I was just reading a post on the Take Up The Shield blog about being ‘just a cop.’ Now, I know I am in the job I’m in because that’s were God wanted me. It fits His plan for this time in my life. Who’s to say when it will be time to go, or if it will ever be time to go. But, for now, I am where He wants me. As a born again child of God, I’ve read scriptures in the Bible that can encourage an officer. But Chaplain Tony mentions a couple I hadn’t seen before and uses scripture to answer the question of “Why?”
One such scripture Chaplain Tony introduced me to is Romans 13:3-5. Here it is in the Amplified version:
3)For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation.
4)For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant to execute His wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer.
5)Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter of principle and for the sake of conscience.
To me, that speaks volumes. I wish people would teach their kids that passage. I drives me up the wall when parents teach their kids to be afraid of the police.
Here’s an excerpt of the article that explains better than I of why I love my job:
A man by the name of Asaph, an eminent musician in the court of King David, cried out to God with these words. “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:3-4).
As God’s instruments to bring law and order to a fallible society, we, as peace officers, can serve as the answer to Asaph’s ancient prayer in the lives of the people we contact every day. Just remember; as peace officers we serve as the front line of defense for the weak and the fatherless—providing the people of our communities with a level of protection they often cannot provide for themselves. Just remember, as we enforce the laws of our county and state we maintain the rights of the poor and those who may find themselves oppressed by others. Just remember, on any given day we may be called upon to rescue the weak and the needy from the acts of society’s criminal element, or from circumstances of their own creation. And just remember, we’ve sworn an oath to deliver the innocent from the hands of the wicked.
Now, in all reality, I spend most of my time dealing with idiots. But a few times a week I get a chance to make a difference in someone’s life. I get a chance to help someone in a way that they’ll never forget. I get to rescue someone from a situation where they’re being taken advantage of. Sometimes, I even get to help save lives. Do I mention this to brag or to pat myself on the shoulder? No. I mention this because this is why I go to work. I don’t do it because I enjoy having .357 mag revolvers pulled on me. I don’t do it just because it’s a paycheck (because it’s not much of one, anyway). I do it because I want to help people. I want to make a difference.
