Having been born in the Soviet Union, a nation deeply atheistic and anti-Christian in its very core, all believers were the laughing stock of society. I was blessed with a grandpa who was a pastor and served years in Soviet camps for his faith in Jesus. Christians were not allowed to get an education, hold high-positions in community, gather, nor teach their Children about faith. If any of these rules were broken, it was the responsibility of the police and civic leaders to order those families to pay fines, and to send thousands upon thousands to Soviet camps to rotten & die.
Not only did Christians fear government, they saw it as anti-Christian.
Such experience and past has deeply influenced how we, former Soviets, view government, its role, and our role in it as Christians:
- the government cannot be trusted
- it should stay as small as possible
- Christians should play no role in it
The theological framework has also been influenced by our past, which impacted Slavics to deeply believe Christians cannot serve as police officers, in the military, or in the political arena. And though there are hundreds of thousands of Christian immigrants from Soviet countries spread out throughout the United States, most young people develop careers either in construction field for guys, or medical field for girls. You can probably count the number of police officers with a Slavic, Christian background on two hands, if that. And those that chose that field were deeply ridiculed and looked down upon by their sub-culture, family & relatives.
One of the most common requests I get from young men is to write a blog on whether or not they can become police officers, not because they are themselves struggling with what to believe, but because they long for others to accept their decision, and not castrate them.
Here is my position: I strongly believe Christians CAN serve as police officers. Ill even go further to say that I believe ALL police officers should be Christian.
The reality is, evil does exist in this world. There are people who, because of sin, are corrupt in their brain, sick in their beliefs, beastly in their motives, and would do harm to as many people as possible for personal gain, without any regret. As a society, we must do what we can to stop them. Instead of letting everyone stand for themselves, our societies have been blessed with people willing to be first responders, on the front lines against such evil, whenever called upon. Such people are trained, equipped, and go out daily, knowing they risk their lives. They are called police officers.
If there is anyone that should be risking his or her life daily to face evil in the face, shouldn’t it be someone who is saved, made righteous with Christ and ready to face eternity?
If someone does not believe in Christians serving as a police officer, they should forever give up their right to call a police officer when an armed thief comes to their door. For if you call for an unsaved police officer to come to your help and he or she is shot by that thief, that police officer will face eternity in hell and damnation. Police officers face such danger or potential for such circumstances on a daily basis; that is why Id ask each Police officer to be Christian.
Also, the type of work police officers are asked to be involved in requires deep moral beliefs, character and integrity. They daily come across drugs, stolen goods, and have the potential to misuse their power and access for personal gain. If they are truly a Christian, there would be no corruption, favoritism, partiality, for they are guided by a belief “love your neighbor as yourself.” Isn’t that our desire and intent, for those serving as police officers? How can we expect that from them and trust them, if they are not guided by a moral law-giver, an inner conviction, God?
3 Most Common Objections to Christians serving as Police Officers:
1. WWJD?
One of the most common objections to Christians serving as police officers is the statement, “Can you picture Christ wearing an police uniform and carrying an M-16?” True, that is hard to picture. But, at the same time, I cannot picture Jesus wearing a hard-hat or a football helmet. Does that make it a sin to be coal miner or a football player?
2. The Commandment, “Thou Shall Not Murder”
True. The Bible does teach that we must not murder. I believe that, and confess that. We must not murder.
Soon after God gave Moses that commandment, Moses went back down to the people and found them worshipping an idol. And right then, Moses commands the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’” 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. 29 Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”
So did God ask Moses to PAUSE on the commandment “Do Not Murder” by asking Levites to kill their brothers and sisters? Not only that, Moses calls these killers as people “set apart for the Lord,” because they obeyed and killed!
Clearly, there is a distinction between personal revenge, and God’s wrath being poured out on evil through men and women whom He has set apart.
3. “For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”
Another common phrase thrown around at people wanting to serve as police officers is Jesus’ phrase in Matthew 26:52, “For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”
Scripture cannot be taken out of context. Jesus also said, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.” (Luke 22:36)
If scriptures can be taken out of context, then Jesus is advocating all of his disciples to sell their cloaks and buy a sword (Luke 22:36), so that they can then perish by the sword (Matthew 26:52).
Nonsense. The scripture in Matthew 26:52 does not promote a full, anti-all-swords-guns stance. If He was so anti-swords, He would have told the soldiers to “throw your swords away,” instead, he says, “put your swords back.”
Police officers carry a gun not with the intent to kill, but with the intent to save. There is a big difference.
BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR CHRISTIANS SERVING AS POLICE OFFICERS 
All Old Testament support for Christians will be disregarded, therefore, I will only list some of the New Testament support:
Romans 12:19 and Romans 13:4
Clearly, the Bible teaches us, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”” (Romans 12:19) And when God pours out His vengeance, He can use natural causes, but also people. Paul writes about soldiers as, “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.” (Romans 13:4)
Christians have no right to seek personal vengeance (Rom. 12:19). God has said all vengeance belongs to Him (Rom. 12:19). However, God has delegated “vengeance” to the civil government (Rom. 13:4).
1 Peter 2:14
God commands the government to punish evildoers (1 Pet. 2:14). If it is a sin for a Christian to be a police officer, then all police officers are doomed to hell.
John the Baptist
The tax collectors came to be baptized by John and asked what they had to do. John did not instruct these servants of Caesar to leave their jobs, but to be honest in their collections.
Soldiers also inquired to see if they had to meet any special requirements before they could be baptized. John said, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14). What a perfect time for John to tell these soldiers to leave the army; instead, he tells them to be honest and not grumble about their wages. If it is a sin for one to be a soldier, John sure missed the opportunity to tell them!
