By Larry West

It isn't too surprising that we find many varied viewpoints about the Bible and religion in the prisons. As I have mentioned in the past, one of the biggest challenges is trying to straighten out so many misunderstandings. Often, if the inmate has any kind of background or exposure to religion he will try to remember what he knew, or heard, in his earlier years. This is tangled up with what he has seen on television, heard on the radio, and received from other inmates who also take a twisted understanding and become vigorous proclaimers of error.

Predestination is prevalent in the minds of a large portion of the inmate population. They will take any scripture which seems to postulate such an opinion and argue long and loud. This doctrine supposes that God has predestined certain specific individuals to be saved and certain other specific persons to be lost - no matter what they may do or not do.

We can see how this would be comforting to prisoners. No matter what they have done, how heinous the crime, etc., they, quite naturally, are one who has been predestined to be saved. I don't remember too many who would argue that they were predestined to be lost! Students of the word of God know that specific pre.determination for salvation or condemnation is not taught in the scriptures.

Another popular thought in prison is that everything is deter.mined by fate. In other words, if you committed a crime, it was because it had already been determined that you would do it and you had no control over it! Therefore, ultimately, no one is responsible for his actions and as a result is not guilty! Taking this to the farthermost extension, its God's fault! Sounds like Adam and Eve doesn't it?

You can readily see that fate is very closely related to pre.destination. Everything has been decided, every thought you think, every word you say and every

action you take. Thus, there is really nothing man must or can do regarding his salvation since God has already made His selection.

What an utterly ridiculous misunderstanding of the scriptures and of our loving heavenly Father who sent “His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

I hope that there are also many other scriptures which come to your mind that would be violated and meaningless if specific predestination and fate were factually true. If not, I suggest that you go through the Bible and evaluate each scripture with this particular false doctrine in view. Thus you will be able to see that this is totally contrary to the word of God.

In Folsom Prison, and I'm sure many other facilities, we have the "Jesus only" people. Their (mis)understanding is that every.thing must be done in the name of "Jesus only". They practice immersion for baptism but it must be done in the name of "Jesus only". Others who believe in the "name only" are those who believe everything must revolve around "Yahweh" or "Jehovah".

These groups fail to understand that "in the name of" means "by the authority of". They refuse to take into account scriptures which make this clear or that we are to praise, honor and glorify the Godhead - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. A good exercise would be to study your Bible to see how you would answer and deal with these and other false doctrines.