The Christian Cop  Cops.  They are the custodians of public safety.  At least that’s the way society looks upon them for the most part.  That’s what the local government entrusts them with.  They 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.  What a great pressure that itself could be sometimes!  Peer pressure doesn’t help any either.  For those who would deny the temptations particular to this 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.  So, since it's harder to fight against the tide or "make waves" by resisting evil, we might as well either join them or at least keep a low profile as far as preaching about Jesus and standing up for righteousness is concerned. Well, that again is a, “copout” from our moral responsibility as human beings first to not harm but to 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.  Now, 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 who I have to work with side by side?  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? Should I join the fun and make foolish jokes and act callous when confronted with tragic situations?  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 even while witnessing almost all of the other folks go down, "Satan's Broadway" 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-man" mindset that they’ll beat the odds somehow and make it ok inspite of living in sin.  That is, 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 on the “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 involes 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 precint/district.      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. The honest police officer knows exactly what is being mentioned here.  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.”   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!” Isaiah 5:20    Conversation, Conduct and Company.  Watch your speech; the words you use should not displease the Lord but be fitting for a Christian. Even under pressure.  For you are a born-again soldier in God’s army first and foremost before you are anything else.  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.(1 Cor 15:33)   If you are forced to work with those who are immoral and unethical in their behavior and duties, 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. However, even if you are the only believer in your station or precint, you must stand in the power and might of the Lord. You have the privilege as well as the obligation to do so!  A Christian who is not undergoing persecution in one form or other from their environment for being godly, is probably playing with God and in a dangerous, backslidden state. If this is the case with you, then Repent! Get back to your First Love: Jesus Christ our Lord!  Otherwise, the Lord will say, “I never knew you” on that Great and Terrible Day of Judgment.  Following the World Trade Center tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001th, police officers especially here in New York City were suddenly elevated to hero status just by virtue of wearing a police uniform. There were, no doubt, true heroes who perished in the flames that day. However, our godless and self-worshipping soceity blindly gave this honor to all in uniform.   We must all ever remember that only God is the Hero and we all are zero without Him. Yes, even if one has those coveted stripes or medals or other insignia or the best firearms and latest tactical training and the greatest mental/physical ability, without the Lord, he/she is 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 godliness quite possible in our lives!  So we have to, “grow up and fit into our clothes." The undefiled garments of holiness which the Lord has given to us at our conversion; 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 criminals you arrest will witness your godliness in Christ Jesus by your speech and conduct. Yes, even if they do not verbalize it, you can be sure that they will know the difference between a Christian Cop and the unbelieving, proud cops.  For the Glory of God, be Blessed today as you Obey Him!  One more thing, just remember please …   In God’s sight right now as well as on the Day of Judgment, CPR (courtesy, professionalism and respect) won’t keep you safe from destruction and certainly won’t get you that promotion into Heaven. Even evil men and women can muster up some manners and act professional, but they will still go to Hell. No, the only way to get to Heaven is by being washed in the HOLY BLOOD of JESUS CHRIST and by living a life that reflects the three Heavenly C’s as mentioned above: Holy Conversation, Conduct and Company.