Recently two American hikers who had been held in Iran on espionage charges were freed. Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal had spent more than two years in an Iranian prison. A third hiker, Sarah Shourd, spent about a year in prison before being released last year. To most of us the thought of being imprisoned, even for a short period of time, is frightening. We value our liberties and can’t imagine having them taken away. But, as sinners, we all face imprisonment, whether from addiction, warped priorities, despair, or something else. This week LinC talks about imprisonment and how we can claim the freedom we have through Christ. Key Scriptures: John 8:31-38; James 1:22-27; 2 Peter 2:17-19. Last month the state of Georgia executed Troy Davis for the 1989 killing of police officer Mark McPhail. The case gained national attention because several of the eyewitnesses who testified against Davis had recanted their testimonies and because Davis maintained his innocence. Many fear that Georgia killed an innocent man. The Davis case is just the latest high-profile case to stir the ongoing national debate over capital punishment—a debate that likely will play a role in the 2012 elections. The death penalty is an issue on which Christians disagree. Next week LinC looks at why Christians have differing opinions on the subject and what the witness of Scripture and the teachings of the church tell us about capital punishment.
