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 I
had occasion recently to visit a modern State prison, and had an
interesting visit with the Chief Warden. Unlike the old time
jailer, this man was a doctor of psychology, with graduate work
and much experience in penology. He studied the behavior
patterns of criminals and miscreants; analyzing,.
differentiating, seeking for causes and cures.
One
of his statements struck me with great force. "We can deal
with the psychotic with drugs-- put the mind in a state
of neutrality — analyze — block out undesirable traumas; but
with the sociopathic we can only apply a comb nation of
matters (religion, a job — to give self- respect, and the
like) and maybe we can move the patient in the right
direction.
I'll
try to translate this into Plain Talk — but make allowance for
my non-professional, layman concepts. He was saying, we can work
on the mind, like an IBM machine. Mechanically we block
off a section, repair the "short" or remove
cross-purpose elements; but the moral character
— shall I say, the soul — is different. We can only
set desirable goals before the soul — patient; seek to
motivate, move in the right direction.
The
mind of man — sometimes closely associated with his
"spirit" or the "inner man" (Rom. 7:18-f) --
though complicated and intricate — yet has certain measurable
and predictable functions. A "sick" mind can, in many
respects, be treated mechanically. We may discover a
"traumatic" (wounding) experience in the patient's
past, and lead the patient in a rational detour of this injury.
Or by drugs, and some suggest by surgery, we
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may remove or seal off the scar. But there
is more to the inner man than a "natural" IBM machine.
What can be done for a man whose conscience is seared? Who has
lost, or destroyed, his sense of moral right? An impenitent
sinner??
The
doctor calls this man "sociopathic" and defines this,
"inferior for undetermined reasons." The doctor is a
sociologist — and tends to think of the man only as he relates
to mankind, or society. But I could not forget the man's
relation to his Maker. I saw the patient as not only out of
touch with his fellow man, but also (and more important) out of
touch with God. And to me God is not a social development, but
Eternal Deity — existing prior to man, creating man even as
the potter works with clay. (Read carefully Rom. 1:18-32;
9:16-23)
When
man fails to "glorify" God-mindful of His constant
august presence; and is not "thankful''-- recognizing his
dependence upon God; then he is cut free to drift upon purely
human (social) standards. "God also gave them up to
uncleanness... unto vile affections... over to a reprobate
mind." (Rom. 1:24, 26, 28) (See Vol. 5, No. 4, p 5 Plain
Talk)
I
was happy to hear that the Warden recognized
"religion" as a motivating force for good. But if this
"religion" is nothing more than a facet of society it
is doomed as a cure. The soul that is sick will respond
to nothing short of the Great Physician. We must recognize SIN
as SIN, and get forgiveness in Jesus Christ.
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