Jail, Incarnation, and the Digital Age

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Every day sees new technology coming into our hands.  Moore's Law famously observes that computer processing can be expected to DOUBLE every 18 months to 2 years. The saturation of technology into our world feeds on itself to promote exponential growth. As computers get faster, they can accomplish new tasks we could never dream of previously. The current trend is for computer systems to be sewn into every fabric of our lives, sometimes quite literally. Smart watches, smart TV's, smart thermostats, self-driving cars--everything is becoming interconnected, and these trends show no signs of slowing down. As we speak, major tech companies like Google, IBM, and Facebook are rushing to perfect artificial intelligence, which will completely revolutionize the way we relate to and utilize technology.

With technology constantly invading every sector of society, it's no surprise that it's changing the way many jails and prisons operate. One particularly novel development is the advent of "video visitations." Instead of a visitor sitting down with an inmate, they stand in a booth with a phone and a video screen (or sometimes use their computer from home) and chat with the offender. Right now, about 500 jails and prisons are using this technology. (You can read more about video visitation from this NPR article).

At first glance, there seem to be many benefits to video visitations. For one, a family member can visit with the offender even if they live on the opposite side of the country. From a prison security perspective, digital visitations also prevent the exchange of contraband and can better record visits.

But some advocates have raised the ethical concern about what such visitations are doing to inmate health and to the human relationships involved. As we all know, there is a substantial emotional and mental difference between visiting someone on a screen and visiting them in-person. For instance, my brother has been out of the country for the past several months, and it has been a blessing to be able to Skype with him several times during his absence. Yet, despite the amazing capabilities of that technology, it will be 100 times better when he is home for Christmas and I can hug him and sit next to him while talking.

The importance of personal interactions is even more precious for inmates and their families. NPR quoted one mother as saying, "I can't stand it, because he's on the screen in front of me, and I can't touch him." One might ask, though, if it bothers this mother so much, why doesn't she just ask for an in-person visit. Here's the kicker. When her son's prison installed the video visitation system, part of their contract with the system's company was that they would end in-person visits and only use the video visitation system. So, even though her son is only a few hundred feet from her in the prison, all she can do is see him on a small screen and listen to his voice through a low-quality phone line.

When asked about these concerns, some detention administrators simply make the argument that this is another right that the offender forfeits when they break the law. You break the law; you pay "hard time," and sometimes this means not being able to sit face to face with your loved ones.

For Christians, this is an issue we need to think about. While the video visitation technology is an amazing development, it should only be used as a supplement to in-person visitations. Taking away flesh and blood visits strikes at the very heart of our faith. The Christian faith is relational and incarnational at its core.

In the beginning God existed not just as a single being, but as a triad of relationships. He is three-in-one; relationships have mattered since before the beginning of time. Likewise, physicality matters. God was not content to simply create a bunch of minds or a spiritual world. Rather, he took on the task of creating matter and a physical world filled with bodies of flesh and blood and bone.

Finally, as we currently walk through the season of Advent, we are reminded that relationships work best in-person. After all, Jesus did not simply offer His revelation to us as a voice from a cloud. He did not simply appear as an adult who just needed to die for our sins. Rather, "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Jesus was messily born as a tiny infant, experienced all of childhood, and walked dusty roads with friends and enemies as an adult.

Gregory of Nazianzus gave a theological reason why Jesus had to live the entirety of human life when he said, "What has not been assumed has not been healed." In other words, if we are saved through the person of Jesus, then only the parts of life that Jesus lived and experienced can be saved. Yet, it's telling that Jesus did not simply go through life stoically offering teachings. Instead, we see him caring for other lives, lifting the head of a dead little girl, touching a leper, sharing meals and partying. He lived out real-life, in-person relationships. It seems that personal human interactions were a part of life Jesus wanted to save.

When thinking about any new use of technology, people of faith need to be very wary of the possibility of dehumanization that is always lurking around. We see it in the crooked necks of our neighbors and family members glued to their phone screens. We see it in the redefinition of "friend" via social media. Massive data mining programs reduce individuals and personalities to ID numbers and a string of 0's and 1's. The siren call invites us to use technology to usurp authentic human relationships.

