Religious freedom has certainly been in the news for many years, amplified by the controversy years ago over many elements of President Obama’s healthcare program and the religious freedom bills in Indiana and Arkansas. But if I am honest, I sometimes wonder why Christian police officers are so concerned about religious freedom. Especially when don’t seem to exercise our freedom very often.
As I travel around the country and speak to other believing law enforcement officers, I sometimes ask them about their own efforts to share the gospel or defend the faith. Sadly, very few of us say we regularly share our Christian beliefs in any setting. Think about that for a minute. When was the last time you shared the truth about Jesus with someone at work, at school, at family gatherings or (dare I say) in public? I bet if you are honest, it’s been a while. For the majority of us (yes, the majority) it’s probably never happened.
I’ve written about evangelism quite a bit at ColdCaseChristianity.com, and I think there are several obstacles (either real or imagined) that keep us from sharing what we know to be true. Here is my list, hyperlinked to articles I’ve written to help you overcome whatever fears may have:
1. We mistakenly think our beliefs about Christianity are entirely subjective
2. We think we have to be a theologian or apologist to share effectively
3. We aren’t sure who we should share with
4. We are simply afraid to take the first step
5. We think we have to know someone well before we can share the truth
6. We’re not sure how to engage people (especially people we don’t know well)
7. We’re afraid of feeling uncomfortable at any point in the process
8. We hold pessimistically low expectations of being successful
9. We have been conditioned to speak a Christian language foreign to the secular culture
10. We think our success as evangelists is entirely dependent on our individual effort
Take a look at that list; I bet your hesitancy is represented somewhere. It’s time to get busy, folks. Don’t let your excuses become obstacles. If we want to be consistent in our concerns and objections related to the shrinking religious freedoms we are experiencing, we need to be a people who actively exercise our religious freedom on a daily basis. We can’t simply complain about losing something we never used in the first place. Exercise your freedom. Speak up. Share the truth. If we want to be consistent in our concerns and objections related to the shrinking religious freedoms we are about to experience, we need to be a people who actively exercise our religious freedom on a daily basis. Click To Tweet
M.C. Williams
January 2, 2024 at 10:23 am
My brother, thanks for sharing. As you know, my calling to share the hope we have in Christ with the lost comes with a “Code 3” (lights and siren) sense of urgency. Tragically, most of our police brethren “believe” in God (so do the demons — James 2:19) but they don’t “believe” (Mark 1:15) in the context of having surrendered to Him in faith. Most think that they can “earn” or “deserve” salvation because of what we do as cops (a lie — Ephesians 2:8-9). The call continues — staying the course in Christ my Captain.
Jeff
January 2, 2024 at 2:50 pm
Great article. I had an opportunity to pray with an officer in the hospital and her entire family after I asked if I could. No one objected so I joyfully and completely Gospelized the prayers rightly giving glory to God. We need this every day!!!
Steve Rittgers
January 2, 2024 at 3:15 pm
Interestingly, when we step out in faith to share the Good News it has a secondary effect that isn’t often discussed; the one sharing is strengthened in the inner man/woman. Which in turn helps us when temptation and other obstacles come our way.
God works everything together for His glory and our good.