by: Allen Domelle
The past few weeks have been trying for police departments all across America. It seems as though we are daily hearing of a new case of police using what some would call excessive force while trying to arrest citizens. In all of the cases that we have heard, people have tragically lost their lives. This has prompted the news media’s criticism of the police.
The most prominent case was in Ferguson, Missouri, where a police officer used deadly force to stop Michael Brown from hurting him. After several weeks of investigation, the grand jury found that there were no grounds for an indictment against Officer Darren Wilson. The announcement from the police chief that Officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted led to several nights of riots and looting by those who used this tragedy as an excuse to destroy and steal property from people who had nothing to do with the decisions made in this case.
There was another story of a young man in Cleveland who was shot and killed by police when he pointed a toy gun at them when they tried to stop him. This has not had the same coverage of the Ferguson, MO case, but it is definitely tragic. Again, the police found their tactics under extreme criticism from the agenda driven news media.
To add insult to injury, the New York City police department finds themselves under extreme criticism for the death of Eric Garner. The police ordered Mr. Garner to put his hands behind his back, and when he resisted arrest, a police officer used a takedown tactic that has been criticized, which allegedly contributed to this man’s death. Again, the grand jury found no grounds to indict this officer which resulted in more protests in New York City.
This article is in no way defending unwarranted excessive force used by police officers, but I am not going to join the news media and race industry in the condemnation of police across America. According to the 2008 statistics from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are 461,000 sworn police officers in the United States. It is amazing how the news media have used three incidents to condemn 461,000 officers. It is amazing how US Attorney General Eric Holder, has criticized every policeman with comments of how police treat African Americans. Retired basketball player and sports commentator, Charles Barkley, had it right when he said that police officers are “the only thing in the ghetto between this place being the wild, wild west.”
Police officers put their lives on the line every day to protect people whom they don’t know. I’m sure if you searched long enough you can find corrupt police, but you will find corruption in every walk of life. Does that make them all bad? Absolutely not! The news media and the race industry are using these stories to help them get more coverage so they can fill their financial coffers.
The Scriptures make it very plain as to how we should deal with authority. Romans 13:1-4 says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
God commands the Christian to obey all authority. We are not to resist the power of authority as what has happened in the cases mentioned above, but we are to submit ourselves to authority. God warns us that those who are in authority don’t bear the “sword in vain.” Many lessons have been lost in all of the conversation about white policeman and their relationship with the African American community. Let me show you several lessons that we can learn from these events.
1. Listen to authority.
When an authority figure tells you to do something, you would be wise to listen. God says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.” The news media and Hollywood have championed those who question authority for years which is a direct contradiction to God’s Word. We should not be teaching youth to question authority. We should be teaching them to listen to what authorities said, especially police officers who risk their lives daily to protect us. Whether or not you agree with what the police are telling you to do, listen and follow their instructions and the tragic events from the past few weeks won’t happen.
2. Parents need to teach children to respect authority.
When I was a boy, my parents taught me to respect all authority. My parents would discipline me and my siblings if we ever talked bad about authority. Authority may not always be right, but youth should be taught to respect them. Respect them not because of who they are, but because of the position they hold. If youth are taught to respect authority, then they will do right when a police officer gives them directives.
3. Don’t judge police actions by the media reports.
You can’t judge the actions of a police officer because you were not there. It is very easy to say that they should do something differently, but you don’t know the whole story. As was easily seen in the Ferguson, MO case, what the news media reported and what actually happened were two completely different stories. It is only the job of those who are given the evidence to determine whether a police officer is using excessive force. It is wrong to use the media’s reporting to judge the actions of a police officer.
4. Put yourself in the shoes of a police officer before judging their actions.
What is not being asked from people is what they would do if they were in the same position as these police officers. These police officers are entering a highly charged atmosphere when they go to arrest someone because of a reported crime. If the police did what many of the news pundits have said should be done, many police would be losing their lives in the line of duty. Always remember that police put their lives on the line every day for your safety, and they need to be able to do their job without the fear of constantly being charged with murder every time they must use force.
5. There are more good police officers than there are bad ones.
We should focus on the good police officers more than we do the bad. God says in Philippians 4:8, that we are to think on the things that are of “good report.” There are only a handful of the 461,000 police officers who are bad, so stop indicting all of them because of a few. You wouldn’t like it if you were condemned in your line of work because of a few bad coworkers, and neither do police appreciate it when they are condemned for the actions of a few.
6. Think about your actions before you do them.
One of the most important lessons we can learn is to think before we act. If parents taught their children not to point guns, including toy guns, at police officers, then children would not be shot when the police arrive. If people would not charge police officers or resist arrest, then there would not be those unfortunate incidents that come out of those pressure-filled situations.
Let’s not lose the opportunity to learn and teach valuable lessons from these incidents. Don’t let the news media rob you of this great opportunity to teach the youth around you the importance of respecting and obeying authority. These situations can stop future incidents if we use them as lessons for future generations.
Allen Domelle is the editor of the Old Paths Journal which is more than just a Christian’s publication. It is an excellent place to learn how today’s headlines will forge tomorrow’s laws and statutes. Keep yourself in tune with what is happening around the world, as well as in your own backyard with our daily updates and devotionals.