We also need to be wary of our natural lust for punishment and vengeance. It can be easy to dismiss the concerns by arguing that inmates and felons "don't deserve" in-person visitations. We lapse back into old arguments about how prison needs to be less comfortable and more punitive. Besides the fact that research suggests "hard time" is not effective at rehabilitation, such a mindset can actually add to the list of victims.

What often goes ignored is the negative impact on people besides the offender. What about the family and friends of the inmate? They didn't commit the crime. Is it fair or just to deprive a mother or a child of face-to-face interactions with their child or parent? Or what about those instances where a victim would like to face their offender and look them in the eyes? Will they be satisfied looking at eyes merely made of pixels?

These face-to-face interactions play a crucial role in our justice system. For both the offender and their visitors, these visitations can bring comfort, peace, understanding, grief, joy, and healing. When we strip the offender of human interaction, we also strip it away from others who may desperately want or need it too. We strip a part of their humanity. As Christians who believe in redemption, our goal for our justice system should be the rehabilitation of offenders and the healing of victims and family members. Punishment is not the Christian goal for justice.

We must seriously consider how the use of video visitation enhances or harms this goal of rehabilitation. If the incarnation of Jesus teaches us that there is something meaningful, and even holy, about interpersonal, flesh-and-blood interactions, then stripping away this dimension of human relationships will inevitably have consequences. We must ask whether taking away all in-person visitations will do more help or harm to all parties involved.

Defenses of only using video visitations are also foolish when they argue that the loss of touch and physical intimacy is simply a right that is forfeited in the course of breaking the law. For one, it naively puts too much trust in our justice system. Every defense attorney, judge, and prosecutor can point you to instances of wrongful conviction. There are many individuals sitting in prison who have been convicted of a crime they didn't commit because of some miscarriage of justice. Or what about in county jails (where such video systems are actually more likely to be used than in prison)? Most of those in county jail are awaiting a trial or plea deal and have not yet been found guilty. Is it just or humane to strip the wrongly convicted, the innocent, and those not yet guilty of the right to real human interactions?

Or should all crimes be treated equally in this manner? Even if we buy into the concept of "hard time," do a murderer and an occasional drug user both deserve the same punishment of not being able to touch or sit across from loved ones?

However, perhaps one of the most troubling aspects of all this is how dehumanization comes by way of the god of money. It's telling that the idea for going completely virtual with visitations did NOT originate with detention centers concerned about safety and prohibiting contraband. Rather, it seems to be an idea pushed by the tech companies involved. They are the ones requiring detention centers to only use their video systems. And it makes business sense--ending in-person visits means more money for the tech company.

Even worse, these tech companies invite jails and prisons to partake in this business by offering them a cut of the profits. While video-chatting at the jail is free, a family member who video-chats from home usually has to pay a fee, and this fee gets split between the tech company and the jail. In other words, the quality of human interaction is diminished, an extra barrier of cost is added, and detention centers can profit off of this. Similar to the risks involved with privately-ran prisons, the love of money and the need to make a profit can quickly eclipse human rights and dignity.

As Christians, this should alarm us. The incarnation and life of Jesus show us that relationships matter and people matter. So, whenever we see corporate profit being put above human well-being, we must stand up and speak. When the impersonal forces of money and business threaten to trump the personal dimensions of human relationships, we must object because we serve a personal, relational God.

There is something about sitting down a foot or two from another human being. When you can see, hear, touch, and smell them, something holy occurs. It's a precious space no technology can replace. I believe God designed us to crave and require such intimacy. And when that personal intimacy is removed, that's when we see people consumed by the demons in their heads and devolve in the monsters of our darker nature.

It doesn't matter who the person is--upstanding citizen or murderous felon. Jesus showed no favoritism. His incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection remind us that all are welcome to partake of redemption. So, may this Christmas season remind us that we were made for more than simply screens and phones and social media. We were made to touch and hug and love. And may we be a people of character and conscience who see trends like this and stand up for the most broken ones of our society.

God is with us, may we learn to truly be with others.

