Lessons I Learned While In Prison 4 (of 4)

Posted by Scott Williams
15 Comments
February 21, 2008
Controversy | Life Application | Prison

ALL SIN IS NOT THE SAME 

Individuals come into the prison system for a wide range of sins including but not limited to: stealing, lying, cheating, robbery, drug selling, drug using, possession of firearms, violation of parole, murder….. and the biggest and worse one of them all “Well I will get to that one in a minute.” 

One thing that is clear in the prison/judicial system is that sin has labels; some sins are worse than other sins.  A person might receive 5 years for one crime and 20 years for another crime.  Two individuals might commit the same crime and receive different sentences depending upon the circumstances, the judge, the attorneys, the jury and so on; in other words the gravity of their sentence is open to interpretation. 

We should not judge people, or throw stones… because we are all sinners and that sin nature is what separates us from God.  Truthfully speaking sin is labeled sin and in the prison system the biggest and worse one of them all is a “Sex Offender” whom is treated totally different then any other sinner (more likely to be brutalized, raped, killed…) “That’s not perception, that’s reality!”  

There is a sin classification in the eyes of other inmates and there is also a sin classification in the eyes of the public.  A Sex Offender once told me and some of his peers “By being in prison we are considered by most to be the scum of the earth; by being a Sex Offender we are considered the scum, of the scum of the earth, we ain’t %@#$.” 

All sin is the same: If we cut ourselves small, medium or large we will bleed and those cuts (sins) are what separate us from God.  Some of those cuts may bleed longer, may leave a bigger scar and may even lead to death. 

  • All sin is not the same in the Prison System
  • All sin is not the same in the Judicial System 
  • All sin is not the same in __________________

Is all sin the same in “our” system?  Do we tend to think that other people’s sin is worse than our sin?  Does God view all sin the same?  Should a Sex Offender be treated differently? Questions, Questions, Questions?

  • http://cindybeall.com Cindy Beall

    It’s all about consequences. After Chris’ confession, there were a few of our old friends who were judging Chris for his actions. You could sense their judgment a mile away. They were also gossiping about the situation.

    Question: Chris’ sin was awful. True. But, do we think for one minute that God is pleased with our judging, gossiping, and hateful hearts?

    My opinion: Sin is sin in God’s eyes. He hates it ALL. It’s the consequences that differ.

  • http://www.nataliewitcher.blogspot.com Natalie Witcher

    All I gotta say is I sure don’t want to be there when those people who have sexaully molested a little one
    meet Jesus. look out!

    I guess when it comes to being forgiven, all sin is the same. But, the consequenses of sins are not the same. earthly speaking. Sin separates me from God and if we’re not right through Jesus, there’s no gettin’ to heaven no matter how “big” or “little” my sin in. But, each sin’s consequence will play out different. They have in my life anyway.

  • http://littlepastor.blogspot.com JC

    It’s hard to see every sin the same, when we know deep down that we don’t forgive every sin the same.

  • http://www.kevinbussey.com Kevin Bussey

    Ouch!

  • http://princessjes.wordpress.com princessjes

    Part of me is glad that sin isn’t treated the same…it seems more just that way. Normally I’m all about grace, but right now I don’t want to be graceful. I know hurting people can hurt people, but hurting people need Jesus!
    “Our system” does seem to run on this ranking system…these things are worse than those in human eyes, but yes, sin is sin to God.

  • http://patricksievert.wordpress.com Patrick Sievert

    I couldn’t agree more. I know from personal experience that there are sins that affect me more than others. Not only me, but some sins obviously affect others more than other sins. Paul said the same thing about sexual sin – that it’s different than any other sin.

    Good series, Scott.

  • http://jennifercady.blogspot.com/ Jenn Cady

    I will let God be the judge of all of that! The bible says sin is sin and casts it as far as the east to west if confessed but it also says there are thing the Lord detests…I dont want to be in the stone chucking business either…Sin in my opinion is all the same…JUNK that needs to be recycled.

  • http://billglick.com/ Bil Glick

    Man you keep on asking some good, tough questions. Thanks for being honest, direct and open with us. I’m consistently looking forward to reading and being forced to think with you each day. Thanks!

  • http://rollmentalcamera.blogspot.com roger

    It has always seemed to me that sin is in the eye of the beholder. I see it different than you see it. Should it be that way… NO, but we are all just human and flawed. Only God has perfect enough vision to see it for what it really is.
    tough question man

  • http://dturn.wordpress.com david

    All sin is not the same in church!!!

    the level of sin is determined often by who did the sinning and who it was done to.

  • http://jthelmsdeep.blogspot.com Joseph

    I agree wholeheartedly with David. Evidently in the Church all sin is not the same. It would appear that the judgement of the judge and the jury in the Church will depend on the day and on what other “big news” is currently plaguing the global Church. Sorry to sound so cynical but I just try and call it like I see it.

  • http://www.unveilinghope.com Hope

    Mosaic law prescribed different types of punishments for different types of sins. I don’t see how our judicial systems should be any different. I don’t however believe in double jeopardy. If the punishment of your sin is jail time – you should at least be safe to serve and hopefully rehabilitate. In my BC days, I would have said a child molester deserved whatever he got, wherever he got it. But as Jesus once said, “let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

  • http://isdifferentok.com Heady

    Man, these comments today – wow! Scott, you know how to bring it out of us. hmmm. How do I respond? When I wake up in the mornings and look myself in the mirror, I would like to think that I view all sins as equal. But, I don’t know. I will go with my first thought – seeing that we all come to be SAVED in the same manner – I would think all sins are equal concerning God. With all have to confess hommie. Good Stuff. I will ponder more. Remember – throw some water on it or blood – that’s the BLOOD of Jesus.

  • Scott Williams

    Great thoughts everyone; I am sorry for the late responding, I have been extremely busy.

  • http://rejectedreality.wordpress.com John

    I really like what Heady had to say on this issue. I would like to think that all sins are equal and that we are saved by GRACE. But that doesn’t change the fact that I know how people respond to certain sins and I live in dread of somehow finding out what a dreadful person I feel that I am.
    I’ve always been frustrated by how the Republican Church has a hierarchy of sin. Lying is ok, dependent upon who you lied to and about what. Cheating has the same corollary. Gluttony and a couple of the other ‘deadly sins’ are winked at, mainly because we love having our donuts and coffee during Sunday school and the occasional potluck. But abortion is a executable offense, and if you are gay? Well, you can just go straight to hell.

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