Juveniles and Justice

I normally don't read Philippine news, but I have google news alerts for "juvenile justice" e-mailed to me and it is interesting what ends up in my inbox. An article, "What youth offenders need" in Tuesday's Manila Standard Today caught my eye as an example of how not to fix an ailing juvenile justice system.

The Philippines have had a horrible track record when it comes how youth have been treated in their criminal justice system. They had been placed in over-crowded jails along with adults. My position (one I share with the author of this article, Rita Linda V. Jimeno) is that juvenile offenders should not be placed in detention alongside of adults, ever. Why? There are four reasons why I hold this position:

• Their vulnerability: We do not want to see kids victimized by a prison culture that often preys upon the weak.
• Their brains: Current research regarding the teenage brain (yes they do have them) shows that the adolescent brain is immature in precisely the areas that regulate the behaviors that that are typical of adolescents who break the law. There seems to be lower impulse control, and they do not have the ability to consider long-term consequences in the same way as adults. This doesn't not excuse criminal behavior, but it does show that the decision making process for teenagers is quite different than it is for adults.
• Adult prison is often a criminal training ground: Do we want to put kids in an environment where they learn how to become better criminals? We don't want to see kids become hardened by serving time in an adult environment with adult criminals who will be a negative influence on impressionable kids.
• The current mentality that leads the charge to treat juveniles as adults: I feel is this mentality more about making political statements and making oneself appear to be "tough on crime" than it is about justice. Those who advocate this position, especially those who are followers of Christ need to be reminded of this verse - "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God," (Micah 6:8, NIV). When you propose the same sentence for a 16-year-old as you would for a 45-year-old is that acting justly? Where does mercy come in? Are we walking humbly before God seeking His wisdom, or are we acting in a knee-jerk reactionary way? This is something we need to consider.
  

Back to the Philippines... in April 2006 the Philippine Congress passed a law called the "Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act", and according to the article I just read this law states that:

...youth offenders—15 years and below—are exempt from criminal liability. This means they cannot be prosecuted or imprisoned and must immediately be released to a social worker upon apprehension. Moreover, those in jail serving their terms, or awaiting the court’s verdict upon the enactment of the law, are also to be released if, at the time of the commission of the offense, they were 15 years of age or younger. And if a minor is above 15 but below 18, and commits a crime without discernment, then he will also be released.

I was just thinking about what would happen if we took this law and applied in the United States. Mass chaos would be the result. I would submit to you that this doesn't line with with the command in Micah 6:8 either... is this acting justly? No because it doesn't give any thought for the victim(s) involved with the crime. Is this loving mercy? Is it merciful to not hold juveniles accountable for their actions at all? No it isn't. These juvenile offenders in the Philippines who just got their "get out jail free cards" can re-offend, re-offend and re-offend and not learn a blessed thing. There are no consequences linked to their actions and that is frankly quite dangerous for them and for society in general. I would suspect that the Philippines will see an increase in juvenile crime. The only thing that has been reduced, as a result of this law, is the number of youth who are incarcerated.

What does it mean to act justly and to love mercy in regards to our juvenile justice system? We, who are in the body of Christ, need to be advocates; just like the apostle Paul advocated on behalf of Onesimus, the runaway slave, in his letter to Philemon. Under Roman law, Philemon had the right, as Onesimus' owner, to put him to death. Paul wisely saw that this young man (most Bible scholars agree that Onesimus likely was a teenager) was not a "throwaway kid", he had value. We need to recognize that juvenile offenders have value. They are also created in the image of God. They need the hope and healing that Jesus brings. They often need a voice. What does it mean to be an advocate?

• Lobby for improvements in your state's juvenile justice system. While our system is certainly better than what we see in the Philippines, there is always room for improvement. Let's make sure that juveniles are treated as who they are - kids. This doesn't mean that they are not to be held accountable or even avoid incarceration, but they shouldn't be treated exactly as adults and viewed as throwaways.
• Visit youth who are incarcerated. They love having people come visit them, and are often amazed when people spend time with them when they are not being paid to. Jesus said that when we visit those who are in prison (and that would also include juvenile detention centers) then we have also visited Him, (Matthew 25:34-40). Serve Our Youth Network has many opportunities for people to get involved as Bible discussion group leaders, volunteer chaplains, mentors and visitors. If you do not live in Iowa - check out Straight Ahead Network and its affiliates to see if there is a ministry that reaches out to juvenile offenders where you live.
  
