Power Struggle

“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.



Though this clip was from a jail in Los Angeles, California, the hunger for power and control between different races occur in most of the detention or correctional facilities all over the nation. It doesn’t exclude my workplace.

Careful attention is given when arrestees come in from the streets and are booked in. Even if 2 people belong to the same race, the deputies who assign the housing for them have to make sure that they don’t miss any crucial information about these people. Being a gang member while the other may not be, is a thing to consider so that fights are avoided.

No matter how careful, fights do occur. And where there are big fights, nurses are very much involved in evaluating and treating injuries. It’s even harder when there is a great number involved. Triaging whoever is bleeding and most of them are. Sometimes, unfortunately, there are fatalities.

It’s sad when that kind of mentality of “I’m better than you” or “I’m stronger than you” exist inside these thick walls. And colors matter. The fact is: they are all inmates, no matter what color, no matter what social backgrounds. They all committed crimes outside and they are there to pay for those crimes.

It is sad when Christians also fight and hurt the cause for Christ. True Christians should not persecute each other. Unfortunately, this is still happening from many centuries ago up to this time. [From Life Application Bible; emphasis is mine]:

Paul once envisioned a church where all the Jews and Gentiles would be united in their love of God and in obedience to Christ. While respecting God’s law, this ideal church would look to Christ alone for salvation. A person’s ethnic background and social status would not be significant [Galatians 3:28 - “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians - you are one in Christ Jesus.”]

“Accept Christians who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.” - Romans 14:1

“Who are you to condemn God’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord’s power will help them do as they should.” - Romans 14:4

“For we are not our own masters when we live or when we die. While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So in life and in death, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that he might be Lord of those who are alive and of those who have died.” - Romans 14:7-9

“So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.” - Romans 14:10,11

“Yes, each of us will give personal account to God. So don’t condemn each other anymore. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not put an obstacle in another Christian’s path.” - Romans 14:12,13

“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God. And other people will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” - Romans 14:17-19