Caesar’s Household (Phil 4:22)
All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. Who were these people? It is important to understand this phrase rightly. It does not mean those who are of Caesar’s kith and kin. Caesar’s household was the regular phrase for what we would call the Imperial Civil Service. Paul and all of God’s people greeted them!
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13. Police officers do that on a daily basis.
Cornelius, a centurion
The first Gentile to believe the gospel was a Roman soldier named Cornelius, “a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always” (Acts 10:1,2). Peter was sent to this man to tell him the “words” he needed to hear in order to be saved (Acts 10:6, 22; 11:14).
Three things to note here:
- The Bible calls this man devout and God-fearing, even though he was a centurion
- God heard the prayers of a centurion
- In further instructions to the Centurion, Peter does not tell him to leave his career.
The Philippian Jailer
One of the first men in Europe to obey the gospel was the Philippian jailer (Acts 16). Though he served the Roman government and carried a sword, Paul did not have him leave his occupation. The jailer was still on the job after his conversion (Acts 16:35–36)
CONCLUSION
* Not everyone is called to be a Police officer. Not everyone who feels “called” to be a Police Officer should become one, because of lack of sound judgment, character, & integrity. But, don’t hate on those who are called, and serve in that field. Support them!
* It is dangerous field to be in. Daily, they meet face to face with evil and with persons who don’t care for other’s safety. And yes, Police Officers do get to carry a gun, and they should be very careful with it. But, truck drivers should be just as careful and attentive when they drive, for they can and do kill people with their inattentive driving. Cooks should be careful how they use their knives, for they can cut someone. And people who set up scaffolding for siding should be careful how they set that up, for that can collapse and people can die too.
* Pray for those serving in the uniform. We have made it a habit in our home with our children, to pray daily for policemen, firemen, and other people serving us!
* No, I don’t support everything that every Police officer has ever done. As a matter of fact, that last ticket that I got was completely bogus… You get my point. I am a pacifist towards wars, but, that does not mean I do not support those who risk their lives protecting us.
PS. Now, if only I can figure out a way to get every police officer to read this blog, get to know me, and then forgive me, if I ever get pulled over. Maybe I should just have a few copies in my car, and hand it to them, when they ask for my ID and insurance identification?
Backstage Conversations 
Beautifully written article Russell! You do have this in Russian/Ukrainian translation right?
Roman, I don’t. I wish I did. I need someone to translate it; Ill post it.
Do you still need this translated? I can do it for you.
Yes, would appreciate it if you could.
This is so funny, I’m born again, believing in Jesus Christ, and I’m graduating from my state’s police academy in 2 weeks and i was curious to say the least about this topic. I’m also from Ukraine! But I completely agree. I remember all the New Testament Christians such as Cornelius who were soldiers and Born Again believers. Great Blog.
God Bless
Maranatha
Thank you for this. My husband is a police officer and we’ve both heard our great share of criticism from the Soviet community. This was very refreshing to read.
Sorry, meant Slavic community, not soviet ;p
Thank him for his service!
Отлично сказано, если будет перевод на русский язык, обязательно поделюсь этим текстом на Русском Радио 7.
Eugene, как только кто то переведет, я передам вам русский текст.
One thing that someone who’d like to be PO should think about. Police are called “law inforcement”. What if politicians put immoral law in the books, like homosexual or so. You as a PO will have violate your moral and Christian principals and enforce it
homosexuality is a horrible example bc there will never be a law that tells people to be homosexual.
What I meant was, the PO has no say in which law he/she enforces and which he doesn’t. If the law that’s in the books violates God’s and Christian principals the PO has to enforce it. For example if preaching that homosexuality is a sin will be considered a hate crime, PO will have to come and arrest that pastor. Can you imagine church member who decided to be PO is going to arrest his own pastor? For preaching the Bible? I’m not against cops and I’m not saying Christians shouldn’t be cops. It’s up to individual decision. All I’m saying that either PO or military. By involving yourself there, you are going to be a puppet and someone like politicians in case of PO or president in case of military will dictate you to do what you might not want to do. And if you do, you’ll violate ur principals or conscience, if you don’t do what you’re told you’ll face court Marshall
Good concern to bring up, Sergey.
Historically in the Church, and biblically, there has been an understanding of the right and duty of the lesser magistrate (like police officers) to obey and enforce godly laws, and refuse to obey ungodly laws.
The fact that a police officer may have to disobey man’s law in order to obey God’s law does not mean Christians should never be police officers, anymore than the fact that I may have to disobey my government at some point in the future does not mean I should give up my American citizenship right now.
Here’s an interview with a pastor on the topic of the Lesser Magistrate doctrine that you may be interested in hearing:
http://www.gospelapplied.com/2013/06/24/the-christian-doctrine-of-the-lesser-magistrate/
Luke, thank you for that statement. That is certainly one of the biggest arguments as well, against Christians serving as a police officer, and I didnt cover that. Your comment here definitely needed in this conversation.
Sergey, it’s enforcement my brother, and I am one, and no. Unlike the bible which is the literal truth and word of God; in law enforcement it’s not that neat. Well at least not for a cop on the street, law makers maybe. Law makers right the letter of the law, specific words arranged in an archaic fashion that even they wouldn’t understand our be able to apply to life. I as a Christian enforce the spirit of the law. For example theft, if your in the store and have a young child that picks up a toy and WalKS out with it, that is theft by the LETTER of the law, meaning exactly what’s written. However, that’s not what our how it should be enforced, the spirit of the law is that if anyone takes the property of another with malicious intent and deprives the owner of said property; that is theft. But to answer your question about immoral laws. I answer to the almighty above all else, not lesser authority, ones a career and the other eternity. Plus there are already sine traffic laws I dont agree with, and therefore don’t write citations for. A lovely little thing called Officer’s discretion. Hope that helped.
