In God‘s Kingdom Things Are Not Always Black-and-White But Shaded In Red.

- Written by Rick Carder

For several years I served as a chaplain for the police department and jail ministry. While pastoring in Wheaton, Illinois I found outreach an incredible opportunity to reach people for Christ; especially those in uniform whether in prison or members of the Police department.

During those years both groups were a bit of a captive audience for me. In the jail ministry I was able to witness and serve and preach of the hope and love of Jesus Christ. Many were in a lock up facility awaiting sentencing or beginning their court trial. For the Police Officers, that meant doing ride-alongs with the officers where I was embedded with them in their patrol calls.

I developed a close relationship with those whom I served if we remained humble and listened. Either of these groups had a lot to say if only you knew how to ask the right questions and discern the conversation. I often told people in my chaplain ministry that it didn’t matter whether they were the ones making the arrest or of the incarcerated. God’s grace extends equally.

I can’t begin to tell you the many stories of this fine line between the officer and the offender. There were times when even the testimonies of inmates would make you just have to believe in a loving God no matter the nature of things.

One such example related to an inmate at the DuPage County Jail. Dennis was being held on felony charges because in the middle of his armed robbery at a gas station he was confronted by an off-duty police officer. Their altercation resulted in a wrestling match in which the officer was shot. The bullet lodged in his spine resulting in him becoming paralyzed yet the offender was captured awaiting his trial.

Over the next few years the trial drug on in-which both the police officer and the offender came to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior. It was an incredible story of reconciliation that was initiated by a tragedy. Without either one of them knowing that each became a Christian their stories became a web of an incredible tapestry that resulted in two men having their lives transformed.
The incarcerated man came to know Christ as he pleaded out to God for mercy. The officer came to know the Lord because a church provided compassionate ministries that included the building of a ramp and providing financial resources while the long road of recovery ensued.

I remember knowing both of them yet not knowing the full drama and unexpected blessing that was to occur. Without revealing the identity of either I had the opportunity to learn the story of God‘s grace in real time. The offender came to learn of his sin that brought him to a place of true bondage and being incarcerated. The officer came to learn of his sin through God‘s grace that humbled him and brought him to a depth of despair that ultimately resulted in an incredible testimony to God’s glory.

I’ll never forget the day that the story turned all hearts heaven-word. Here were the two in the same courtroom one likely been sentenced to 20+ years in prison and the other becoming the advocate for the offender.

The courtroom was a humble setting but filled with anxious hearts anticipating the outcomes of this tragic yet redemptive drama. One of the witnesses that was called as an advocate. He approached the bench with a testimony that while this was an offender and perhaps an open and shut case that the judge would find leniency by appealing to God‘s mercy. That advocate was indeed the police officer who was forever changed. As he wheeled himself into the court and asked for the judge to give a lesser sentence because the two of them were brothers in Christ. To everyone’s amazement the offender and the officer both realized that they were captives of sin and pride. Their transformation became the story of grace and reconciliation.

Even though the officer would never serve it in uniform again he testified to a new hope and purpose in his newfound faith in Jesus Christ. He stated that if it were not for this life changing condition he would not of found true peace and joy in Jesus Christ.

The offender still went to prison but what he testified to me that day in jail echoes in my heart still today. He said that certainly he will serve his time for such a grievous act yet he is being called by God to be an evangelist in the state prison where he will serve his sentence yet as a freeman in Christ and an evangelist for Christ to others serving their time.

God‘s Kingdom is not always black-and-white but often shaded in red because of the blood of Jesus Christ which reconciles us to himself.  The ministry of hope and transformation, of grace and truth, ended in deliverance and freedom in Christ as demonstrated by this story. Two men whose lives crossed by tragedy yet meeting Christ at the intersection of his grace and reconciliation forever echoes in eternity for God’s glory.