THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
December 9, 2002
Boris was a former KGB agent who now was a chaplain in the Baptist church in Komsomolsk, Siberia. As such he visited the prison in that town three times a week to hold services. Parts of his story is told in Colin Thubron’s book entitled "In Siberia."
He begins, "you might imagine that prison hopeless, beyond God...Many have been criminals for years. Some reoffend and return after a few weeks of freedom, others are quite happy in prison…but most prisoners are just ordinary fellows, and they come to me one here, one there, for counseling. I exploit the loudspeaker system to relay prayers and songs that get to every cell, every room." In his ministry he spoke, played songs and led the inmates in Bible courses. "A few prisoners convert to it deeply, they’ve even converted their guards…As he handed me a snapshot of a bearded young man…Here is a success story! I converted this one in labour camp. The moment he left he came straight to the church." He had served his time and was OK with society.
But that’s only part of the story. It’s what Boris felt about any conversion that’s the meat of the story to me. When Boris was asked, what the man had done this was the reply. "I can’t tell you. When we are converted the past is wiped clean. He has become a new man in Christ. Whatever he did is best forgotten. It’s no longer he who did it." OK with society and now OK with God.
This to me is the modern reality to the promise of Peter at Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:38 when questioned about the proper response to the gospel. "Repent and be baptized …in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
This gift sends us out into our world to in turn proclaim the good news by life and by word. If we accept the challenge.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
201 Oak St.
Mauston, WI 53948-1333 608-8474555
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