I wonder if this article will turn the hearts of the children to their parents or turn them away, divide families or bring them closer to each other and God?
Hi Natasha,
I’m wondering if you would say the article was wrong if you heard there was division in a family after someone read it?
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.” – Matthew 10:34-35
It seems our test for the article should be: IS this article true and biblical, and then leave the results up to God, no?
Perfectly said!
Natasha, I have already had two families contact me after this blog, where this blog DID help turn the hearts of children to their parents, and the hearts of parents to their children, and in doing so, brought them both closer to God. Great questions. I hope you accept my answer.
Russell,
Why is it that not one disciple became a police officer after Jesus died?
Yet they remained disciples of Jesus Christ with weapons that are so different from this world
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments
2 Cor 10:4
Why did not one disciple become a nurse? Or an engineer? Does that mean all nurses and engineers quit?
But if you read the 2nd half of the blog, you’d find evidence that Godly men, though they weren’t of the 12 disciples, served as police. Just like we see Luke serving as a doctor, biblical evidence for careers in medical field.
God CAN stop all evil Himself, He uses man to accomplish some of it. Similarly, God can cause all sickness to go away, and if you truly don’t believe in men’s intervention, why go to the doctors? But, biblically we see evidence of Gods use and affirmation of doctors.
Excellent work, Russ!may God bless you and your family!
Russell
Doctors don’t kill people , police officers often forced to … Nowhere in the Bible we will find that we destroy or stop evil with GUNS.
Actually nurses and doctors are forced to kill (babies for those who want abortions) and stand to loose their jobs if they do not comply. They simply have to take their rights to the courts in those situations. Do you now tell me that I cannot be a nurse? How about the vaccines? Have you received any? Did you know about half of them contains aborted baby parts? If a police officer is forced to use a gun to protect the population he a doing a good thing. Are you saying if you had a gun and if someone came in to your home to shoot your family that you would not shoot the intruder in self defense? God allowed wars and to go fight counties and you are against using a gun?
Thank you!
Amen…Amen, amen, amen. Jesus asked his disciples if they had a sword, they replied “We got two!” He said, “Good.” When Peter cut off the ear of the servant, Jesus told him to PUT THE SWORD BACK not to give it to a soldier or throw it away. If it were today, Jesus would ask “You have a pistol” “Two .45s right here” “Good”.
A Christian serving as a cop has the opportunity to serve as a Peace Officer (changing a tire, saving a life, protecting the peace, protecting others’ rights). Such an officer will have an opportunity to stand up to official oppression and corruption. His weapon will be ready, but he knows that safety is of the Lord.
You assume the sword was to defend themselves against people. I disagree because Jesus said not to resist the evil person. If someone forces you to give up your property, Jesus said, give it to them. I believe the swords were to defend themselves against wild dangerous animals. That would be more in line with Jesus teachings.
Regarding Jesus being an example for us to be pacifists: It’s erroneous to say that He is our example in all things – in many things yes, but just as He didn’t carry a sword he didn’t have a house (and what big houses Christians have today! ;). Many say Christ’s death was “an example of obedience” and “an example for us”…no way, Jose! He died to make a payment for sin, sins, and sinners. It was not “an example” it was an payment that covered my rotten soul. Are you gonna follow that example? Why not? Go ahead! He set the example didn’t He?
Furthermore, Jesus toppled some tables and whipped some folks (with a weapon He fashioned with His own blessed hands) on two separate occasions. He also “raised his voice” and used a “unfriendly tone” when you lambasted the Pharisees (He used language that today would get Him the label “unspiritual” in many a Baptist Church).
Thanks for the blog post…truth excites me…sorry for the long-winded-ness.
You should read Revelations… The government will soon persecute Christians and they will be using the police/military to do that.
Amen
And guess what? I won’t be here! Up, up into the sky to meet my Lord before any of that gets underway. But also, in the end times, don’t forget, much persecution will come from within religious organizations. Babylon is a governmental/state animal that will satisfy every religion’s needs…including the “christians”
This article is as dump as this world. The author call himself Christian, but he is far away from Jesus and doest even know what real Christian can do. He needs to seek God if he wants to have life with God. Can’t person serve two world. It has to be God or devil. Be solder of God army or solder of devil. This world belongs to devil. We live here with one goal to go thru all of these and follow Jesus to be with him forever. … Jesus is the only way to get protected from devil. But many people think they can fight devil by being PO or solders … Good luck with that… You will be destroyed the same way as the king of this world. No one can be a solder if devil and have life with Jesus in heaven. Everyone has a choice. Follow Jesus people!
Hmm… if that were true, then why didn’t John the Baptist tell the soldiers: “No one can be a soldier of devil and have life with Jesus in heaven”?
Instead he says in Luke 3:14:
Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
When you read the Bible as a book , you can find anything there. And I mean EVERYTHING. You can cut half of the verse, you can combine one half to another… just to get what you want… But when you read the Bible as a word of God, you will see the real God and his direction for us ! If the weapon would be the proper way for Christian, there wouldn’t be any reason for Jesus to die. Jesus could ask his people to protect him. They had weapon. … But Jesus didn’t do it. He didn’t use this opportunity cause he showed us even that’s not the way. … I just can’t imagine when Jesus comes another time all in his glory to get his followers , and all PO and soldiers will come with guns pointed to Him to stop from it. Same what happened when he was here on his mission. Religion took over God principals then… Same happening now. Religion is taking over now. And when people become religions, they can do everything. Be PO, soldiers, do whatever this world does and they don’t see how far are they from Jesus. So sad, but it’s reality.
