Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Leniency (04/18/24)
-
TITLE: Cases to ponder | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gloria Pierre Dean
04/24/24 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
The accused stumbled into the courtroom.
Shackled and handcuffed, she followed the guard to a seat.
In the seat of judgment sat Judge Hope.
Anna was young and disheveled. She was a mess. Witnesses gave testimonies of her crimes. She ran away from home in her teens and now here she was; she was guilty of lying, shoplifting, homelessness, and poverty. The abuse of her fifth-grade teacher made things worse. She remembers getting into a lot of fights.
“I am no saint, that’s for sure. How did I get this way?” she asked herself.”I deserved to be punished or to go to jail!”
Anna was lonely and had no friends.
However, Judge Hope took pity on Anna and decided to send her to a Christian homeless shelter for women called Restore Village. In the village, she would receive counseling, acceptance, and restoration therapy for the future.
The judge’s leniency proved profitable and successful.
Anna changed, and her life changed. In six months, she became whole. Now, she was a woman of God because she had chosen to follow Christ. She attended church regularly, read her Bible, and was involved in local children's ministries like the Awana Club.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Case 2
Millions of men and women of various ages, nationalities, races, and social backgrounds have been sent to jail as a way to amend or change them for the better. Judges had sentenced them to serve time in jail and this included hard labor and reform classes. This was a way for the criminals to amend their behavior and be punished for the harm they had done to society.
Within the prison, local Reform programs are run by chaplains or wardens. A group named Prison Fellowship's main goals include training and educating men and women so that on their return to society they would not resume criminality. They wish to make them into better citizens by ministering to them; thus opening their eyes to their choices in society. Some of the goals were for them
* to leave the prison as followers of Christ,
*` to help prepare men and women to leave prison with a positive outlook—ready to succeed`,
*to transform lives,
*to become good parents and spouses,
*to become law-abiding citizens.
Additionally, The Fellowship provides care for prisoners’ families and helps strengthen the bond between children and their parents who are behind bars.
Being in prison may not be seen as leniency but the restorative element of prison can be a hugely positive input into society if there is compliance and success.
In Jesus’s day, a nameless thief who became a reformed criminal is found hanging on a cross next to him.
“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42–43)
‘The thief on the cross next to Jesus went from being a curser to a convert! From a blasphemer to a believer! From a criminal to a Christian! '
[https://hanfordsentinel.com/lifestyles/christ-and-common-sense-how-god-saves-criminals-today/article_1565cb89-bbd6-54c0-a167-37dcf9cb039e.html]
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.