I have a healthy addiction for the news. When I had a tv, most of the time it was tuned into CNN or MSNBC. Now, in my free time, I often surf the web reading whatever news articles I can find. Driving to work or elsewhere, you'll find me listening to NPR. For the past week or so, one of the main headlines has been the capture of alleged "BTK" serial killer, Dennis Rader, in Kansas.

Most of the coverage revolving around the case has has to do with the evidence leading up to his capture, the victims' responses and their hope for his demise, and the response from the surrounding community. Typical coverage I guess you could say--if you could apply such a word to a story like this.

However, today there was an article posted regarding BTK that struck a chord with me. His pastor visited with him. Consoled him. Prayed with him. Afterwards, the pastor remarked "We are not going to cut him off...He is still a part of the body of Christ--and that is something some people will have a hard time hearing." On that same day, the city council met and unanimously voted to fire Rader from his job for "failure to report to work".

That, to me, is a rare example of the church living out the call of Christ. Now granted, Rader will inevitably lose his leadership position in the church, but at least he won't be treated as the city, his employer, has done--meeting behind closed doors to fire him and subsequently pass the message along to the media.

I know that this is an extreme case, and I don't want to make it seem like I support Rader's past, but this case is simply reminding me of a demographic in our country that is overlooked, ignored, outcast. And that is the ex-con.

At Mission Waco, I help teach a job training/readiness class for those who struggle with finding and keeping a job, poverty, and homelessness. We've found that about 75% of our students are on parole, probation, or have commited a crime/been released from prison within the past 7 years. They end up in our class because they can only work through day-labor, which often makes getting out of poverty harder. Business owners typically don't want to hire someone with a record.

Sure, they've been "forgiven". They've served their time, and now the government says they can reenter society, rejoin their community, get a job, and live "normally" (although, they won't be able to vote). However, with a criminal background, it is as if there's a dark cloud hanging over their head whereever they go that warns any potential employer to not hire them. Many employers require "bonding", a type of insurance in case their new employee steals from them.

In our church small group this week, I came across a passage from 1 John. In verse 9, it reads "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Note that not only does confession bring us forgiveness of our sins, but also purification from all unrighteousness. God forgives our wrongdoing, and immediately purifies us so that we can approach Him again.

Something that perhaps our "justice system" can learn from. Our brothers and sisters who reenter society need to be allowed to do just that--reenter. To go back into, or to be able to approach life again instead of being avoided, cast out, and rejected.