Thank you Tamara for your concern about my relationship with Jesus. Ill check my heart.
It’s disgusting when “Christians” jump to the point of saying someone is not even a Christian and doesn’t know how a Christian lives just because they disagree with something.All backing it up with OPINIONS. Tamara- you are the “Christian” who probably surrounds yourself with people just like your self bc you don’t want to open your mind. This kind of stuff makes me so angry. This is the reason that the world hates Christians bc this is how people talk to them. If you are reading on a Christian blog you need to realize that this guy is your brother in Christ and you need to treat him well. You should start your own blog based on your close minded opinions and see how many people are challenged to understand the word of God better through the statements you throw at them.
1Увидев народ, Он взошел на гору; и, когда сел, приступили к Нему ученики Его. 2И Он, отверзши уста Свои, учил их, говоря:
3Блаженны нищие духом, ибо их есть Царство Небесное.
4Блаженны плачущие, ибо они утешатся.
5Блаженны кроткие, ибо они наследуют землю.
6Блаженны алчущие и жаждущие правды, ибо они насытятся.
7Блаженны милостивые, ибо они помилованы будут.
8Блаженны чистые сердцем, ибо они Бога узрят.
9Блаженны миротворцы, ибо они будут наречены сынами Божиими.
10Блаженны изгнанные за правду, ибо их есть Царство Небесное.
11Блаженны вы, когда будут поносить вас и гнать и всячески неправедно злословить за Меня. 12Радуйтесь и веселитесь, ибо велика ваша награда на небесах: так гнали [и] пророков, бывших прежде вас.
13Вы–соль земли. Если же соль потеряет силу, то чем сделаешь ее соленою? Она уже ни к чему негодна, как разве выбросить ее вон на попрание людям.
14Вы–свет мира. Не может укрыться город, стоящий на верху горы. 15И, зажегши свечу, не ставят ее под сосудом, но на подсвечнике, и светит всем в доме. 16Так да светит свет ваш пред людьми, чтобы они видели ваши добрые дела и прославляли Отца вашего Небесного.
Good jod Russel.
Great article! God Bless you and your family.
Such an amazing article! I think that so many times we as Christians think that what God has taught us or shown us once upon a time when we just became believers is the way that we must walk forever. But we forget that He doesn’t give meat to us as beginners, as babies, He gives us milk because that is all we can handle. But if and when we strive to become closer to Him He gives us more “grown up” food, helps us understand things in a different way and opens our eyes to more. That is the issue with some Christians they are living with what they were taught or used to know, off of the milk, and not expanding their minds and letting Jesus show them more, feed them meat. Russel I completely agree with you about police needing to be Christians and same with people in any profession. That is the point for us as Christians, to minister to the world. Not sit in our little boxes with our bottles of milk and wait for everything to fall apart and Jesus to come. We are called to witness and minister and what better way to do that then to infiltrate the system, if i may say that. Go in to those jobs that barely have Christians and pray that you as a follower of Jesus will show light to people and will do your job in the best and most Christ like way possible!
God Bless you! i find so much inspiration from your blog and what God puts on your heart to put on your blog!
How about the fact that this position (maybe not often) but it does involve killing Gods creation which is why they ALL carry a weapon and if they feel or see that their life is in danger they will kill to protect themselves. Who are we (dust) to take a life of Gods creation created in His own image?
Russell, I am 25 and was 8 when we came to this wonderful country, personally I think you did a great job on the article, very well put in plain text and you made many young people happy, they just cant wait to print this off in every possible language just to prove to their parents basically “I told you!!!”. Although I disagree with the main point teaching which implies that a Christian can and should be in law enforcement. You being a Pastor should probably instead encourage young people to stay away as far as possible from such job opportunities especially the in times we live in now and the laws that are being passed as we speak, because many of these young people who are not yet well rooted in the gospel and did not have that personal relationship with the Lord yet, many of them may not have the courage to stand strong and faithful to the teaching of the Bible to withstand the test and leave the job when it goes completely against what the word of God is teaching. Their excuse may be we have a family to feed and we need to survive, I’m sure many of them will do and enforce everything they are told to enforce to keep their job. Also many of them may say” but the Pastor said…”
http://www.loretru.com
This is the second attempt by a Slavic person to write an article on this issue. Yuri Stasyuk wrote one a few years back I believe. And now Russell has wrote one also.
Russell you’re a great theologian and you have a talent for writing opinionated pieces and I respect you for that.
Sometimes there’s a difference between knowing about something and actually knowing something. I feel like sometimes you lack the distinction between the two. In this case I think you do and it’s dangerous. I’m not a police officer, but I work with them often. More like they work for me….I won’t go into details. No joke intended. In all seriousness. So please don’t ask. You have my email.
Russell I highly doubt that your senior pastor Vasiliy would approve of your article, and let alone his own sons becoming police officers. You know that. In fact Alex Shevchenko I believe has touched this subject during a forum. Also maybe people should listen and hear Carter Conlons testimony. He was a former police officer in Canada, before he got saved and now he is a pastor of TimesSquare Church in NYC. That’s David Wilkersons church for those who don’t know.
I have yet to meet a police officer who is a passionate Christian, why? I’m not even joking. From what I’ve seen police officers are put at times often into situations where our Christian morals can get jeopardized and questioned. Many good guys come with the best of intentions when they walk the “beat” and give it a year or two and they are in the grind. Dare to speak up for what’s right and discipline and ridicule is certain. You have to understand the attitude of almost every young man that joins a local pd is very cocky and hungry for acceptance. And with that drive comes compromise in order for you to be part of “brotherhood”.
