I have had the honor of serving with Chaplain and former Officer Jim Bontrager for many years now. He is both a dear friend and brother-in-Christ who shares my heart cry for police officers and their families. Each year, Jim shares a letter with the officers and families who attend the annual Officer Appreciation Day events (first in Middlebury, Indiana for nearly a quarter century and for the last three years in nearby Sturgis, Michigan). I am pressed to share Jim's message with you here. Jim writes:
If you are like most law enforcement families, it's been a tough year. The culture’s mad rush to condemn the actions of officers before the facts even come out is disheartening. Politicians and leadership failing to have the backs of officers is a tough pill to swallow. Things getting out of hand where officers are afraid of being the next media sensation jeopardizes their safety. It’s been tough.
That being said, I want you to know that -- as a law enforcement family -- you ARE loved! Your service and sacrifices as a family ARE GREATLY appreciated!! Please, NEVER forget that!! This is but a small cross section of the community that greatly appreciates YOU!!
As we look to our nation’s future, I can’t help but be concerned. We’re polarized as never before. We have far leftist forces threatening violence should things not go their way next month. It’s because of this concern I write to you personnally. I write to explain what my heart cry has been from the beginning: to see you and your family understand the significance of your Heaven-sent calling and to fully understand the tools at your disposal to do it successfully!! What follows will reflect a faith conviction that not only I hold, but also one that many of our leaders throughout history have held as well. It also contains hope that you and your family can anchor your confidence in as you face the future.
AMERICA IS IN TROUBLE! More so than any time in my 60 years on earth.
”At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!
All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”
Why does a country commit suicide? The same reason cops do -- hopelessness… forgetting the significance of their mission.
Our purpose as a nation and your mission as a cop go hand in hand. In the words of the Declaration of Independence, ”We hold these truths to be self evident. That all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. THAT TO SECURE THESE RIGHTS GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED AMONG MEN, DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED." (emphasis added)
Our founders held a firm conviction that there is a Creator who granted mankind rights not to be taken away. That there’s a threat to those rights and those tasked with addressing that threat. Civil government! As a law enforcement officer, YOU are the enforcement mechanism of Civil Government! The question is, What is the nature of the threat? Is it purely physical? Or is there more at work?
It’s interesting to note that, at a time when we seem to be on the edge of committing suicide as a nation, that we’re seeing all time high record law enforcement suicide numbers. Why?
Think about when you first began this job. Fresh off the FTO process you loved it and would’ve done it for free. “I can’t believe I’m getting paid to do this,” you thought to yourself. Now fast forward 15 years on average: same clientele as when you first began, same less than perfect leadership. In 2019, four times as many cops chose to take their own lives as died from felonious gunfire.
What is THAT? One minute you’re having more fun than should be legal and 15 years later, with the same ingredients, same mad, bad and sad people, same less than perfect leadership, you’re ready to take your life! It’s evil! Evil works to destroy your mindset. It works to destroy your relationships. It works to get you so upset about the things you can’t control until it affects the things you do!
In its wake are broken marriages, depression and hopelessness. IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THAT WAY!
God wants to give you wisdom for the coming days, he wants you to be victorious over whatever comes your way and he wants you to triumph But that all starts with triumphing over the hardest battle: being honest about ourselves so we can effectively be used by Him to deal with others.
In Romans Chapter 13, verses 8-10, Paul distills all that God wants from us, “…whatever commandment there may be, are summed up in this one command, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ Love does no harm to its neighbor therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” God’s will for man is that we respect and love each other. You have a job because self-centered people reject that command. They don’t care about their obligation to live in peace with their neighbor and NOT to harm them… They lie, steal, murder, rape, batter … all to get what they want.