• Welcome them when they are back home. This is key. Youth need encouragement that they can make changes. It is one thing to be resolved to change when they on the inside, but quite a different story on the "outs". Kids need help with job skills, they need to be given a chance with employers, and sometimes need advocates when it comes to getting back into school. They need life skills training. They need loving, supportive accountability. They need people who are going to welcome them into local churches because that is not a natural transition for them.

If the Church does not do this... who will?

Technorati Tags: Juvenile Justice, Social Justice, Youth Advocacy, Youth Ministry

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How to Go Deeper in Social Justice Ministry?

Kara Powell, the executive director for Fuller Seminary's Center for Youth and Family Ministry, wrote a thought provoking article called "Toward Deeper Justice for All: The Urban Social Justice Report". Since Serve Our Youth Network is all about social justice in our mentoring children of prisoners and with our work with the juvenile justice system I read this article with great interest. This is great conversation starter for those in churches to see how they can have a deeper justice ministry within their congregation. Powell asks some specific questions for youthworkers:

In the midst of the waves of attention devoted to helping the poor, perhaps you’ve even stuck a toe in the social justice waters yourself. But how do you know if your justice work is making a deep impact or just adding a few drops to a leaky bucket? As a leader, do you know what separates good justice work from truly great justice ministry?

This article also includes an assessment that a youth ministry or church can go through. As you read this article, come back here and tell me what you thought. I have been encouraged to see how evangelicals are starting to carry the torch of justice ministry. It is not mutually exclusive with evangelism. I have always believed that the two just run hand in hand. Anyway, what do you think?

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God's Politics - "Is There a Politics of God?" (Chapter 3)

That is an excellent question.  This has been asked a lot.  Is God political?  No.  He is apolitical.  His agenda trumps any political agenda that we may have.  Does He speak to issues that are addressed in the political realm?  Yes, and that is why Christ followers must have a voice in the political realm.  Jim Walls share in chapter 3 of God's Politics:

God is personal, but never private.  And the Bible reveals a very public God.  But in an age of private Spiritualities, the voice of a public God can scarcely be heard.  Private religion avoids the public consequences of faith.  In particular, affluent countries and churches breed private disciples, perhaps because the application of faith to public life could become quickly challenging and troubling, (pg. 31).

It is so true.  God is personal - he desires to have a relationship with us.  You can't get much more personal than that.  Wallis is right in that He isn't private.  It drives me nuts when I hear about people saying their faith is private.  That isn't biblical faith.  We are to be public with our faith - it is to permeate every aspect of our life.  It is to influence our decisions and behavior.  The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) commits us to a public expression of faith.

To see the politics of God, Wallis says we need to "look into our biblical and other holy texts, (pg. 32)."  Just a quick digression - I wonder what other texts Wallis as an evangelical considers holy?  Hmmm, interesting.  He says that we are to start by looking at the Old Testament prophets first.  In Isaiah - Malachi, God addresses topics such as land, labor, capital, wages, debt, taxes, equity, fairness, courts, prisons, immigrants, other races and peoples, economic divisions, social justice, war and peace.  All these topics Wallis says is the stuff of politics, (pg. 32).

The prophets, according to Wallis (and most scholars would be agreement) spoke to the nations, but spoke specifically to "rulers, kings, judges, employers, landlords, owners of property and wealth, and even religious leaders, (pg. 32).  He spoke for "the dispossessed, widows and orphans (read: poor single moms), the hungry, the homeless, the helpless, the least, last and lost," (pg. 32).  This isn't class warfare, but rather God speaking for the common good.  Wallis states that the politics of God is different than ours, it transcends Republican and Democrats, liberal and conservatives, Left and Right.  I agree with Rev. Wallis here.  Wallis goes on to share the importance of the personal nature of God.

Without a personal God, there is no personal dimension to belief.  There is no relationship to God, no redemption, salvation, grace or forgiveness.  There is no spiritual transformation without a personal God, and no power that can really change our lives beyond self-improvement.... Much of liberal religion has lost the experience of a personal God and that is the primary reason why liberal Christianity is not growing, (pg. 34).

