Psalm 102, Psalm 10

Psalm 102 is a lament—an expression of deep anguish in the face of deep suffering.  As you read it, imagine a wrongly convicted inmate in his cell.   Then, use Psalm 10 as a prayer for those who are incarcerated wrongfully and for those who continue to be punished long after their release from prison. 

Two years ago, the US Supreme Court ruled that giving juveniles mandatory life sentences violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.  The ruling was based in part on brain research that shows that teenage brains are less developed than adult brains.  (A Mandatory Life Sentence means that the judge in the case was required by law to give the sentence.)  Several states, including Pennsylvania, have refused to reconsider the mandatory life sentences handed out prior to the Supreme Court ruling.  However, on Thursday, March 20, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that new sentencing hearings be held for 100 prisoners who were given mandatory life sentences when they were teenagers.  To learn more about this ruling and the controversy it has created, link HERE.  What do you think?

There is no devotional for Sunday, March 16

Proverbs 17:15 (NIV), Hebrews 13:1-3 (NSRV)

Nationally, 306 wrongfully convicted inmates have been exonerated and released from prison across the country thanks DNA evidence.  In 1986, Bennie Starks was sentenced to 60 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.  DNA evidence proving his innocence was submitted to the courts in 2000.  Unbelievably, he was not exonerated and released until 2013, having served 27 years for the crime.

The writer of Hebrews entreats us to remember those in prison as if we were in prison with them.  Try to put yourself in Bennie Starks’ shoes (as if you were in prison with him).  What would you want people outside the prison to do?  What does “remembering those in prison” look like?  Hundreds of inmates have been on a hunger strike due to conditions throughout the nation.  Consider fasting all or part of today to “remember” and show solidarity with those who are in prison. 

The Innocence Project and the Northwestern University Law School’s Center on Wrongful Convictions are two organizations working to exonerate those who are wrongfully convicted. Their web sites include the stories of many men and women who were unjustly condemned and imprisoned.  Today, pray for those who are still awaiting exoneration while in prison and for those who are working to ensure that the innocent are released.

Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 19:15-21

Anyone can accuse another person of a crime, but God’s law ensured that there were protections for the accused.  One person’s word was not enough.  God required full investigations in case of a dispute.  God was so concerned about false testimony that a law against it made the Top 10.  And false witnesses were dealt with severely.  In fact, in this instance, the ‘eye for an eye” mandate was to meant to discourage people from making false charges.

What protections are in place for people accused of a crime today?  We say that people are innocent until proven guilty, yet prosecutors often want to avoid trials and intimidate people to take a plea bargain.  And because poor people often end up with Public Defenders that do not have the time to adequately inform them of their rights, they often take the plea deal, losing all rights to appeal.

We all know of stories where a “victim” has accused someone of a crime only to find out later that it was not true.  Yet, even the accusation is  powerful enough to destroy people’s reputations.

How could God’s law help to rectify these scenarios?  What recourse is available for people who are falsely accused?

Exodus 23:6-9, Isaiah 5:22-24

There are dangers inherent in every system of justice.  People can make false charges.  People can try to subvert the outcome through bribery.  The innocent can be condemned and killed.

The Law and the Prophets condemn these practices as “despising the word of the Lord” and warn of God’s judgment against those who pervert justice. 

In Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, a judge received bribes from Correction Corporation of America, a private prison company.  In exchange, he sentenced juveniles to their prison for the most minor infractions, ensuring their profits.  In Chicago in the 1970s and 1980s African Americans were routinely rounded up, tortured and coerced into confessions that were later used against them in trial.  Scores of innocent people ended up wrongly convicted—11 of them were sentenced to death row.  

What other instances can you think of where justice has been perverted? 

Link HERE to a story about a man who was coerced into a confession and was sentenced to 100 years in prison for a sexual assault he did not commit.  

Genesis 39:1-23

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and he ended up in Egypt in the house of Potiphar.  However, when Potiphar’s wife accused him of attempted rape he was placed in prison—wrongly convicted.  It is interesting that Potiphar’s wife pointed to Joseph’s ethnicity twice in her accusation.  Why do you think she did that?  Who would be more likely believed—the wife of one of Pharoah’s military officers, or the Hebrew slave?  What power did Joseph have within the justice system of Egypt?

Who in our day are most likely to have experiences similar to Joseph?  Though God was with Joseph throughout his experience and ultimately used it for good, no one should be falsely accused and wrongfully convicted and imprisoned.

