i.e. Jesus) out into the conversation to exhibit some sort of change, remorse, humility, or whatever wants only to play on many people’s sympathy. As a pastor, I hope that anyone who would make a claim of getting to know Jesus is sincere and honest. Yet, too often I see people wearing crosses around their necks and go about life with no reference to actually knowing Jesus. Years ago pop star Madonna was always flaunting crosses and yet Christianity seemed nowhere near her agenda. All this may sound judgmental, but in a recent study of Exodus 20, my class discussed the Ten Commandments and we talked about “Do not take the Lord thy God’s name in vain.” I believe that claiming Jesus’ name is serious business and has ramifications. It should not be done lightly or casually, but with reverence and honesty. Not simply as a tool to evoke sympathy and control the spin of a story. Does God want to really be a part of Michael Vick’s and Larry Craig’s life… and Paris Hilton’s, and Madonna’s,…and your life and mine? Absolutely! Jesus calls us to follow Him. That is a journey and a walk that means daily discipleship. Life is not always perfect and I know that some come to Him through tumultuous events, but may we turn to God in all circumstances, good and bad, with open hearts.
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