How true - transformation only occurs with a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  Christ changes hearts.  The Holy Spirit transforms us from the inside out.  Mainline churches who don't embraces this usually do decline, however the churches that are part of mainline denominations that do preach having a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and Him alone are growing.  I see that in the Des Moines Metro area.  So amen to what Rev. Wallis says regarding this.

He also says that modern American evangelicalism's greatest heresy was restricting God to private space.  He shares about his personal experience of growing up in a Plymouth Brethren church in Michigan where his dad was a lay leader.  He talks about how the church ignored the problem of racism, and basically said that is not part of their private faith.  I am sure that went on.  I know that went on.  I can not argue with his personal experience.  The trouble I have with saying it is modern American evangelicalism's greatest heresy is that it projects his personal experience on all evangelicals.  Evangelicals were also part of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, not just Catholics and mainline denominations.  The statement that he makes to me seems better reserved for fundamentalists who by very nature separated themselves from the world.  Evangelicals by and large engage culture.  However where modern evangelicalism has faltered is by focusing just on evangelism and not focusing on social justice.  We should be focused on evangelism and social justice - the two shouldn't be mutually exclusive.  Wallis goes on to say.

Exclusively private faith denigrates into a narrow religion, excessively preoccupied with individual and sexual morality while almost oblivious to the biblical demands for public justice.  In the end private faith becomes a merely cultural religion providing the assurance of righteousness for "people just like us," (pg. 35)

I'm not sure again that this is a completely fair statement for all evangelicals.  I do agree that we can not neglect public social justice over personal holiness.  It isn't either or - it is both and.  Ultimately what he says is needed is the renovation of our souls and the soul of our politics.  I can't disagree with that.

God's Politics - "A Lack of Vision" (Chapter 2)

Wallis shares in chapter 2 of God's Politics of how you can determine who a politician is - look for the person who is walking around with their finger high in the air trying to determine the direction of the wind.  Where the wind blows so they go.  He says that we will never see anything accomplished in Washington by replacing one person with a wet finger with another.  To truly bring change he says... we need to change the wind.

Change the wind, transform the debate, recast the discussion, alter the context in which political decisions are being made, and you will change outcomes.  Move the conversation around a crucial issue to a whole new place, and you will open up possibilities for change never dreamed of before.  And you will be surprised at how the politicians adjust to the change in the wind, (pg. 22).

Wallis shares that the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was just such a wind changer.  Coming back from Oslo, Norway where he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, he stopped by Washington, D.C. to speak with President Lyndon Johnson.  The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was just passed, but King knew that they needed a voting rights act as well for things to really change for African-Americans.  President Johnson said that he had spent all of his political capital on the civil rights act, that the voting rights act would be down the road, perhaps ten years down the road.  King went to Selma, AL to continue to push for the wind to change.  He rallied people, marched on Selma, drew attention to the continued problems that were going on and the voting rights act came five months later, not ten years.  He changed the wind.

People motivated by spiritual values that give them a real vision for change are not like those with their fingers in the air.  They already know the direction to head in, and they lead by example.  Their commitments, skills, sacrifices, creativity, and ultimately, moral authority are what make all the difference and change the wind, (pg. 23-24).

Wallis states that the fundamental principle is that "history is most changed by social movements with a spiritual foundation."  You can certainly see that with the end of slavery in England and the United States.  You see that in the Civil Rights movement.  Child labor laws that were enacted due to abuses that occurred during the Industrial Revolution.   When the Church champions social causes from a biblical worldview things get shaken up.  I blogged not long ago on Isaiah 58:6-12.  When the Church is involved is social justice issues, working with the "least of these" in society then we have more influence in society.  We are leading by example.  Not all history changing movements, however, are social.  The Great Awakening, not a social movement, but this revival brought about social change. 

He then brings up Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law."  We have a vision problem Wallis says in politics and in religion. 

Lack of vision in society contributes directly to social unrest, lawlessness, violence, and chaos.  It may not just be poverty that leads to social breakdown, but also the absence of any compelling and credible vision, articulated by public leaders and accepted by the people, that serves to hold society together, (pg. 25).