Link HERE  to read the full story of Maurice Patterson, wrongfully convicted of murder in 2002.  The proof of Mr. Patterson’s innocence was always available, but no one bothered to place it into evidence—including Mr. Patterson’s court-appointed lawyer.  Mr. Patterson was finally released from prison in 2010, having served 6 years for a crime he did not commit.   What factors do you think led to Mr. Patterson’s wrongful conviction?

Titus 1:5-13

How can you tell if a Cretan is lying?  When his lips move.  That’s what one of the Cretan prophets said.  And the Apostle Paul seemed to agree.  Really?  ALL Cretans?  Every last one of them?  Statements like this lead to the creation of stereotypes which in turn lead to behaviors of mistrust and mistreatment.  Left unchallenged, stereotypes can lead to policies of institutional discrimination and marginalization.  Given the generalized beliefs about the character of Cretans, how do you think they were treated in the church?

We have a long history of creating stereotypes of ethnic and racial minorities—stereotypes that have lead to institutional discrimination both in the church and society at large.  In large part, the accepted stereotype that African-Americans males are criminals has resulted in aggressive policing of minority communities, race profiling, and an over-representation in our correctional system.  Minorities are suspected of criminal behavior long before any crime occurs.  Minorities receive harsher sentences than non-minorities for the same crime.  There are scores of high-profile cases where people of color were treated like criminals for doing nothing such as Harvard professor, Luis Gates, trying to enter his own home after locking himself out.

How have you been influenced by the stereotypes of African American males?  What other stereotypes influence how you relate to people who are different from yourself?  How can you, as a person of faith, challenge the stereotypes?

Psalm 82 – New International Version and The Message Paraphrase

In this Psalm (as paraphrased in The Message), God calls judges into God’s courtroom and calls them on the carpet.  What are the charges that God brings against the judges?  What is the consequences of their failure?  What does God propose to do to the unjust judges?

What charges do you think God would bring against those in charge of our justice system?  In what ways are our systems of “law and order” resulting in “disorder” where “the world is coming unglued”?  What can you and your faith community do to hold judges accountable?

The final prayer of Psalm 82 is “Rise up, O God, judge the earth” (NIV)  How does the image of God presiding as the Supreme Court justice over the court system make you feel?  Is this hopeful?  Why?

There is no devotional for Sunday, March 16, 2014

Deuteronomy 27:19, Isaiah 1:17, Luke 18:1-8

In the parable that Jesus told, a widow goes before a judge in a civil case, seeking a judgment against her opponent.  What makes this judge “unjust”?  Why do you think it took so long to get a judgment?  What do the Law and the Prophets indicate is the responsibility of this judge?  How is God different from the judge in this case?

What do you think Jesus meant when he asked, “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”  What does the context of this question suggest is the content of “faith”?  Do you find faith on the earth? 

Micah 7:1-3, 1 Kings 21:1-16

Micah laments that Israel’s justice system is broken.  What specifically does he see that makes him feel empty?

The story of Jezebel, King Ahab’s wife, from 1 Kings is an example of the abuse of the “court” system to get what she wants.  Using her husband’s seal, she directs the elders of the community (the judges) to call a sacred assembly, have two witnesses testify that Naboth has cursed God and the King, and then stone Naboth.  What are the power dynamics at work in this example of a justice system gone bad?  Where have you seen people with power “work the system” to get what they want?

How does this story make you feel?  What do you specifically see in our justice system that makes you feel sick to your stomach?

2 Samuel 15:1-6

Absalom, King David’s son, has been kept outside his father’s political circle, and over the course of several years, he awaits an opportunity to stage a political coup.  Like any excellent politician, he establishes a rapport with the public primarily by lamenting the state of the current justice system and listening to their civil disputes.

How do you feel about the state of our current justice/correctional system?  How does your feeling affect the way you hear politicians and the way you vote?  Is simply wanting change a good motivation for selecting leaders?  Why or why not?

Often candidates–especially conservative candidates–appeal to Christians for support.  How do you evaluate whether a candidate should receive your support?  What issues most influence your vote?  In this election year, the issue of “law and order” and our justice system will likely be a part of the political discourse.  Before you support any candidate, find out their stands on issues like mandatory sentences, privatization of state prisons, deportation of immigrants and continuation of the “War on Drugs” to see if they align with God’s desire for justice, mercy and reconciliation.