LETTERS: POLICE OFFICERS ARE 'MINISTERS' OF GOD

To the editor:

In the midst of all the human rhetoric that has taken place in the past few days over the incident between our local law enforcement officers and a gathering of over 100 people in the area of Good Hope and Middle streets (with six police officers being injured), we might all find it beneficial to listen to what God himself had to say to us on the subject of those who govern us.

In Romans 13:4, we are told that we are to submit to the governing authority that God has placed over us (including our police officers) because he "is God's minister to you for god. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for his is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil."

Please note that God is referred to five times in Romans 13:1-5.

In other words, God himself makes it very clear to us that whatever government we are under right now exists by his permissive will. Thus, when we resist those whom God has placed over us, we are resisting God himself, and that is a most serious sin.

By such resistance, we can rightfully expect condemnation in our civil courts as well as punishment in God's court of divine justice if we do not repent and seek God's forgiveness through faith in the sin-cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.

Our police officers do not "bear the sword in vain." They are armed when they go to work for their own protection, the protection of law-abiding citizens and the apprehension of those who refuse to comply with our laws. They do not "bear the sword in vain" for our own good so that we can live our lives in peace and quietness wherever we happen to live.

We all need to keep in mind that our police officers are, indeed, "God's ministers (servants) for our good."

Also, our police officers need to keep in mind that they are "God's ministers (servants) for our good."

God expects us citizens to show our governing authorities, including police officers, godly respect, honor and submission.

On the other hand, God expects our governing authorities, including police officers, to conduct themselves in a godly manner as they fulfill their daily vocation.

I am confident that our governing authorities will sort things out and come to a God-pleasing conclusion as a result of this most recent unfortunate incident.

In the meantime, may we as citizens of Cape Girardeau keep our governing authorities in our daily prayers and give them support and encouragement as they serve as God's servants for our good.

Let's commend our police chief and entire staff for the desire to keep our streets safe and our community a community that continues to be blessed by God.

The REV. DAVID V. DISSEN, Pastor Emeritus

Trinity Lutheran Church

Cape Girardeau