Wallis seems to also forget the last part of that verse is "blessed is he who keeps the law."  We are also a society that has lost its moral groundings, and that leads to a breakdown in society as well.  That will not be cured by government, but rather through a changed heart.  A person at a time submitting to the lordship of Christ, who then leads others to Christ, and they in turn lead others to Christ.  A broad vision for social justice, while important, will not fulfill the Great Commission in and of itself, but it is part of that goal.  Because people are attracted to love shown in practical ways.  People respond to compassion given with no strings attached.  Culture is boggled when people put others needs before their own.  But we need to do just that because that is what Christ commands us to do.

Wallis goes on to that vision will lead directly to values, and that "values will be the most important political question of the twenty-first century," (pg. 26).  People voted values in 2004 and 2006.  Politicians can not ignore that.  Wallis says that in reaction to politics without values people will complain.  Complaint will become the dominant political discourse.  I think we see that happening right now don't we?  Wallis shares that the prophet Habakkuk describes the politics of complaint.  He was a prophet in Israel at a time when it was caught in wars between Babylon and Egypt.  Where political corruption was the norm.  He describes this in Habakkuk 1:2-4.

2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
and you will not save?
3 Why do you make me see iniquity,
and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
4 So the law is paralyzed,
and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
so justice goes forth perverted,(ESV).

Habakkuk goes on to complain about how the wicked swallows up, how his greed is bringing ruin to others, and how he is living in luxury while nations are being killed and injustice done.  Habakkuk then stands watch to wait for an answer from the LORD.  The LORD replies.

“Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.
For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay," (Habakkuk 2:2-3,ESV)

What is that vision?  Wallis says that it is the content of the Old Testament prophets, Jesus and New Testament writers. It is also seen in our American traditions (i.e. the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence). It is what they had to say about "what our public commitments, our common life, and social bonds we share in community."  Wallis proclaims that the vision is there, but often we give it lip service.  I can agree with that.  I have seen that first hand. This vision he says awaits us, and when we move toward our prophetic and democratic visions... the miraculous can occur.

...slaveries are ended, civil rights achieved, freedom established, compassion implemented, justice advanced, human rights defended, and peace made.  When we neglect the vision, greed triumphs, selfishness erodes common life, our divisions increase, our weapons expand and our conflicts proliferate, (pg. 28).

There isn't much in the way of content in as much that we need a vision for change in our culture.  I can find a lot of common ground with Jim Wallis as far as seeing a great need to work on the behalf of the poor, etc.  The above statement shows some naivety in regards to how society will respond to this vision.  When slavery was ended, when civil rights were achieved, when freedom was established, etc. - when we look at those from a historical point of view, as far as, western history is concerned.  We see a society that embraced by and large a Judeo-Christian worldview.  Not so today.  So when he says, "selfishness erodes common life" which common life is he referring?  When he says that "our divisions increase"  I wonder if he has forgotten that Jesus Himself said that he would be the root cause of many divisions.  Our common life and unity is found in Christ.  In some instances I think Wallis may be putting the cart before the horse.  We do need to be engaged.  I think it is responsible citizenship, but I question the long-term effects if it isn't accompanied by spiritual revival.  By being involved in the political system we are functioning as salt and in this case I believe it is acting as a preservative.  I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.

He ends the chapter by also pointing out that our vision problem isn't just a lack of vision in public life, but also when political leaders (read President Bush) have a clear vision, but it is the wrong one.  I'm not going to spend time commenting on that.  He says also that he will evaluate how things are going today with these different issues, by asking the "God question" which he says is, "How are the kids doing?"  Hmmm - I don't remember seeing that in Scripture, God asks many questions of us in Scripture, but that isn't one of them that I can recall. 

Getting Tough on Sudan

President Bush took a step in the right direction yesterday with new sanctions against Sudan. Seeing anything come out of the United Nations to complement what the United States seems unlikely.

In announcing new U.S. sanctions on Sudan yesterday, President Bush made clear his frustration with the inability of his administration and the United Nations to halt the violence in Darfur, which he has described as ongoing "genocide."

"I promise this to the people of Darfur," Bush said at the White House. "The United States will not avert our eyes from a crisis that challenges the conscience of the world."

The administration's strong rhetoric and new plan to squeeze Sudan was greeted with immediate roadblocks yesterday. At the United Nations, China and Russia displayed little interest in joining the U.S. drive to isolate Khartoum economically and coerce its leaders into cooperating with international efforts to stop the violence in Darfur... more

(Source: Washington Post)

Great Social Justice Passion and Poor Theology

I read on Thinkerup about some quotes that Tony Campolo has made in the past. For those of you who don't know Dr. Campolo has been a professor of sociology at Eastern University in St. David's, PA, and has been very influential in youth ministry circles.