Many of the policeman I know, are divorced multiple times, extreme porn addicts, would have no issue cheating on their wives with the right “subject”. Many are hard drinkers and abusive to other things. Shocking huh? Not what you saw in your Courageous movie is it? This is street experience talking here, not your Hollywood movie love affair with police work. Now you might say, that all of those things happen with every job…. True, but in law enforcement work these things occur at a much higher rampant rate. Believe me.
I believe that UNLESS you are called into this area of service you MUST STAY AWAY from a police car. You cannot go into this profession just for the thrill. You need to emphasize that Russell. Many young guys want that rush, you MUST be called into this job. I believe that policeman need salvation and they do. Not every kid from church must go into that job. I would caution every young male with these words. Sooner or later your values will be tested in this job and most men fail in that area in police work. Don’t put yourself into those situations. Ask the guys that have fired a weapon into a suspect and have ended lives. I think you will do an about face rather quickly.
I’m not a bible scholar, but I have some knowledge of the situation and you don’t.
Jesus made this perfectly clear when He rebuked Peter for defending Him with a sword, and commanded him to put it away, rebuking him sharply. See Mtt. 26:51-54… God in the Flesh gave this eternal word against the use of violence:
All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Which sword do you carry than?
What about Lk. 22:36, … he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Surely this means it is time to fight? No, it talks about giving up what’s important to him. And buying that “pearl”.
It was in God’s Plan that Peter, hearing this, would be led astray by Satan again, and bring a sword to fight in Gethsemane, where he was roundly rebuked for using violence, Lk. 22:51. And thus prophesy was fulfilled. Mtt. 26:54.
Meditate on this verse guys: I have exchanged my filthy cloak for God’s Sword: His Living Word. I suggest you do too. Heb. 4:12. It is the only weapon real Christians ever need.
He was told to “put” away the sword. Just like we are told to “put” away sin. Get it? Russell your biblical references are out of place and are out of context.
Exchange the sword for Gods sword the word of God by which all evil will be dealt with.
As Christians we are told to lay down our lives for our enemies. Following Christ will cost you things…..even that badge. Russell be blessed. All of the young guys that are thinking about this profession…..think twice. Consequences are real.
Blessings
Amen Mikhail.
Russell.
Two years ago I would agree with your article, today I strongly disagree.
I met Jesus and he revealed his love to me and keeps on doing so. Cold theology and the revelation of Christ are two very different things. Don’t be that man, that puts theology above the revelation of Christ.
Amen Alexander
Did u ever get it translated to Russian by any chance!? My parents could greatly benifit from reading this, as they are so against me becoming a police officer for all the frivolous reasons stated in this post! I understand their point of view and where they come from and have outmost respect for their understandings and thoughts, but completely disagree with their ideas!!! It would be awesome if I could let them read this in Russian!
Im a born again Christian, who is in the process of becoming a police officer! I know that it’s very controversial but… I believe u can’t categorize all people under one category… So many powerful men of God were soldiers and warriors, and these men were anointed and saturated in The Lord! For me this is my passion, my ambition and my calling… It’s not for the rush or the feeling of empowerment, it’s for standing up for people who can’t stand up for themselves, to defend the innocent and take the criminals into custody! It’s for us to have safe cities and a good place to raise families!
The ideas that some Slavic people voice toward this career field are shameful.. We Slavics live in the states comfortably, safely(u don’t see tanks driving down ur streets, random bombs going off, or axe murderers running around), many live comfortable lives and rest easy at night and then have the nerve to utter mean and completely irrelevant things toward PO’s and military personnel!
Thank them for their service and for putting their families, lives and so much more on hold for ur safety!! Be blessed 🙂
http://www.loretru.com
Greetings,
Although I am NOT from the same Slavic background, I AM a Police Officer and have been a Correctional Officer. I am also a Christian. I FULLY believe that God has put me through the things I went through in my 20 years of trying to get into Law Enforcement so that I would be READY when it did happen. After being on The Job for 8 years w/ 10 in corrections, I have seen PLEANTY. I also thank God that he DID NOT give me an opportunity to be in the field until HE knew I was ready. Thanks again for writing this. I couldn’t think of ANYTHING I would rather do.
Hello Russell,
I am writing a book as to why no Christian should be a police officer for a day is soon coming when every Christian will be put to the test as to whom their allegiance is to; the nations of the world or Jesus Christ. Many will continue to profess to be Christian while they do the work of the world falsely believing they are serving God when in fact they are serving the ruler of this world who works out his plans through the false doctrine of the world. ” the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.” John 16:2. As far as wanting every cop to be a Christian that is an act of being a friend to the world and therefore a making themselves an enemy to God. James 4:4.
Elizabeth,
you state that, “It’s not for the rush or the feeling of empowerment, it’s for standing up for people who can’t stand up for themselves, to defend the innocent and take the criminals into custody! It’s for us to have safe cities and a good place to raise families!”
Atheist cops in China who have been established by God, (Romans 13:1-3 and 1 Peter 2:13-15), are capable of doing the same thing you desire to do and further more creating safe cities and good places to raise families is not a Christian’s primary mission. Our mission is to preach the gospel and to love one another as Christ loved us so that the world would know that we are his disciples. Mathew 28:18-20 and John 13:34-35. Christians don’t need cops to regulate them the law is for unbelievers. 1 Timothy 1:9-11.
