Porridge
I am going to talk about Porridge. Not the breakfast cereal but the word used for a term of imprisonment.
Porridge is a British sitcom, starring Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale, written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and broadcast on BBC1 from 1974 to 1977.
The sitcom focuses on two prison inmates, Norman Fletcher (played by Barker) and Lennie Godber (played by Beckinsale), who are serving time at the fictional HMP Slade in Cumberland. The show's title is a reference to both the traditional breakfast that used to be served in British prisons, and a 1950s British slang term for a prison sentence. (1)
I am reminded of one particular episode when Fletcher and Godber are in their Prison cell on a Saturday night and they discuss what they might do that evening. They talk of going out on the town, perhaps visiting one or more pubs, perhaps a club or even going to the cinema. Godber has only recently been imprisoned and is missing his family and the freedom he had in the outside world, Fletcher is trying to cheer him up. The viewer realises and so do the inmates. Whatever they might dream of doing on a Saturday night outside of the prison cell isn’t going to happen… they are in prison, you can’t go out on Saturday nights! Fletcher continuing the discussion says on the other hand they could just have a quiet evening in and Godber agrees. The episode concludes with the lights being turned off by the guards.
Are you imprisoned and if you are do you wish to be freed?
Is there something imprisoning you as much as being in a real prison?
Two characteristics of Prison as described in the Porridge TV show were the poorer life you experienced inside compared with the outside world and the fact that you could not leave any time you wished.
I would say that there is something that can imprison everyone alive today and that is Sin.
No one can set themselves free from sin by their own efforts but Jesus can set all of us free through his death on the cross for us. By his punishment he paid our prison sentence.
The Bible clearly states that everyone has sinned
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23 NKJV
It also tells of the punishment for sin
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.,” Romans 6:23 NKJV
We cannot set ourselves free from sin and make ourselves acceptable to God by our efforts but only through faith in Jesus Christ.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV
Read this passage from the Bible how Peter was released from an actual prison, put your faith in Jesus to be released from your imprisonment of sin.
“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were [c]keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”” Acts 12:5-11 NKJV.
So if your chains can be removed and your prison gates opened are you going to take the chance of your freedom?
Credit 1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porridge_(1974_TV_series)
Author: Michael Fowler
August 2023
