To Protect And Serve

When I was in high school, the late 60's, there was quite a conflict going on. The Vietnam war was at its peak. So were the anti-war protests. People were being shot and killed - most notably Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. It was a VERY turbulent time in our nation's history. It was also the very first time I ever heard the word PIG to describe a police officer.

While all this civil unrest was going on there were a few television shows that depicted the police in a POSITIVE light - Dragnet and Adam-12. They were pretty simple shows. Pretty cheesy too. Sometimes they were so . . . stiff . . . they were almost laughable. But each of the shows portrayed our police in a positive light, something that is hard to find on our televisions today.

On the side of the Adam-12 police cars they had a logo for their police department and a slogan as well - "To Protect and To Serve." Where has our respect gone for these men and women who risk their lives to keep us safe?

There have been some bad cops that have tarnished the image of the police in general, but no more so than any other job in society. There will always be bad apples no matter where you look. And the police are the last thing we want to see in our rear view mirrors, but that's only because we've been caught doing something illegal and we don't want to have to pay a fine or get stopped during our busy day.

I think society's problem in NOT a police problem. Our problem is a SIN problem. We like to be able to do what we want, when we want and to whom we want and we don't like anyone telling us otherwise. We also have a "self" problem.

Yet, when trouble comes our way, we are the first ones to call the police. They can't show up soon enough when we're in a fix. "Boy, am I glad to see you guys!"

Because we humans have a sin problem, police only try to keep us in line . . . and we pay them to do so. But the police can't fix what's wrong with us. Only God can do that.

So, what's the cure? Jesus. If we all acted like Jesus there would be no need for police or guns or protection. There would be peace and understanding throughout the world. But we are a stiff-necked people and we don't want to submit to ANYONE'S authority. And that's why things will only get worse until we fall to our knees. We haven't seen ANYTHING yet compared to what is to come.

Yesterday, another police officer was killed in our country - eight cops killed in the past nine days. There is trouble brewing. One can almost smell it. We need to begin praying. Now! We need to repent, we need to seek God. Only then will He heal this land. Until then we are on our own.

"14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

"45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 10:45

Adam-12 Intro

What It Means To Be A Police Officer - Joe Friday

This is The Gospel by which we are saved:

"15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve." - 1 Corinthians 15:1-5