You cannot love you brother and sister in Christ if you are bearing the sword for unbelievers against your brother and sister by enforcing man’s laws and not God’s. You’re response would probably be that you would never do that, but the fact is you will be forced to as a police officer who will be required to enforce ungodly laws right along with those laws that put common criminals into jails. A lot of Christians have become involved in law enforcement with good intentions but good intentions has to do with “self,” self glorification not Christ’s. If you truly died with Christ and are a new creation in which he lives in you will not seek your will but his. We are not hear to build a kingdom for believers and unbelievers our kingdom, our nation is in heaven and that is the only nation that we are to serve. Furthermore Jesus explicitly commanded His disciples to not be like the gentiles, to not be like Cornelius the centurion who became a Christian and would have had to have left his position in the Roman police force for refusing to persecute fellow Christians.. ,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” Mathew 20:25-28. The big lie in America is the euphemism of the “public servant.” Make no mistake, police officers are “lords” who represent higher “lords” district attorneys who represent even higher lords, Attorney Generals.
Greg,
being a correctional officer would not require you to write arrest reports very often so you really haven’t been a cop that long and perhaps you have been able to avoid the pitfalls of the profession to date. However with that said police officers throughout this nation are trained to lie in order to entrap and apprehend criminals. Police are trained to write reports in a deceptive manner in order to build a tight case against the accused. Lying for any reason, least of all to pervert justice, is antithetical to Christian doctrine and behavior. You have joined a profession which glorifies lying. You might say that you would never do that, but by earning a living in which lying enables it to achieve its income you are directly providing legitimacy to the lying committed by other police officers and are profiting off of their lies just the same. The time will come when you will know that one of your fellow officers has lied on an arrest report. The person could very well be guilty, however it is still against the law for officers to lie on arrest reports. When that day comes will you enforce law on your fellow officer or will you justify dismissing it as a harmless. If you hold him accountable you will be out of job in not time for crossing the “blue line” the “code of silence.” If you refuse to hold him accountable then you share in his lie and have failed to uphold your oath to the Constitution and the very laws you have been commissioned to enforce.
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES: TRAINING POLICE TO LIE
By
Valerie Van Brocklin
http://www.valvanbrocklin.com/Truth%20or%20Consequences%20Article.htm
“But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!” Romans 3:5-8
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:6
“Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception”
2 Corinthians 4:2
“speaking the truth in love,” Ephesians 4:15
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Ephesians 4:15
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
Christians are not to take fellow Christians before unbelievers, if we are not to take them before unbelievers than surely we, true disciples of Christ, should not be working for unbelievers. 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 1 Corinthians 6:4
No doubt your reply will be that the above has to do with civil disputes and not criminal disputes.
Most penalties for the crime of stealing is for the guilty party to pay back that which he took plus a little more to serve as a deterrent and that at the very worst a person who has nothing to pay back is to be sold into servitude.
Committing people to the torturous life of prison for the crime of stealing is in and of itself a crime against God, “kidnapping,” for it serves the rulers of this world and not Christ.
“Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.” Exodus 21:16
God has never instituted prisons except the eternal prison where everyone who has not been writing in the Lamb’s Book of Life will end up.
Stealing
Leviticus 6:1-7, Exodus 22:1-4.
Assault
Exodus 21:19
You want a deterrent this is the proper deterrent:
“eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise” 21:24-25
Yet what did Jesus say how we are now to live:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also……………”
“…..You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Mathew 5:38-48.
Amen Tony! Thank you for all the information you have provided in your comment. If I understood correctly, you are wring a book on this subject. Do you mind sending me a copy when you’re done, I think it would be very beneficial for our youth today.
Absolutely. Six months to a year, though I might be able send you an E-Book much sooner. I’ll keep you posted. Your Brother in Christ. Tony
Hi Victor, I’ve finished the book, “Christians Can’t Be Soldiers Christians Can’t Be Cops – Allegiance to Jesus Christ Alone” click on this link
http://www.loretru.com/
and send my your mailing info and I will send you a copy free of charge.
God Bless, Tony
Hi Victor, I finished my book. Click on this link to send me your email and mailing address and I will send you a copy free of charge. http://www.loretru.com/
The Book is called, “Christians Can’t Be Soldiers Christians Can’t Be Cops – Allegiance to Jesus Christ Alone” 450 pages.
God Bless,
Tony
Hi Joseph, I’ve just written a book on the subject, “Christians Can’t Be Soldiers Christians Can’t Be Cops – Allegiance to Jesus Christ Alone”
http://www.loretru.com/
The keywords to understand whom the only people that God is appointing to use the sword towards evil is to understand that they are Gods avenger which means to take revenge and that they pour wrath on those who do evil. GOD commands us not to take vengance but that it is Gods to repay deuteronomy 32:35 and Romans 12:19 and were told to put away all wrath ephesians 4:31 and colossians 3:8 so God is clearly not pointing out that we as christians are this authoritative force, but only those whom we pay taxes too, those who are not elected.
But we still abide in mans law as long as it does not force us against God.
Folks, everyone can’t be in full time ministry! In fact a small fraction of us are called to be in full time ministry. (Most can and should volunteer)
The rest of us are called to be the light to this world at our respective work places. Including law enforcement.
It’s funny how many Slavic folks think cutting corners with the IRS through your personal businesses is acceptable but working in law enforcement is a BIG No No. (Hypocrisy)
And for all those folks who say “this article is going to give young adults something to show to their parents to stick it to them”. If that actually happened, that would be a symptom of bigger root child/parent relationship issues.
I think the main problem with this post is that the author has no control over who read it, what their maturity level is, or isn’t. (The struggle is real)
Keep it up Russell.
– Your Brother in Christ.
