Two
New York City cops, Wenjian Liu (38) and Rafael Ramos (40), were murdered
Saturday afternoon sitting in their marked car in New York, next to a
high-rise, low cost housing structure - where they were attempting, by virtue
of their visibility, to protect the residents.
That
very visibility led to their deaths as a gunman, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, walked up
to the passenger side of the car, fired, and killed them both before running
down into a subway entrance and shooting himself on the platform.
This
reminds me of what the Bible says about governmental / state authorities in
Romans 13. Read and reflect on the words
below:
Let every person be subject to the
governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist
have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what
God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers
are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one
who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant
for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword
in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who
carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore
one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of
conscience. (vv. 1-5).
While this may not sound
popular, it needs to be said: “Rebellion
against civil authority is also rebellion against God. Such rebellion God views
as the ‘sin of witchcraft’” (see 1 Sam. 15:23).
Verse 4 of Romans 13,
calls those who are in positions of authority such as police officers, “God’s
servants for your good.” What is the
duty of a “civil servant of God,” as described by God? “He is an avenger who carries out God’s wrath
on the wrongdoer” (v. 4). Therefore, if
you want to avoid God’s wrath, be in subjection (not rebellion) to civil
authorities, such as those who are called police officers.
It
is neither easy nor glamorous being a police officer. I’m sure some choose to be one because of
their affinity toward power and authority. Others and I believe -- a great
majority choose to be police officers in order to help people and make a
positive difference in the world. Police officers can tell you the good, bad
and ugly side of their line of work. A
vast majority I’m sure are bad and ugly, but the little good that they often get
to do for others makes them want to put on their uniform, step out of their
homes and try again.
According
to the FBI's webpage, there are currently 34,822 New York City active police
officers. In addition there are 14,704 civilian employees to protect the 8.4
million residents of the five boroughs.
According
to another webpage, 112 police officers across the nation have died in the line
of duty in 2014. Of those, 45 deaths were by gunfire, the biggest single reason
by far.
It’s
easy to blame Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson, the major of NY, president Obama and
a host of others. I’m sure each one carries a measure of accountability as
leaders who could have done more. God
knows.
The president
had just begun his Winter holiday in Hawaii this past weekend, when the White
House issued a statement on his behalf Saturday night:
"I
unconditionally condemn today's murder of two police officers in New York City.
Two brave men won't be going home to their loved ones tonight, and for that,
there is no justification. The officers who serve and protect our communities
risk their own safety for ours every single day - and they deserve our respect
and gratitude every single day.
"Tonight,
I ask people to reject violence and words that harm, and turn to words that
heal - prayer, patient dialogue, and sympathy for the friends and family of the
fallen."
Days
before Christmas, hearing of such needless tragedies makes the times we’re
living in difficult to comprehend. But
we need to support the families of these two fallen MOGs (Ministers of God)
with our prayers. Like any soldier in the military who longs to go home safe
and sound, he or she is also well aware of the risk. Each one who joins the police force does so
voluntarily. No one is drafted to serve. They wear their uniforms with pride,
dignity and respect for the authority given to them. They know and understand the risks of being a
MOG and so also do their families.
It’s
from these kinds of tragedies that those within the police force who have heart
and soul will rise up, accept the greater challenge that lies before them and
serve the people they have sworn to protect as overcomers.
After
all, we should expect nothing less from those whom the Bible calls, “MOG.”
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