Church Jumping

Let brotherly love continue. 
Hebrews 13:1

The other day I was telling a friend via a letter that in the prison setting Christians have better opportunities to learn to work with, love and tolerate one another than do those who attend church on the outside...

I believe it's because, in this environment, there's only one church to go to. It's the only congregation in town. Whereas, in other places Christians can be found jumping from one fellowship to another whenever they have a disagreement, or when some kind of personality clash develops with another member. They'll leave if they don't like the way the pastor preaches or how things are run. They're quick to find a new church to join.

But prison is where "church jumping" is not an option. We've no choice but to learn how to love one another. We're compelled to grow together, too. For none of us can leave here to find a congregation to suit our own personal wants. As both convicts and Christians, we're forced to learn how to go the "extra mile" as we put up with idiosyncrasies and differences we see in each other.

Therefore, by the grace of God, we'd find ourselves sticking together as an imperfect body of believers who share one Lord and a common faith. This has been a challenge, of course. But it's a blessing as well.

D.B.