Day 208- Prison Ink

I began a conversation this morning by asking a man about his tattoos. He told me that he never wanted any tattoos but it was the only thing to do while in prison. He had been incarcerated for many years and was out on parole. Inmates and convicted felons will have a lot to say. Be prepared to listen, and always return to the gospel.

Justin: I believe that everyone serves the same god. Have you read the Koran? I have many times. Everyone needs religion except me. I am beyond religion. I have transcended the knowledge of this world.

Me: Would you consider yourself to be a good person?

Justin: I am a great person.

Me: Have you ever told a lie?

Justin: Everyone has lied. I have been conditioned to lie by the way I was raised. You don't know where I have been. I know religion and I don't need it. I don't believe in hell and I don't believe that anyone needs to tell other people about hell. You are wasting your energy. I need food and water and that is it. I don't even need shelter. I am simple.

Me: What do you call someone who tells lies?

Justin: This world is controlled by knowledge. The peasants of this world are outnumbered by the educated. I educated myself in prison. I have read more books that you can count. I know that you are a good guy. I am a tremendous judge of character. I can judge someone by the way they walk. Walking will tell a lot about a person.

Me: Have you ever stolen anything?

Justin: I robbed a bank and a police officer's wife lost her life. I don't like police. Everyone is going to the same place in the end and your concept of judgment is wrong. The Bible is wrong. There are parts that are true, but the book as a whole is wrong.

I will spare you the rest of the details, but we talked for an extended period of time. When you have a big talker, it is tempting to follow one of the many rabbit trails. Because I wouldn't follow any of his trails, he appeared rather uncomfortable. In the end I told him that I knew that he didn't believe in God or the Bible but IF the Bible is true, he would be in big trouble. It was when I shared about Jesus when he finally decided to walk away.