Cops. We are the custodians of public safety. At least that’s the way society looks upon
us for the most part. That’s
what the local government entrusts us with.
We are supposed to be alert to any potential disturbance of the
peace, remain calm under great pressure and use professionalism and
courage in responding to conflict and crime.
For
those who would deny the temptations particular to our profession, there is
only one logical conclusion. They
are either not trying at all to live up to their duties or are living in a
fantasy land, where there are no moral absolutes.
(But is there an answer?)
One might say, that there are no morals anymore.
Evil and wrong seem to be the dominant force in today’s world. Anything goes. Well, that again is a, “copout” from our moral responsibility as
human beings first to not harm but help our neighbor. Even more so especially as enforcers of “law and order.”
(But what’s the solution?) Not what, but WHO?
Jesus Christ, God the Son.
Well
then what about the cop who knows there is a God. The Christian Cop who knows that the Lord Jesus Christ died at Calvary
to redeem fallen people like ourselves all over the world from a life of misery
and eternal damnation?
What impact does Jesus have on my professional
career? What do I do when I’m around,
“the boys” (and “girls” in uniform for that matter)?
Do
I get numb after a while from seeing the murders and suicides and so on. Can I use that as an excuse for behaving like
the wicked world? Like unsaved fellow
officers?
The
Christian is still in a fight, that’s for sure. He has to keep his guard up or he will fall. But the Lord says, we have to holy inspite
of an ungodly atmosphere. That’s His
demand upon our life and our great privilege.
To truly follow Him, by keeping those commandments we know we should
keep. He gives us great encouragement
and power for living the, “straight and narrow” kind of life in the broad
way of hypocrisy and drunkenness that characterize those who are trusting
in themselves. The Bible calls them
fools, as you know. Why? Because they cannot keep themselves alive even for
a millisecond much less save themselves from God’s wrath and Hell and yet
they have a macho mindset that they’ll beat the odds somehow and make it ok
inspite of living in sin. Inspite
of, rejecting the Almighty God of the Universe.
A
police officer faces lies and shameful stories and ungodly speech and arrogance
not only on the streets everyday but also “inside” among the ranks as well.
Lots and lots of hypocrisy and backstabbing and stepping on shoes to
get ahead. Just like in the corporate world.
Only here, it’s the very people who are supposed to uphold the moral
law for all. Some of them are doing the very things (and sometimes worse)
that they lock others up for.
What is the Christian Cop to do under
such assault from the Devil’s people?
How
can this cop who claims to have met the Living Lord cope? Not just cope, but be actually victorious over
evil?
Well,
he has got to depend upon and seek the Lord.
And that means to have a habit of praying always.
Pray that God would give him/her the grace to go through the
day without presumptuous sin especially. What’s presumptuous sin? It
is willful sin.
May
God have mercy upon us. Every thing
we do for Him, including policing the neighborhood or the government buildings
and territories, the hospitals, the violent school districts, the Metro system
etc., will be rewarded one Day. Do
we realize that?
It’s
not just to make that salary and get through that day all beat up. Sure we can have days where we get an extra
serving of Satanic opposition, but it’s all in the knowledge of our Father
in Heaven Who gives us the opportunity to be victorious inspite of that.
The
tough cop, hero image, the TV and movies’ product are all aimed at boosting
that ego; the self. A true hero sacrifices
yes, but for right reasons. You see, the Christian Cop wants to truly give
Jesus the Glory for any acts of heroism that he is able to accomplish.
Not just say, “I was just doing my job” as we hear so many times.
If
we focus on Christ and His Honor in all we speak and think and do, then we
will be a light in that dark district. In
that dark precinct for that matter.
Isn’t
it ironic that the place that is supposed to deter and punish crime so very
often becomes a safe haven for, “uniformed criminals” within?
How can you be that
light, dear Christian Police Officer?
*** The Bible says
that law enforcement personnel should not oppress civilians and take advantage
of them. This includes not only false
arrests and so forth, but also slander and mockery of the ordinary citizens
and foreigners too. Those who don’t
really have a voice; those who can’t retaliate when a cop treats them unjustly.
You know what I mean.
Luke
3:14, “And
the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he
said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither
accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” {Do violence…:
or, Put no man in fear} {wages: or, allowance}
At
the same time, we must not wink at sin; that is, not pretend that there is
no evil going on. Rather, we must
be bold and call sin, sin! Whether it concerns civilians or co-workers (superiors
included).
“Woe
unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light,
and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”{call…:
Heb. say concerning evil, It is good, etc} Isaiah 5:20
Conversation, Conduct and
Company.
Watch your conduct.
Restrain yourself from foolish outburst of anger and arrogance. Be noble. Know that God’s eyes are on you
all the while you are on your beat (as well as off duty, of course). Be humble. Meekness is not weakness in the
eyes of the Lord but rather praiseworthy before His Presence. You are to conduct yourselves in a manner
worthy of His Great Name and not to please others who are lost in the filth and
folly of this world.
Watch the company you keep. If there are lewd jokes, if there is deceit
and fraud occurring to your knowledge among your co-workers, then separate
yourself from them. The Bible says that
we should not be deceived; evil company corrupts good morals. If you are forced to work with the one(s)
who are immoral in their behavior and unethical in the way they work, then you
must not participate in the same. As
the Holy Spirit leads you must have the courage and concern to object to that
unrighteousness. Pray in faith and ask
the Lord to lead you to fellowship with other believers who are serious
about following the Lord all the way.
A Christian who is not undergoing persecution in some
form from their environment for being godly, are probably playing with God and
their so-called Christianity. The Lord
will say, “I never knew you” on that Great and Terrible Day of Judgment.
Following Sept. 11th, Police officers
especially here in New York City were suddenly elevated to hero status just by
virtue of wearing the uniform it seems.
God is the hero. We are zero. Even if we have those coveted stripes or
medals or other insignia or the best firearms and latest tactical training and
the greatest mental/physical ability.
We are still zero. Without
saving faith in Jesus, we would all be going straight to Hell.
Christian Cop, are you a living testimony that your fellow
officers can see? A testimony of
righteousness and holy sobriety? A testimony of kindness and humility?
You may be thinking, well that’s a pretty
tall order! Well, God has given us the
Holy Spirit to make all that godly statement possible in our lives! So we have to, “grow up and fit into our
clothes”; our, “uniform” of righteousness as it were!
Are you a witness of the Lord? Do you look for and avail yourself of the
opportunities to, “rescue” souls from falling under God’s final wrath against
evil and evil doers and to help those willing to listen from going to Hell?
Pray before you start on your way to work. Pray during roll
call. Pray
during your tour. Pray during meals. Pray at sign off time. Thank God on the way home. Pray all the time for grace and wisdom and thank God for
everything as the Scriptures say and you can’t go wrong. God never let anyone down who asked Him in
faith.
If you live holy, you’ll be that light
in the darkness indeed and even the people you
arrest will know the difference between a Christian Cop and the rest. For the Glory of God, be Blessed today as
you Obey Him!
One more thing, just remember please …
In God’s sight right now and on Judgment Day, CPR (courtesy, professionalism
and respect won’t keep you safe from
destruction and certainly won’t get you that promotion into Heaven (cause even
evil men and women can muster up some manners and pride), but only being washed in the HOLY BLOOD of JESUS CHRIST and
obeying the three C’s (CCC holy
conversation, conduct and company) will.
(Please go back up a little bit and re-read
the definitions for those three C’s if you will and live out a life of Power
and Love for Jesus, especially on the job! May God Bless you dear reader.)