Shelter in the Word
This website represents the very beginning efforts of John J. Adkins, a man in prison, to encourage his fellow prisoners to live a righteous life in spite of their difficult situations.
Why should anyone want to help prisoners? Are they getting what they deserve? From a biblical basis, the answer is “no”. The Bible does not teach imprisonment, but restitution to the victims for most cases, and the death penalty for very severe crimes. If the perpetrator cannot afford restitution, he may become a slave for a maximum of seven years.
But as it is today, many men and women are serving sentences for decades or even their entire lives. Even independent, non-religious surveys have concluded that 50% of the people in prison should not be there. Prison systems do little to teach the truth of the Bible, to bring the sinners to repentance, or to give grace to those who have repented. It is no wonder that the writers of the New Testament encourage Believers to visit those who are in prison:
Matt 25:39 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40 "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
Heb 13:3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them -- those who are mistreated -- since you yourselves are in the body also.
There is a lot more that I could be said from the scriptures, but this effort was to get something started, not to do it all now. Four pages of the John J. Adkins first publication follow. They may be a little slow to download, but they will probably be a blessing to those both on the inside and the outside.
May the Eternal Creator strengthen those who are in prison and bless those who help them.
--Norman Scott Edwards, nedwards@shelterintheword.com
