Cops & Pride

Pride and the Law Enforcement Officer

First off, NO STUDY this weekend as Diana and I will be out-of-town. We’ll be back at it on Saturday, June21st. I will be scheduling some Thursday evening studies for a couple of weeks at least after that as my Saturday’s will be taken up with work commitments. Stay tuned for more!

I was feeling a bit off my game last Saturday but managed to conclude our study of “The Christian Warrior” with a corollary look at “David’s Mighty Men” (see 1 Chronicles 11 and 2 Samuel 23). The message here is that we as peace officers are, in many ways, modern day examples of David’s “knights.” I found a great short study on how these Old Testament warriors apply to us today. In fact, this whole study has changed my view of the “lists” I used to skip over in reading God’s Word. Check it out: http://www.thewayonline.org.uk/david.html.

The whole concept of who we as law enforcement officers should be “in Christ” also brings us to the subject of PRIDE. Pride – the negative kind – has been my greatest downfall and something that God has had to deal with in my own life as well as a great many others. In fact, I think it is safe to say that many officers seem to think that what we do for a living gives us some kind of “free pass” to Heaven when we die and that the very badge we wear somehow exempts us from sin. Let me assure you that nothing could be further from the truth. Check out this short treatise on the subject of PRIDE and salvation from Greg Laurie of Harvest Crusade:

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8

I had to laugh when I heard the story of two men who approached the great British preacher, C. H. Spurgeon, one day and told him, "Spurgeon, we have reached sinless perfection.""Really?" he asked."Yes," they said, "We are absolutely perfect."

Spurgeon was holding a pitcher of water at the time, and he poured it on their heads. When they began to react like any other sinners would, he found out just how perfect they were. You see, the people who walk around claiming to have reached sinless perfection are victims of one of the most powerful yet subtle sins: pride. None of us will reach sinless perfection—not in this life. Granted, before we were Christians, we were under the control and power of sin. We went along with whatever our sinful natures dictated. But something dramatic happened when we received Christ. We were changed. The Bible says that we became new creations in Christ. Old things passed away and all things became new (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). That is not to say we still don't struggle with sin and temptation. The Scripture clearly teaches that we will sin and that we will have lapses.

Although the Bible tells me I will sin, there is a difference between sinning and being sorry for it, and sinning habitually, persistently, and continually. If someone claims to be a Christian and yet continues in sin, my question is whether that person has ever been truly converted. Some people wonder whether such a Christian ever could lose his or her salvation. I would suggest that another question should be asked instead: Did he or she ever experience salvation to begin with?


Powerful stuff. What role does pride play in your own life? Sin? Perhaps its time to take a hard look inside.

On a different note, a fellow officer sent this to me and I thought it worth sharing. Please continue to pray for our fellow warriors serving in the military overseas.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/ma2-seal-michael-monsoor-tribute-the-hero-of-all-heroes/1886590205?icid=acvsv1

Navy SEAL Mike Monsoor was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq , giving his life to save his fellow Seals.

During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego, as his coffin was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEALs were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of two's, with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin.The slaps were audible from across the cemetery; by the time the coffin arrived grave side, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all the Tridents pinned to it. This was a fitting send-off for a warrior hero.

That said, I MUST ask, "What was the condition of his heart?" If he did not know Christ as Savior, no amount of Tridents on his coffin will get him to Heaven. Let's strive to ensure that our warriors know Christ before they fall.


PRAYER REQUESTS & PRAISE REPORTS

(1) Thanks to everyone who has been praying for me reference the child abuse/sexual assault cases I’ve been investigating. I’m in the process of closing both cases and we’re working closely with DHS to help insure the safety of the children involved.
(2) Calvary Chapel South Denver Pastor and police chaplain Gino Geraci recently completed the long process of becoming a chaplain for the FBI. Praise God!
(3) Please continue to be in prayer for this country and, in regards to the upcoming DNC here in Denver , for all of us who will be working OT for same. A great many Denver PD officers are already working lots of hours and will be scheduled for very long shifts with no days off during the convention.

That’s about it for this week. I plan on sending out an announcement notice on Sunday or Monday regarding some upcoming events. Until then, please take time to spend some quality time with God and with your families this weekend.