Should Christians be involved in Law Enforcement ?

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RaceBoy

Guest
#1
#1
Although I have my disagreements with Law enforcement (specifically the enforcement of unjust laws, and a corrupt court system) , Some chapters in the bible imply that it's ok to be in that field. Romans 13 is the best example I can think of pertaining to the police, and it says (not a direct quote) that they're are ordained by God to restrain evil (obviously) and do good (sometimes true, sometimes not true). The problem is the enforcement of unjust laws, and a court system that doesn't do the right thing all the time, so can a Christian really consider a job with his or her local department ? Knowing that in the future Christians will be persecuted (and possibly killed), can someone uphold a system that would do that ?
 
Roughsoul1991

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
#2
Sep 17, 2016
8,863
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#2
RaceBoy said:
Although I have my disagreements with Law enforcement (specifically the enforcement of unjust laws, and a corrupt court system) , Some chapters in the bible imply that it's ok to be in that field. Romans 13 is the best example I can think of pertaining to the police, and it says (not a direct quote) that they're are ordained by God to restrain evil (obviously) and do good (sometimes true, sometimes not true). The problem is the enforcement of unjust laws, and a court system that doesn't do the right thing all the time, so can a Christian really consider a job with his or her local department ? Knowing that in the future Christians will be persecuted (and possibly killed), can someone uphold a system that would do that ?
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Think of Cornelius a Roman centurion, stationed at Caesarea in Palestine, supposed to have been of a distinguished family in Rome. He was "the first gentile convert but never once was he told to abandon his post in the pagan army.

It was by no mistake that Rome eventually converted to Christianity. Christians had infiltrated every part of the government and the culture.

Im sure people in these positions had to choose which hill to die on but just as render to Caesar to what is Caesars, we must decide just as Daniel who held a high political position which orders go against our religious beliefs and which can be tolerated like him being forced to learn pagan academics.
 
Eli1

Eli1

Well-known member
#3
Apr 5, 2022
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#3
I honestly don’t know what would be worse. An atheist or Christian with a gun.
The problem is not the court system but police training.
Police need to be trained not to point a gun at an unarmed child, but to de-escalate situations.
Police need to be trained that they are there to Protect and Serve not Seek and Destroy.
Most are pretty good, but their training which involves like 30 hours a week of firearm training and no training on how to talk, answer questions and just diffuse situations is not helping the good guys either.

So think about all this when you join a profession which is supposed to protect and serve others.
 
R

RaceBoy

Guest
#4
#4
Eli1 said:
I honestly don’t know what would be worse. An atheist or Christian with a gun.
The problem is not the court system but police training.
Police need to be trained not to point a gun at an unarmed child, but to de-escalate situations.
Police need to be trained that they are there to Protect and Serve not Seek and Destroy.
Most are pretty good, but their training which involves like 30 hours a week of firearm training and no training on how to talk, answer questions and just diffuse situations is not helping the good guys either.

So think about all this when you join a profession which is supposed to protect and serve others.
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Even though police training is lacking IMO and focuses on the wrong stuff, the courts have condoned and created a lot of the problems we see with law enforcement today. They've given them the power to pull people over for almost any reason, they've given them qualified immunity to escape law suits (though sometimes qualified immunity can be justified), and they often times take there word over just about everything.
 
R

RaceBoy

Guest
#5
#5
Roughsoul1991 said:
Think of Cornelius a Roman centurion, stationed at Caesarea in Palestine, supposed to have been of a distinguished family in Rome. He was "the first gentile convert but never once was he told to abandon his post in the pagan army.

It was by no mistake that Rome eventually converted to Christianity. Christians had infiltrated every part of the government and the culture.

Im sure people in these positions had to choose which hill to die on but just as render to Caesar to what is Caesars, we must decide just as Daniel who held a high political position which orders go against our religious beliefs and which can be tolerated like him being forced to learn pagan academics.
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I'm not sure what you mean.
 
R

RaceBoy

Guest
#7
#7
Roughsoul1991 said:
Which part?

To sum it up, yes we need good Godly people to bring the light into all places. Even if it means putting your life on the line.
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I guess it's the way you wrote that, seemed confusing to me as to what your point is. But yeah Christians could (and should) be more involved with society.
 
Roughsoul1991

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
#8
Sep 17, 2016
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#8
RaceBoy said:
I guess it's the way you wrote that, seemed confusing to me as to what your point is. But yeah Christians could (and should) be more involved with society.
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I was giving Biblical examples to people who had to be involved in government or state type agencies.
 