4 Starbucks-like Companies that Forsook their Christian Message

Once again we are at war. Of course we didn't ask for it, but Satan is on the prowl. This time he has found a way to strip our joy from the Christmas season. There will be fewer "Noels" this year. After all, how can there peace on earth when there is no Christmas on my coffee cup? As you've probably heard by now, Starbucks has fully given into their pagan ways and removed all references to Christmas from their cups. Without any white emblems of holy reindeer, sacred snowflakes, or SAINT Nicholas on the cups, all we are left with with is a crimson abomination--interestingly enough the same color often used to depict Beelzebub himself. See for yourself:

New, non-Christmas cups (creepy)

 This is clearly a sign that Starbucks has declared war on Christmas and on Christians. But, it didn't always used to be this way. As we all know, Starbucks used to hold strong Christian convictions. They used to boldly proclaim the correct winter holiday on their seasonal  Christmas cups.

A CHRIST-mas coffee

 As is clear, Starbucks used to value keeping Christ in Christmas, but they have since strayed from their faithful beginnings and have become just another secular company. It's as if they believe their mission is to run a business selling coffee in a pluralistic society rather than using their caffeine to promote Christmas as the one true December holiday.

But this move from sacred to secular should not surprise us. Starbucks is only the latest in a long line of companies that moved away from their Christian roots to embrace a worldly message. Since those who fail to learn their history are doomed to repeat it, I give you the top 4 companies in recent history that have watered down or forgotten their Christian heritage:

1. Solo cups

Everyone knows about red Solo cups, but not everyone knows their history. This is especially unfortunate as their story eerily resembles the current Starbucks debacle.

For years, Solo proudly displayed Christian slogans and verses on its cups. It's primary market was Baptist church potlucks. Although they made wholesome containers for all seasons, their most notable product was their annual Christmas cup, such as the one displayed here:

 

However, in November 1969 the Solo Cup Company changed leadership and the decision was made to try broadening the market for the cups. In an attempt to do so, it was decided that the company should drop the strong Christmas message and simply go with a plain red cup. No message at all meant that no one would be offended...except Christ that is. No message also meant no Christmas message, which was a soulless mistake for sure.

History has proven that this early attempt at "political correctness" destroyed the morals of the company. Today, this vessel has become an emblem, not of sacred fellowship among fellow believers, but of drunken orgies, even becoming the subject matter of a Toby Keith song that mentions alcohol, "testicles," and uses profanity.

2. Apple, Inc.

Apple was founded in 1976 to develop small computers. The original logo  featured Sir Isaac Newton and was a good image that represented the discovery and ingenuity the company was after. However, it was a rather boring and complex logo, so later that year they changed it. Most historians will tell you that the change looked something like this:

 

However, most historians forget there was an intermediate step in the design process. For about a month the Apple logo actually looked like this:

 

The text in the red bar is an obvious reference to Genesis 2 and 3 when Adam and Eve are commanded not to eat of the forbidden fruit. In one company memo it states that the text was placed on a bar of red to represent the blood of Christ that the first sin cost, and the whole apple is colored in a rainbow to remind consumers of the grace Noah received in the covenant of the rainbow. This background also explain why the apple in the logo has a single bite taken out of it--it is the bite Adam and Eve took.

In this original context, the logo was to serve as a warning against human pride and faith in knowledge, something a computer company could easily fall into and a reality the Newton logo failed to warn against. Sadly, one of the founders (it is unclear whether it was Jobs, Wayne, or Wozniak) rebelled against this demonstration of faith and insisted the company stay away from religious overtones. Thus, the scripture reference was removed, leaving a rainbow apple without context. One also can't help but wonder if it was this lack of context that led to the homosexual revolution with this rainbow being co-opted for "gay pride." Perhaps Apple's lack of religious boldness is the reason why gay marriage is now legal.

3. McDonald's

We all know America is a Christian nation. So naturally all businesses within America are really Christian businesses. It is embedded within their nature. They cannot escape it. One company that realized and embraced this was McDonald's. In 2003, when McDonald's launched their "I'm lovin' it" slogan, they simultaneously launched another ad series--"I'm lovin' him." The "him" was intended to refer to Jesus. 