He lately has been known more for being a mouthpiece for the religious left and the Democratic Party than for issues of social justice. I admire his passion for ministry to the poor, but his theology leaves a lot to be desired. A couple of quotes below makes me wonder how he can still call himself an evangelical. What do you think?

"I am saying that there is no salvation apart from Jesus; that's my evangelical mindset. However, I am not convinced that Jesus only lives in Christians"

-Tony Campolo (National Liberty Journal, 8/99)

"...what can I say to an Islamic brother who has fed the hungry, and clothed the naked? You say, "But he hasn't a personal relationship with Christ." I would argue with that. And I would say from a Christian perspective, in as much as you did it to the least of these you did it unto Christ. You did have a personal relationship with Christ, you just didn't know it."

-Tony Campolo

EVANGELICALS AND INTERFAITH COOPERATION, An Interview by Shane Claiborne

Pray for Zimbabwe

From the Christian Post:

Micah Challenge – a global advocacy initiative of the World Evangelical Alliance,which represents more than 420 million Christians, and the Micah Network –is speaking out against the situation in the south African nation which, among other problems, holds the record for the world’s highest inflation rate – 1,700 percent.

“The current political situation in Zimbabwe is of grave concern and if measures are not taken to mitigate the situation, the impact will be felt on every street in the whole Southern African region,” read the recently released Micah Challenge statement on Zimbabwe. "Already the economic conditions in Zimbabwe have deteriorated alarmingly and are affecting other Southern African countries."

Thousands of Zimbabweans are migrating to neighboring countries in search of economic security and escaping political violence. The country, though by name a democracy, is crushing protests against the country’s economic crisis – leading to what some fear a police state or dictatorship. Read more...

Go Into Debt For World Missions

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Hmmm. I'd love to read your comments. I saw this story at the Christian Post.

People using their credit cards for purchases can feel better about their spending with the introduction of a new card that supports mission efforts in poor countries.

Announced Monday by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the World Missions Visa Card will take a small percentage of everyday purchases and send the money to support Catholic Church programs in more than 1,150 mission dioceses in the world's most destitute nations.

Touring a Slum

An interesting op-ed piece in the Chicago Tribune today about what is going on in Dharavi, a slum of one million people in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in India.

Children of War

The student ministries that I lead just completed the 30 Hour Famine which is a fundraiser for World Vision. We watched a couple of video segments. One was called "From Locusts to Landmines" and the other was called "Uganda's Children of War". I have participated in the 30-Hour Famine numerous times, but this year I was really convicted that I have to do more. I'm not sure what yet, but I have to do more.

World Vision can feed a child for $1 a day. For $30 they can feed a child for an entire month. I recently purchased a Frappacino at Starbucks the other day. The money I spent on that would have fed a child for at least four days. I have to do more. We have to do more.

We also had a chance to act locally too by participating in a food drive for the Pella Food Shelf. It was really cool to see the grocery cart we were taking around fill up.

I also found an excellent documentary on the problem facing the youth of Uganda called "Invisible Children". They also have a website - http://www.invisiblechildren.com. I am embedding the video below. It's 55 minutes long, and I this is a video you do not want to watch with young children in the room. Please do watch it, and please act.

Do young sex offenders belong on the adult register?

Great question poised by the Sex Offender Issues Blog. I'd be curious to hear what you think. Our ministry works with a lot of young sex offenders. I struggle with the answer to that - it depends on the hat I'm wearing - Dad or SOY Staff.

Please share your opinion by posting a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Nooma - Rich

I discovered this Nooma video clip on You Tube. Rob Bell, the founding pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, MI, does a great job challenging us to rethink what it means to be rich. We need to reach out to those who are improverished with the love of Christ. With clean water and with Living Water. With food to eat, and with the Bread of Life.

Here are some organizations that are doing some awesome work in the name of Jesus serving the poor:

• Samaritan's Purse
• Food for the Hungry
• Compassion International
• World Vision
• Gospel for Asia
• Touch Global (Compassion Ministries of the Evangelical Free Church of America)

This certainly isn't an exhaustive list, if you know of some others, let me know and I'll put them up.