Adopt-A-Cop South Africa

by Fanie Van Vuuren Internet Network Marketer

Without vision people perish. We should pray for our police members every day. First for their salvation, and secondly for protection.

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THE CHRISTIAN POLICE

IS CHRISTIANITY COMPATIBLE WITH POLICE SERVICE?

Police work complements Christianity since both works against evil. What two things are more compatible than those that share a common goal? The question should not be, Are Christianity and police work compatible? But rather, Why should Christianity and police work not be compatible? The question should not be whether it is possible for a professional police officer to be a genuine, committed Christian, but rather, whether it is possible for one to be a professional police officer without being a genuine Christian.

Romans 13:1-4 Living Bible

Obey the government, for God is the one who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. For the policeman does not frighten people who are doing right, but those doing evil will always fear him. So if you dont want to be afraid, keep the laws and you will get along well. The policeman is sent by God to help you, but if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for he will have you punished. He is sent by God for that very purpose. Obey the laws then for two reasons: first to keep from being punished, and second, just because you know you should.

Is it realistic to talk about Justice and the police in the same sentence? I believe it is. Remembering that Jesus Himself when he was about to be executed asked His Father to forgive those who were carrying out the sentence. This did not mean that what they were doing right or even just. He has after all been convicted by an illegal trail. But it does challenge us as Christians to bring unique level of forgiveness to the injustice that so often befall us. Once there is forgiveness and repentance, then healing can begin and a way forward out of the darkness can be found.

How can we expect justice from the police, if we are not providing justice for the police? As long as the police are poorly paid and housed, and find it impossible to even supply any sort of reasonable livelihood for their families, we are in for problems of low morale and corruption. Police have exceptional and unique powers. We can invade peoples privacy and property, we can restrict or remove their freedom, and in the normal course of our duties we can indeed cause injury or even death. If these unique powers are coupled with men and women who cannot even provide for their families, then we should not be surprised if serious problems arise. This is further complicated, when these same police officers see some of our leaders making millions through corruption, and never being prosecuted. Now having said all that, what can we Christians do to try to see that there is more justice for the police as well as from the police?

*Pray for the police regularly (pray for them who despitefully use you Matthew 5:44, KJV if that is how you see us)

*Go out to us in friendship and forgiveness.

Adopt a cop by going down to your local police department and finding one or more police officers that you will then meet with and pledge to pray for them and their families daily.

*Assist us with information that would enhance our work when you can.

*Commend good cops. A letter to the local police commander is a great encouragement to the officer involved.

*Report corrupt cops, and do not bribe.

*Realize that a policemans job is difficult, dangerous and often depressing, and use the influence and contacts you have to lobby for better terms. A letter to your member of parliament might be a good place to start.

BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY

Christianity calls us to beyond law enforcement. It calls us to be a major player and catalyst of change for God in our work place. We are called not only to save lives from physical danger, but also from eternal condemnation, not only to arrest a criminal and put him in jail, but also to share the love of Christ with him, that he may know the truth that sets men free from the bondage of sin. We are called not only to carry out investigations professionally to win a case, but also to ensure that justice is done and that the guilty face the full force of the law for their evil, and the innocent do not suffer unjustly.

WRITTEN BY: KABINGE WA MUTURI: THE EXCECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PAN AFRICA CHRISTIAN POLICE ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE (PACPAC) AND A CHAPLAIN IN THE KENYA POLICE