As a profession, it’s easy for us to look down on these “dirt bags" all while turning a blind eye to our own sin and selfishness. Have you ever lied? What does that make you? Have you ever stolen? Even something small? What does that make you? Jesus stated that if you look at a woman (or a man) lustfully that you committed adultery in your heart. What does lying, stealing and adultery do to relationships? It destroys them. The question is what will you do when you stand before a Holy, morally perfect God who will hold you accountable?
Hopefully it will be what I and the majority of those serving you today have done. Be honest about our sin. Ask God for his forgiveness. Turn from our wicked ways. Thank him for sending His son Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for our sins and invite Him to teach us how to live as He designed us: as those who deeply care about others.
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:9, 13)
Dealing honestly with our sins before God prepares us to be used by him to address others. The coming days have the potential to be some of our most difficult as a nation, but God WILL give you wisdom if you ask for it (James 1:5). He will protect you if your heart is right toward him (Psalm 34:7). He will protect you from liars and those that falsely accuse (Psalm 31:19-20). As the warrior David stated, ”I know you are pleased with me for my enemies do not triumph over me. Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forevermore.” (Psalm 41:1-12)
“May the God of hope fill you with Joy and Peace as you trust in him that you may overflow with hope and that by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13). You CAN trust Him! He ordained your work, He WILL protect, provide and guide you in the coming days. Pray, trust and boldly stand for what is right!!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me [MC -- click on Jim's name below] if I can be an encouragement in any way. There ARE answers to this profession’s challenges!!
I echo Jim's encouragement and words of hope. While he addressed his letter to the law enforcement officers and their families who attended this year's Officer Appreciation Day, his words -- and mine -- are for all law enforcement officers and their families. Frankly, much of what he and I write here is for everyone.
Each week I share the following links (the KNOW GOD? section below) that provide further biblical context to Jim's invitation. And, like Jim, please reach out if we can be of further service (and both Jim and I are available to speak at your events).
Finally, if you've not been following this ministry for very long and want to know what it means to "breach the barricade" and "stand in the gap," then click on this past study (scroll down to the study) I shared on this subject (it includes a short video message from Jim as well): Breaching the Barricade.
Blessings.
MC
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KNOW GOD?
(1) Do you continue to hold to an utterly false hope that you can "earn" or otherwise "badge" your way into heaven and escape hell because you consider yourself to be a "good" cop or a "good person" (the "I'm good" mess)? That you can be "good" enough without knowing Christ as Lord and Savior? That mere "belief" is enough to "save" you (as our Lord, through James, tells us, "...even the demons believe, and tremble" -- James 2:19)? That you somehow "deserve" heaven because of your so-called "good" service in law enforcement? Take the Good Person Test and see how you do!
(2) Jesus' first recorded words in His earthly adult ministry included, "Repent and believe in the Good News..." (Mark 1:15). To repent is a "180" -- a complete, radical change of mind and heart as it relates to our sin (as God defines it). To "believe" (pisteuo in the original Greek -- a different word than James used in James 2:19) as Jesus intends it here is to wholeheartedly trust and surrender your life to Him in faith in the same way we have "faith" that our body armor will do its job against the rounds it is intended to stop; that a well-maintained weapon will function properly when used in against criminals intent on destroying us or others; or that our parachute will open when it is supposed to on a combat jump (we stake our very lives on it)! For more, see What does it mean to believe in Jesus?
(3) This same concept of "believe" (the saving kind) is further revealed in John 3:1-21 where Jesus says, "... you must be born again." Again, note our Lord's emphasis on the word "must" (not "may" or "should" or even "someday"): this is ultimately the life-saving AND life-changing personal relationship (and NOT "religion") with Jesus Christ that I stress here every week (see What does it mean to be a born again Christian?). HINT: there is no other kind.
(5) Need more? Then check out this powerful, short video message from Maj. Travis Yates: Cops and Salvation
(6) Have you now said "yes" to Jesus as Lord and Savior but are wondering what to do next? The "now what" is also vital in dealing with the issues that contribute to police suicide, PTSi and more. Click on, Now what?
MC
