In the second installment of the Biblical Foundation of American Government that I presented at Chuck Baldwin‘s church, I use Romans Chapter 13 as the basis for explaining the Ministry of Law Enforcement. In fact, whenever I gave the oath of office to a new deputy sheriff, we used a bible opened to Romans 13. In that text, it gives us the two-fold mission of the police: to punish the evildoer and commend those who do good.
Romans 13:1-4
Submit to Government
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Twice in that chapter, the Apostle Paul refers to government authorities as ministers of God. So, just like a preacher is called into the ministry of the Word, a police officer can be called into the ministry of law enforcement, the ministry of the Sword…
And for those of you who would like to see my feeble attempt at humor, watch The Pastor and the Cop…
Hello, Ray.
Hope all is well and, of course, what you say is right. All it reminds me of is if there is no righteousness on this land where does a righteous man stand. This also is a quote from the bible but we are fighting spirits and principalities that only our faith and hope in him can give us victory. It is only when an unbeleiver has something explainable happen good to them, that then they start seeing things diff.
God Bless and take care of yourself.