If a Christian can be a police officer than he can be a CIA operative. If a Christian can be a CIA agent than he can be a KGB/FSS/FIS/SVR agent. If a Christian can be a soldier in America than a Christian can be a soldier in Russia or Iran or China or even North Korea. If a Christian can be a soldier in opposing nations than it is lawful for Christians to go to war against each other and kill each other.
” I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” Rev. 7:9
Yet we know that Christians fighting and killing each other for worldly gains is antithetical to being members of Jesus Christ’s Body and Jesus Christ’s Kingdom.
“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” Mark 3:24
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
“Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:10
” This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” 1 John 4:20-21
You have to hate someone to kill them over worldly resources.
” Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” 1 John 3:15
loretru.com
I thank the writer very much’ am bless by this teaching. I which to received a invitation from this ministry.I am a police officcer from Liberia and aborn again Christian who believed in the death burial and resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ
Nothing can happen to a genuine follower of Christ outside of God’s will. We must die to ourselves, love Jesus more than our own family members and obey Christ. Paul says suffer not as an evildoer, but if you suffer being innocent and bear it, this is pleasing to God. Satan is evil and ruthless. He will try to get you to deny Christ and disobey God any way he can. Prayer, fasting and the word of God are our weapons. Our weapons are not carnal. It can’t be any clearer than that.
For those people that like to use Romans to justify police bending the law and violating people’s right. Antichrist will be the an authority figure with the government to back him up, but he will make it law for people to receive the seal of the beast. We know what the bible has to say about that. Whoever receives that seal will perish forever. The law isn’t for Christians, but for those that commit crimes against mankind.
Thank you for your very thorough article. My husband is a Christian and has been in law enforcement for 20 years. I agree with all the passages you sited and see it as you do. The passages are very clear. My husband has never had to compromise his beliefs or do anything that would conflict with scripture. The department he is at knows that he is a Christian and respects him greatly for it. He has studied the Bible with many from the department and has baptized three. I find it interesting when people ask if Jesus would be an officer of the law. That was not his profession, carpentry was. Are we all to be carpenters since we are to walk as He did? Certainly not. We need more men who have the heart and mind of the officers we find in the Bible that were commended and praised for their faith. These officers (like the centurion) were not told to change their profession, but he continued in it as a Christian. Police departments today need more moral, upstanding individuals that wear the name of Christ.
Mandy,
Saeed Abedini is a Christian pastor who has been sentenced to 8 years in prison in Iran for organizing religious gatherings in Christian homes. Police officers, law enforcement officers have carried out the dictates of the state in arresting Saeed and maintaining his imprisonment.
http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-saeed-abedini-viciously-beaten-in-iranian-prison-told-his-only-way-out-is-to-deny-jesus-christ-140269/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saeed_Abedini
Could your husband be a police officers or a prison guard in Iran and still maintain his Christian integrity?
Would your husband be a police officer or a prison guard in Iran where he would be directed to arrest and imprison people based upon their personal religious beliefs?
Russia censors its citizens. China censors its citizens. Iran censors its citizens.
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” John 3:19-21
The reason why governments, institutions and people censor other people is because they don’t want their illegitimate position to be exposed for what it is.
Saeed Abedini is a Christian pastor serving in Iran who has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for sharing his faith through Christian gatherings. He has served 3 years.
http://beheardproject.com/saeed
http://www.christianpost.com/news/world-leaders-demand-iran-release-of-imprisoned-christian-pastor-saeed-abedini-145999/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saeed_Abedini
Mandy,
Could your husband be a police officers in Iran and still maintain his integrity towards his Christian faith, towards his brothers and sisters in Christ, members of his own body?
Would your husband be a police officer in Iran?
No. Their government is different. We don’t jail Christians like Iran. It’s a totally different situation. He would not jeopardize his soul for the government.
thank you very much, this report was really useful for me, This year I´ll start as a police officer in my country…and I always wonder if it´s correct or not.
bless you
Thank you for writing such an excellent blog. My husband fights each day if he is doing the right thing. He has a gift and has saved many lives. If it was not for him many lives would have been lost.
Please repost this blog. I feel police officers need to see this again.
Hey thanks Russell for this great information! It helped a lot. I myself am a Ukrainian that loves God and currently training for police officer! Спасибо!
Read this article and a lot of things cleared up for me but after reading some of the comments I became even more confused.
(I am a Christian and originate from the Slavic community)
I am currently looking into this career field and praying constantly for God to lead me and show me if this is the right career for me. I have herd a good amount of negative comments and opinions about my career choice from family, friends, relatives, and fellow church members. I am praying that God will show me if this is really what he wants me to do or is it really something that is not meant for me as a Christian.
I intended to take more time (much more) before commenting on the article itself, as it has really opened my eyes on some things…but when i read the comment above I realized I have to say this.
” Fear, and Confusion are the tools of the Enemy and not of the Lord. ”
and I see fear, confusion, and profiteering. What else need you know brother/sister? 🙂
now~~~~~~~~~
It’s late, and reading this article really inspired me. As I got to a ‘certain section’ in the comments I noticed an interesting shift in the Clarity of the messages delivered and the deliverers and was getting frustrated myself.
I had already gotten to my Bible because this topic is of the utmost importance to me and I struggle with Ecclesiastes, The Great Commission and little things like ‘having a regular day job’ and spending even one moment not preaching (but again as Andre pointed out, not all are called to full time ministry) thus I had to dig into both arguments.
As for the end of days. I agree, it is upon us at it always is. And since that is the case we need good men and women throughout all walks of life in order to be Gods servants however he desires. They will hunt us and kill us and If I am a law enforcement officer when that time arrives I will pray as to what to do. Frankly, most likely I will die among the first christian martyrs of that age. Pretty incredible way to go if you ask me. I’m not saying It’s going to feel good, but if that is Gods path for me then I only pray for the fortitude to accomplish it.
