In this series, we propose to use as a guide the many references to prison in both the

Old and New Testaments. We might expect that many of them would be records of those

who were being punished for their wrong-doing but this is not so.

Although we are studying the circumstances that lead to prison experience, we bear in

mind that some people (and probably more than we realize) have experiences which do

not lead to being bound or being confined to a prison cell, but which are similar to prison

experience. Some of the references in scripture to prison relate to "restraint" so that there

are limitations to the freedom of the individual although they are not in chains. How

many people suffer from limitations that restrict their freedom? People may be severely

limited owing to problems connected with their health, or their financial situation or other

disabilities. One can be unable to visit friends, if a car is not available and if public

services are withdrawn. Those who live in the country find travel more and more

difficult and such environment conditions could lead to a type of "prison experience".

In fact, we may go further and say that each one of us is limited to some extent by our

circumstances, our responsibilities, our occupation, our environment, our financial

situation, our obligations, our health, and many other factors. A young and healthy

person could be "imprisoned" by the responsibility of caring for an infirm and aged

parent. A Christian wishing to help in a witness in a certain locality may be prevented

from so doing, because he is employed in a different locality and cannot get "time off" to

travel to and from the other locality, or the distance may be so great that the time and the

cost involved make the journey impossible.

The limitations which we have tried to illustrate are of a physical nature but there is

the spiritual dimension. How many times do we hear of the need for "fellowship"? How

many Christians for one reason or another cannot meet with others for fellowship and

worship? How many members of the church which is His Body find themselves isolated

and have little or no opportunity to meet and talk with others of like precious faith. They

feel "shut up" or "imprisoned". They are lonely and want fellowship.

We are aware of this need and that is why we have arranged for the Tape Recording

Service, which enables the lonely ones to apply for cassettes and by that means they can

share with others the message that was delivered at the Chapel, or elsewhere. We also

encourage such isolated ones to share with others in prayer and we issue Joints and Bands

for this purpose, asking the lonely ones to contact us and exchange their experiences with