God’s Ministers Attacked in Vancouver Riot

(photo by CBC News)

I’m not a huge hockey fan but I leapt on the Vancouver Canuck fan bandwagon when it looked like they were heading for the Stanley Cup. I watched the seventh and deciding game of the final series and knew several people who attended the game. Unfortunately, the game is not what is remembered about that night when the Boston Bruins won hockey’s ultimate prize.

Later in the evening my wife and I watched the news in disbelief. It seemed that many people in Vancouver and mainly younger ones had lost their decorum, common sense and perhaps temporarily their minds and had entered into a mob mentality, overturning cars, lighting fires, smashing windows and looting stores. This was, and is not the Vancouver my wife and I know, love, and experienced during the Olympics with tens of thousands of people crowding the streets peacefully celebrating with each other. What went wrong?

That night as we watched the disturbing images fly by on the news, the scenes that really struck me were those of young people attacking, kicking, screaming and swearing at and throwing things at the police. They even lit and attempted to light police cars on fire.

I have several friends who are police officers in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, and have had personal conversations with them which I found equally disturbing. One of them, a non-christian, has been so badly treated by people while he’s working that he’s almost lost faith in society and its inhabitants all together. Another one who is a Christian, has had the same experience and has trouble not separating himself from people all-together. I’m not just referring to how these officers are treated by outright crooks, that would be somewhat understandable. You would be appalled if I told you how some police are treated daily just for giving out traffic tickets to so-called law-abiding citizens.

Part of the problem is that we have somehow unitentionally allowed an almost antipolice, them-against-us, they’re-all-crooked-and/or-incompetent attitude to lodge itself into our societal subconcious about those who lay their lives down daily to protect us and make sure our society works; and sadly this same attitude has so crawled into the minds of our young people, that they don’t give a second thought to doing what they did in Vancouver that night.

In one recent conversation with friends, I suggested that perhaps they should have sent firefighters down to control the crowds. Can you imagine those young men acting that way towards firemen and women? Why not? Because we have not allowed the respect for people in that profession to be degraded to such dangerously low levels. Are there some bad police on every force? Probably. Are there bad firefighters in every city? Probably. So why do we choose to believe that a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch only when it comes to the police force? Simple answer, we want to do what we want to do, when we want to do it, even if it’s wrong and or against the law. We really only want the police to be on the job to stop people when it protects us, our families and our stuff.

It’s part of the fallen nature. Here’s what Jesus had to say about it:

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 3:19 – 21 NIV)

The fallen nature demands that we get to do whatever we want to do. So, whether it’s a police officer, a judge, Jesus or God, human nature resents being told not to do what’s wrong when that’s what we want to do. However, that is not the nature that we as Christians should be listening to. Paul wrote this:

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 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. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:1 – 7 NIV)

It always amazes me that Paul wrote these verses when his beloved Israel was being ruled by a wicked Roman Empire, and the Religious Leaders who governed the Jews had killed Jesus and were now persecuting Christians.

The point is that as Christians, we are to recognize that although the system is not perfect, and every governing body has bad apples, the general system that involves the rule of law that is enforced by the police, the sheriff, the courts, judges, the armed forces and even polititians, is God’s system in this world to keep law and order. We as Christians are to respect and keep the law and respect and treat with honor those who work as his ministers in that system. When we do, we uphold law and order and God’s system. When we don’t, we are unknowingly rebeling against God and working to discredit and dismantel his system.

Even worse, when we break the law, even in small ways, and/or bad-mouth the police or talk to them rudely, we set an example for our kids that could possibly lead them to the unthinking acts that unfolded in Vancouver after the Stanley Cup final.

While my kids were growing up, I, like many dads, had to drive them around a lot. The few times I was pulled over, I always tried my best to not just be a good example, but also to instill a respect for the law and its officers into my children. It’s surprising to see how police officers react when you are polite, appreciative, respectful, and honoring to them; you can tell they’re not used to it. The times I was speeding, I acknowledged my wrong, apologized and thanked the officer for doing his job. I remember one time my kids laughing as we pulled away because of how shocked the officer had been by my response to being pulled over.

We need to teach our kids what the Bible says about the law and his ministers, and demonstrate to them what it means to be law-abiding citizens who honor and respect those ministers. We also need to help, support and honor these officers in anyway we can so that those who are still led by their fallen nature begin to understand that we as a society will not accept or put up with God’s ministers being disobeyed, attacked and disrespected. When this happens outside a hockey game for no apparent reason in a mostly peaceful city, I believe it shows that the future order of our orderly society may depend on it.

 

 

The Night Before A Soldier’s Christmas

(photo by taylorhellar)

Apparently, this poem was written by a peace keeping soldier stationed overseas. It’s a good reminder to us at Christmas time that our soldiers deserve our thanks and need our prayers. Read it with your family and then include a prayer for our soldiers in your mealtime prayer.

The Night Before A Soldier’s Christmas

T’was the night before Christmas,
He lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house,
Made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney,
With presents to give,
And to see just who,
In this home did live.

I looked all about,
A strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents,
Not even a tree.

No stocking by the mantle,
Just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures,
Of far distant lands.

With medals and badges,
Awards of all kinds,
A sober thought,
Came through my mind.

For this house was different,
It was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a soldier,
Once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping,
Silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor,
In this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,
The room in such disorder,
Not how I pictured,
The life of a soldier.

Was this the hero,
Of whom I’d just read?,
Curled up on a poncho,
The floor for a bed?

I realized the families,
That I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these soldiers,
Who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world,
The children would play,
And grownups would celebrate,
A bright Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom,
Each month of the year,
Because of the soldiers,
Like the one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder,
How many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve,
In a land far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees, and started to cry.

The soldier awakened,
And I heard a rough voice,
‘Santa, don’t cry.
This life is my choice.

I fight for freedom,
I don’t ask for more,
My life is my God’s,
My country, my corps.’

The soldier rolled over,
And drifted to sleep,
I couldn’t control it,
I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours,
So silent and still,
And we both shivered,
From the cold night’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave,
On that cold, dark night,
This guardian of honor,
So willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over,
With a voice, soft and pure,
Whispered, ‘Carry on Santa,
It’s Christmas Day, all is secure.’

One look at my watch,
And I knew he was right,
‘Merry Christmas my friend,
And to all a good night.’