As for “cops being trained to deceive” I have worked since I was 16 and I have worked very many jobs and one way or another almost everyone encouraged me to lie, disobey the sabbath, or some other ‘little compromise’ and not doing so has gotten me disciplined plenty of times. That is this world. Don’t be afraid, serve God regardless and know that your rewards are in heaven.
I am 29, a ‘pacifist toward war’ (to keep it brief), and have no desire to ‘lord’ over anyone. I desire only to do whatever it is that God wants me to do. (If only he just sent out memos each morning with a full list, amiright?)
If it only took God 29 years to make me into a ‘mature-enough’ christian to die for my fellows, or die refusing to hunt my fellows. Or just to be a nice Christian cop instead of a cranky bad example. Then I am one lucky man.
Now, I just need to keep praying and working until God reveals my path to me.
PS: If this is my calling, maybe afterwards he’ll call me to be a preacher, or a carpenter or a gardener or an astronaut, I can’t wait.
Hey I would like to talk to you.
“Shoot” 🙂 me an email ukeandriy@yahoo.com
Pastor Russell,
I wanted to first of all thank you for writing this- both a a Russian Messianic Jew (Chrisitan with Judaic roots) and as a law enforcement officer. I’m formally from Soviet Union, Volgograd.
I agree fully with everything you’ve said in your article, and they’re all things I’ve found myself saying to others, in the name of having to defend my faith and my career.
As a faith-based person, I do not fit in well in our modern law enforcement, which is a shame.
I would like to speak to you further, would I be able to email you?? (I don’t like writing on open forums such as a blog).
Blessings and Shalom!
I’d like to see the people like Tony, John X, Victor, Mikhail, Alexander, Tamara, and Ativ actually try to ministry to people who have guns and are anti-Christ and feel comfortable and courageous as they are behind their computer screen writing these things.
I agree with Ally who said, “Russel I completely agree with you about police needing to be Christians and same with people in any profession. That is the point for us as Christians, to minister to the world. Not sit in our little boxes with our bottles of milk and wait for everything to fall apart and Jesus to come. We are called to witness and minister and what better way to do that then to infiltrate the system, if i may say that. Go in to those jobs that barely have Christians and pray that you as a follower of Jesus will show light to people and will do your job in the best and most Christ like way possible!”
If Tony, John X, Victor, Mikhail, Alexander, Tamara, and Ativ truly are Biblical Christians, then you would respect what Paul the Apostle says in Romans 13. Even though not all police officers, politicians, and soldiers are Christian, Paul the Apostle of Christ believes that whether they are Christians yet or not, they are serving your life to continue:
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”
The fact is that the United States of America was founded on a God-centered Constitution, which protects people in the right way like what Paul is speaking about.
People like Tony, John X, Victor, Mikhail, Alexander, Tamara, and Ativ are taking advantage of what we have in the USA. You are forgetting the sacrifice of men and women in the Revolutionary War against Britain, the Civil War against slavery, WWI, WWII, and up to present day where men and women are fighting for you to even live comfortably on your couch or office as you write these unappreciative comments. Remember that Jesus is King of Righteousness, He is Just, and yes His punishment will far outweigh anything men can deliver on earth. But Jesus also uses men to further His Word and His Kingdom, not to back down and be weak spirited.
And by the way, Tamara when you said ” If the weapon would be the proper way for Christian, there wouldn’t be any reason for Jesus to die. Jesus could ask his people to protect him. They had weapon. … But Jesus didn’t do it. ” — You’re not understanding the life of Jesus. He could have easily called all the angels in Heaven at any point so that he wasn’t touched by anyone. But being Perfect, He showed us that it was necessary for Him to suffer for us! He drank from the cup of suffering given from God. — Now think about what you’re doing to drink from the cup of suffering. Are you going out and putting yourself in harm’s way to spread the ministry of Christ? Why can’t a police officer go out and maintain peace in the community while ministering to the lost souls that have done wrong and do not know Jesus? Does the law say anything about sharing your faith? NO. So why can’t a cop help those who are lost and confused by removing them from their wrong doing and then preaching the Word of Christ, or asking God through prayer for that person to have a change of heart and an opening of their mind to Jesus now that they are in custody and removed from their evil.
Paul the Apostle (formerly named Saul) was a murderer of Christians before Jesus Christ appeared to him after His resurrection:
“3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.”
Paul became one of the most God fearing and Gospel spreading Apostles because of Jesus stopping him in his tracks and putting him on hold so that he can realize what he was doing and change his heart.
If you believe that we are part of the body of Christ, then we too can help others (loving our enemies) by putting them on hold (arresting them) when they are down the wrong path and pray that Jesus enters their hearts and saves them from destruction.
The police are there to first and foremost keep the peace so that innocent people (whether they’re believers or not) are free from oppression, violence, sexual immorality, and other evils. If in the moment a Christian Cop needs to use force to prevent the innocent from harm, then he or she must take action as a member of Christ’s body and either arrest or immediately end that person’s life so that God can now judge that soul in their afterlife.
Russel and all his supporters in the comments are simply asking are fellow brothers and sisters (Tony, John X, Victor, Mikhail, Alexander, Tamara, and Ativ) to put yourself in the shoes of our enforcement officers who face evil on a daily basis. What would you do if there was a mass shooter killing innocent people around you and you were holding a gun? Would you actually go and try to minister to that person? No, you would either run away out of fear for your OWN life, or your would put your life on the line for the sake of others and end the destruction.
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – Lord Jesus Christ
Great article Russel. Keep up the great writing!