1 Timothy 1:9: Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers.
The law exists because there are bad people; and so there is a need for those who will uphold the law to keep our communities from falling into disorder and anarchy. Because we are living in an era of national debates, federal investigations, the internet, and 24 hour news cycles it is easy to forget that the most important battles for public safety are fought on local streets, by local officers.
They are the ones we call on when an abused child needs rescuing, when crash victims need extracting from a wrecked vehicle, when domestic violence occurs, when drug dealing needs to be stopped or when a horrific crime has been committed. Our local law enforcement acts as a barrier, on our behalf, so that we can go peacefully about our daily lives without encountering the evil that exists in every community.
Despite knowing that, we to often allow our local officers to be demeaned and defamed in truly undeserving ways.
The national media has done it’s best to point out the worst in law enforcement while neglecting the many positive stories between the police and the people they are tasked to protect. The murder of George Floyd in May of 2020 was in the headlines for months and sparked the Defund the Police Movement which painted all of law enforcement as evil and resulted in many department’s budgets being slashed. Thankfully, it did not take very long until sanity set in and we realized what a bad mistake it was to condemn all police officers because of the mistakes of a very few. Putting less officers on the street did not lower crime but did just the opposite and our communities quickly became less safe. Criticism of law enforcement has lessened in recent years but there is still way to much of it.
And despite all the false accusations and negative aspects of the job, including low pay, they continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe. Even when unappreciated, the “thin blue line” keeps our neighborhood from sliding into lawlessness.
God gave us a set of laws and specified penalties for those who broke those laws. But any law is essentially useless without a means of enforcement. The people of Bible times did not have a police force as we have today but they definitely had those who enforced God’s laws. The scriptures prove that people of law enforcement are ordained by God, beginning in Genesis through Revelation 20:1 where angelic police arrest Satan. The first cops were the cherubim of Eden who were placed there to prevent entry. God gave them an awesome weapon- flaming swords!
Scripture makes a point of praising law enforcement and so should we. The Bible’s references about watchmen (Ezekiel 33:6), armed guards (Nehemiah 4), and judges (Ezekilel 44:24 and the whole book of Judges) are examples of law enforcement.
Sadly, behind the uniform, many officers carry heavy burdens: exposure to trauma, internal scrutiny, undeserved criticism and the strain that all of this places on their families.
Faith communities that understand this reality can become a vital source of encouragement to our local officers. Simple acts like prayer, public support, and practical help for officers and their families, can remind men and women in uniform that they are seen and greatly valued. In an age where many are quick to criticize, Christians are uniquely positioned to step closer, offer understanding, and affirm that the work that they do is worthy and greatly appreciated.
The Good News Journal is dedicating this issue to honoring the local men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line everyday. Today we honor every officer who wears the badge with integrity and faith. You are seen. You are valued. You are part of God’s plan to keep the peace in a broken world.
The next time you see a police officer, take a minute and thank them for their service. Offer to pay for their meal if you are in a restaurant. But most importantly, pray for their safety and peace not only for them but also for their families.
They deserve it!