Sadly, the ad campaign was dropped after 6 months. The official reason given was that too many people were confused by the "him" and didn't know to whom it was referring. According to company statements: "Although the slogan was written to point people to our loving Savior, Jesus Christ, we fear that misinterpretation is happening and we might accidentally lead our customers to love another man, such as Buddha, Joseph Smith, or Mohamed. Or for our male customers, they may become gay."

On the surface level, this public statement seems to be acceptable. However, after further thought one realizes that the matter could have easily been cleared up by adding a clear Christian image (such as a cross or an American flag) to the slogan. The darker truth is that someone in the company was likely ashamed of the Gospel and pressured marketers to scrub away the Christian message. This is most likely what happened as there have been no more positive, messages about Jesus coming from the company since the retraction.

 4. Trojan

The final company that used to hold strong Christian leanings was Trojan. It may seem strange that a condom company was once Christian since the church throughout much of history has been skeptical about birth control, but it's true. Trojan realized the uphill battle of being a Christian company making condoms, but they were driven by the conviction that sex is a gift from God and is meant to be enjoyed. And, what better way to enjoy it than without the risk of children materializing?

So, to unite these two passions--faith and sex--designers for the company decided to include a Bible verse about sex on each of their condoms. They started flipping through the Bible to find such a verse and found what they were looking for there on page 1--"Be fruitful and multiply." This verse was immediately included on the package design.

 But, the designers' eagerness got the best of them. Several months later, a customer pointed out a discrepancy to the company. While the Bible verse references making love to produce offspring, the product itself is designed to prevent offspring.

Embarrassed by the lapse in judgment (and experiencing pressure from many churches who opposed the idea of a Christian company talking so openly about sex) Trojan decided to drop the Scripture references from its products. But, as we have seen over and over again in these examples, the loss of a Christ-centered message on their products ultimately led to the loss of a Christian identity within the company itself. Today, a Trojan product is just as likely to be used in a lustful one-night-stand as in the bonds of holy matrimony.

So Starbucks is not alone

This Christmas season we should not be shocked at Starbucks and their loss of a Christian identity. They are simply the latest in a long line of Christian commercial failures. The battle is raging and we are losing. Perhaps all we can do now is pray for the rapture to come quickly and deliver us from this mess. Merry Christmas!

*Before you re-post this to expose these companies, please make sure you realize this is satire. But of course, I'm not going to stop you from posting even if you don't realize it, so go for it!

A Church for the Outcasts

I am writing this article on Christmas Day from the family violence shelter where I work . When I’ve told people I would be working the morning of Christmas Day, many have made comments about how unfortunate that is. And while it is true that it would be nice to spend actual Christmas morning with my own family, I also do not have many regrets about working today. As I pass by our clients this morning and wish them a Merry Christmas, I am reminded that it is so easy for our society to neglect those on the margins.

I was recently discussing with one of my colleagues how we don’t get many requests at Family Abuse Center for presentations during December. I joked it was because no one wanted to think about depressing things like domestic violence and abuse during this time of year that is filled with lights, carols, and cookies. But, I believe there is some truth to that comment. And perhaps we should do more reflection on these topics, especially at this time of year.

The truth is not everyone can celebrate the holidays with their families, and some don’t even have families to celebrate with. The mothers and women at our shelter here won’t be spending their Christmas with parents, siblings, or other relatives. Some of them don’t even have any real family to speak of.

And yet, I am observing something beautiful this morning. Although placed in less than ideal circumstances, these women and children are becoming family to each other. They are joking and laughing with each other. Kids are playing with new toys thanks to the generosity of countless community members who donated gifts this year. We even busted out Legos and games for the adult clients to play with.

And I’m reminded that this perhaps is a better reflection of Christmas than all the lights, sights, and smells. Christmas is not about spending time with family, per se. It’s about a King who called us all together as family. It’s not about gifts or shiny trinkets, it’s about a Savior who was born for the lowly, poor, and broken.

As we begin this new year, I pray that the church would remember this truth. As she marches out from Christmas, may her feet find themselves situated in the footsteps of a Lord who remembered the outcasts of this world. May she love the loveless and downtrodden. And may Christians not just do these things when it is convenient for us, but also when it costs us something. May we have the mind of Christ every day of the year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.