People often have “come to Jesus” moments in times of crisis, like while lying in a hospital bed with a critical illness or while holding on for dear life during an earthquake. These moments can instantly illuminate the frailty and brevity of life, causing a sudden realization of our dependence on God. One might question the authenticity of a faith conversion made in such dire circumstances: Is the decision genuine or is it spurred only by fear in a last ditch effort to “make it into heaven?”
As one can imagine, a similar phenomenon happens behind prisons walls—to such an extent that it’s been coined “jailhouse religion.” Men and women get locked up and, in a moment of regret and despair, come to faith. Although we at Prison Fellowship rejoice along with you when any inmate comes to know Jesus, we must also be aware of the tendency to make rash decisions without fully understanding the commitment—and use this awareness to better minister to the inmates.
Spiritual Jackets
Over many years of prison ministry, Sam Dye has seen his fair share of jailhouse spirituality. Dye is the national program director of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative®, a values-based reentry program developed by Prison Fellowship. As he trains staff and volunteers in effective prison ministry, he has learned the importance of not only preaching and teaching, but also allowing room for real transformation to occur.
According to Dye, if faith-based volunteers are not careful, they can unknowingly create “spiritual criminals.”
“A spiritual criminal is one who wears religious values like a coat,” explains Dye. “It’s external. You can take it on and take it off at will, depending on who’s around. It’s really not a part of you.”
This “spiritual jacket” can actually do more harm than good, because it gives the volunteer false joy, and it denies the inmate the chance for a real, life-altering transformation. In order to avoid the trap of enabling inmates to fake spirituality, volunteers must continue to watch for the signs, and be ready to combat them.
“We have to marry two things together in order to be effective,” says Dye. “We have to target the behaviors that contribute to criminal behavior and recidivism. But we also have to deliver this content in such a way that the ‘Aha!’ moment comes. The paradigm shifts and the new grid is in place so that new content can go on the new grid and the heart is changed. Otherwise, we’re just handing out jackets.”
On the Lookout
Dye has several tips for volunteers dealing with jailhouse religion. These tips will help volunteers recognize the signs of fake spirituality and address the issues immediately. By doing so, inmates will be afforded the opportunity to truly assess their beliefs and allow room for Christ-centered transformation.
- Do not allow inmates to speak in “Christianese.” When faking spirituality, inmates may speak in Bible lingo or overused Christian terms. Remember to always speak plainly with them. This will help them understand and grasp the concepts at hand.
- Don’t accept statements at face value. When an inmate says something—especially if it’s something you want to hear—it’s easy to just nod and move on with the discussion. Remember to stop and probe further, prodding them to rationalize their responses.
- Don’t be impressed with Bible knowledge. Lots of inmates may know a lot of Scripture, especially considering they have so much time to read it. Don’t mistake this memorization for actual understanding and application. Ask them to connect these principles to their behavior and real life situations.
- Ask good questions and allow time for responses. Don’t just give information. This is not only boring, but ineffective. Ask questions that cause the inmates to think and reflect on their own lives and choices.
- Relationships are primary, resources secondary. Inmates often seek to gain “things” from volunteers, so they fake spirituality to make volunteers happy. Remember to always give of yourself by caring, volunteering, and praying. Don’t ever give money or things to prisoners, but rather focus on their internal transformations. This is for your safety and for their spiritual benefit.
- Pray for the Spirit’s discernment. When dealing with jailhouse religion, it’s important to ask God to help you realize the difference between fake and real transformations. God can give you wisdom in this area—Ask for it!
Staying Focused
In ministering to inmates, it’s important to remember that the ministry is about the prisoner, not the volunteer. Prisoners will often want to please volunteers, and this can steer the ministry away from its goal—bringing prisoners to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
“This is true in grade school, it’s true in universities, and it’s true in prisons,” says Dye. “It’s even more true when you’re dealing with faith-based programs. The guys and gals in prison want so much to please us, they will say the words they want us to hear.”
As we focus on inmates, it is essential that we aim to see the real change that only God can bring. Romans 12:2 speaks of this very transformation: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
So, perhaps there is a positive side to jailhouse religion. Every one comes to faith for different reasons, in different circumstances. For inmates, we pray that even during their darkest hour they find the peace and love that can only be found in Jesus Christ. And, as responsible volunteers and mentors, we strive to walk with them as they discover their newfound faith, so it becomes an authentic, lifetime commitment.
