'extraordinary artist with depth and emotion" Earl, Sacramento CA, Mar '04 Douglas Rickard - intimate with imagination "the best money I ever spent, incredible quality" Jeane, Tewksbury MA, Feb '07

about Christians serving in
the Police Force and the Military

"I found out that according to the Bible,
God ordains the roles of those
serving in the Armed Forces."

 
the police force and those in the military are God's ministers
It does make perfect sense. The Bible says it is because they are protecting us from those who would do evil.
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 he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:3-4, NIV®)
the Church's connection
The Armed Forces carry out the directions of the Government, (which we are supposed to be prayerfully voting in). The Bible doesn't say anything about debating policies or criticizing who's in office (Titus 3:1; 3:9), which there seems to be so much of these days. Christians should instead be interceding for whomever is in authority and their agents. That includes the Police and the Armed Forces. Does that mean we can't voice our opinions? No, I contact my Member of Parliament; why talk about her when I can write to her instead! Even if you're not used to the King James Version, 1 Timothy 2: 1-2 is pretty simple really!
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (1 Timothy 2: 1-2, KJV)
the Bible doesn't contradict them or itself
Those in the Police and the Armed Forces can be rest assured that their job description is within the will of God. They are forced to be in situations far removed from our comfortable Bible study groups. Thank God that they are out there for us though! And that Bible backs them up when it comes to 'bearing the sword' and using it if necessary.
'thou shalt not kill'?
That Hebrew word for 'kill' in Exodus 20:13 is "Ratsach" which means 'murder'. Oftentimes differing Hebrew definitions have been translated into just one English word. Any confusion on a subject disappears whenever you can look up meanings of the original language in the Bible.
not God's original intent, but sometimes there's no other option
Today, any individual can become a born again child of God. Back in the Old Covenant, before Jesus of Nazareth made this possible, the only people left in relationship with God were the Nation of Israel. Satanic forces resident in other human beings threatening this remnant, sometimes had to be taken out of this earth early.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. (1 Samuel 15:2-3)
This was never God's original intent, but it had to be done. In that verse, 'Slay' is the Hebrew word twm ("Muwth") and it is also in Exodus 21:12, "He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death." So what is the difference? The reason behind the actions. God told His people to slay the Amelekites in order to protect His relationship with them (1 Samuel 14:48) and with us.
they are there for us
Today Jesus has given the authority He won over spiritual forces to Christians, so we don't need to operate the same way the children of Israel did back then. But despite there being a way out for everyone now, men and women are still availing themselves to the satanic nature. When they come against the peace meant for us with anything from a V-2 rocket to a shoe bomb, then God has placed those in the Police and the Armed Forces for the purpose of bringing down judgment upon them for our sakes.
...All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it's God's order... (Romans 13:1, The Message)
Therefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves [receiving the penalty due them]. (Romans 13:2, AMP)
Douglas Rickard
Kenneth Copeland ministers from the Word of God at West Point Military Academy
 
[Follow the events in my blog through which the Lord led me to work in this area]
Scripture marked 'NIV®' taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
'The Message' translation of the Bible by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright (c) 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002.
Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible,
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)