He was just laying there, against the tree, not moving much with a smile on his face. I could tell that Dylan was glad for the conversation when I walked up to him and asked if I could take his picture. And we did have a conversation. After sharing a bit about Christ, he immediately launched into a rant against the evil Christians who lock up people in cages for just sleeping out on the street, stealing so they could eat, or smoking a little marijuana.

Then he challenged me and asked me if I thought it was right for people to be locked up in such situations. To be honest, no, I don’t. I explained that I don’t believe the Bible warrants arresting and locking people up for such crimes. The Bible actually shows that those who are caught stealing are to make restitution for stealing, not to be thrown into jail. People might see this as a problem, since it leads to indentured servitude, a lighter form of slavery, as some call it. The indentured servitude was a way to seek justice by providing the thief with a way to make things right, while also providing for himself, and family during the time of restitution. Once that restitution was complete, he was free to go.

While I don’t think a policy exactly like that should be employed, I do think we can use the principles from it and form a better system of justice than what takes place for theft. As it is now, when someone gets caught stealing, they go to jail with fines. None of that money goes to the victim. It all goes to the state. That is not justice, just another form of taxation.

As for marijuana, I told Dylan that since it was illegal, and it was a mind-altering drug, he shouldn’t use it. He immediately told me he had a ticket to Colorado for later in the month in order to deal with the legalities. Fair enough. However, I do not think we should equate marijuana with drinking of wine. This is what he tried to do in our conversation. Wine is a mood-altering drink and is meant for joy. This is one of the reasons that Jesus turned water into wine (there are more, but not for this post). In its proper use, wine is fine for a Christian. But the mental problems that come with marijuana make it detrimental.

I don’t think I convinced Dylan.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” John 8:31-32.