Subhumanoidal

Subhumanoidal

Well-known member
#10
Sep 17, 2018
4,061
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#10
RaceBoy said:
Although I have my disagreements with Law enforcement (specifically the enforcement of unjust laws, and a corrupt court system) , Some chapters in the bible imply that it's ok to be in that field. Romans 13 is the best example I can think of pertaining to the police, and it says (not a direct quote) that they're are ordained by God to restrain evil (obviously) and do good (sometimes true, sometimes not true). The problem is the enforcement of unjust laws, and a court system that doesn't do the right thing all the time, so can a Christian really consider a job with his or her local department ? Knowing that in the future Christians will be persecuted (and possibly killed), can someone uphold a system that would do that ?
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What field is so pure that Christians would be ok doing it? If you're really going to eliminate every job associated with corruption then that eliminates every job. Even at many churches and ministries.
 
R

RaceBoy

Guest
#11
#11
Subhumanoidal said:
What field is so pure that Christians would be ok doing it? If you're really going to eliminate every job associated with corruption then that eliminates every job. Even at many churches and ministries.
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Well I know no job would be perfect. But law enforcement has a lot of power and the justice system isn't exactly "just".
 
R

RaceBoy

Guest
#12
#12
Another problem would be the separation of church and state. I thought about being I God back into policing (to the best that I can) by running for sheriff so I change the department around to a more "Christian like" way. But from what I've heard, the church and state are suppose to be separate.
 
R

RaceBoy

Guest
#13
#13
Still have my doubts, but I'm considering running for sheriff one day.
 
Subhumanoidal

Subhumanoidal

Well-known member
#14
Sep 17, 2018
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#14
RaceBoy said:
Well I know no job would be perfect. But law enforcement has a lot of power and the justice system isn't exactly "just".
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Corrupt is corrupt. You can't dismiss or minimize the corruption of one and emphasize it on the other to reinforce your personal view.

In reference to your running for sheriff, I'm not sure how you would "Christianize" being a cop. Or what changes you feel you could get away with. That's assuming you could even be put into that office as an outsider.

Separation of church and state. That was a term created to refer to keeping the government out of the church, not the other way around.

When it comes to policing there is no way to label it broadly. There are people out to do good to the best of their ability. And people out for themselves and no concern for upholding the law or helping anyone.
This argument could easily be taken outside of the main topic. The internet is extremely corrupt and a lot of bad comes as a result of it. Way more than policing ever has. Should Christians be on the internet?
 
T

TheLearner

Well-known member
#15
Jan 14, 2019
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Brighton, MI
#15
RaceBoy said:
Another problem would be the separation of church and state. I thought about being I God back into policing (to the best that I can) by running for sheriff so I change the department around to a more "Christian like" way. But from what I've heard, the church and state are suppose to be separate.
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As a Sheriff you can encourage others to develop virtues, but you can not make it a law using religion. Back when I was a Teacher, I would put up posters encouraging honestly, treating others with respect and things like that.
1651536773784.jpeg

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:virtues posters
Google teaching posters for the classroom adults encouraging virtues
 
soberxp

soberxp

Senior Member
#16
May 3, 2018
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#16
RaceBoy said:
Still have my doubts, but I'm considering running for sheriff one day.
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You said that you like more "Christian" way.
If you receive a police call and arrest a suspect, do you remember to ask him, "Jesus loves you, my man, if you are willing to repent, I hope next time that I won't see you again."
But in that case, it feels like you're actually preaching the gospel, not arresting a criminal.:unsure:
 
R

RaceBoy

Guest
#18
#18
soberxp said:
You said that you like more "Christian" way.
If you receive a police call and arrest a suspect, do you remember to ask him, "Jesus loves you, my man, if you are willing to repent, I hope next time that I won't see you again."
But in that case, it feels like you're actually preaching the gospel, not arresting a criminal.:unsure:
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I've thought about doing that, and i think it's a good idea.
 
R

RaceBoy

Guest
#19
#19
TheLearner said:
As a Sheriff you can encourage others to develop virtues, but you can not make it a law using religion. Back when I was a Teacher, I would put up posters encouraging honestly, treating others with respect and things like that.
View attachment 239623

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:virtues posters
Google teaching posters for the classroom adults encouraging virtues
Click to expand...
Yeah I wasn't referring to changing the law that much, but rather running the department in a more Christian way. like rewarding officers who speak up against wrong doing, or not enforcing unconstitutional laws ,etc.
 
shittim

shittim

Senior Member
#20
Dec 16, 2016
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#20
RaceBoy said:
Another problem would be the separation of church and state. I thought about being I God back into policing (to the best that I can) by running for sheriff so I change the department around to a more "Christian like" way. But from what I've heard, the church and state are suppose to be separate.
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now where is the Constitution is separation mentioned, it is based on a single letter that was intended to keep government out of Christian religion in America, not keep Christianity out of government.(y)
 
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