The Police, Authority, Responsibility and a social contract

The events in Ferguson, MO have tragically highlighted the role of police people in our society.  My own perspective is as an English immigrant to the US, and now a US citizen.  There are comparisons between policing in the UK and US that stand out to me:

In the UK, police people usually see themselves as a part of the society that they serve.

In the US , police people often sees themselves as apart from society, in authority over it, including the privilege to use deadly force.

    There are guns in the UK, as there are in the US ... not so many, for sure, but the bad guys have them, so      let's not think that makes a huge difference.

     In the UK a police person would say to you "I am a policeman(woman/officer)".  

     In the US a police person would say to you "I am police", as if it were a nationality or a tribal identity, rather that a role.

     

In the UK the police are understood to be a non-military part of an integrated society.  Police people are us, in uniform, protecting us and keeping the peace.

In the US the police are understood to be a military force, separate and distinct from 'us' who have authority to enforce the law upon us.

In the ancient world, the Romans saw nature as chaotic and terrifying.  To create peace, the natural order had to be vanquished, suppressed and conquered with brute force - or else it would get out of hand.  Everything Roman is about domination, enforcement.

By Contrast, the Greek saw nature as complex, manageable, organic.  To create peace one lived in harmony with the natural order, coercing, motivating and training it.  Everything Greek is about interaction, communication, appreciation. 

To be sure, I don't many many police people on America.  The ones I do know are wise, kind and gentle people whom I trust.  But then again, I live in New Hampshire, which along with Iowa is one of the safest of all the States. To be sure also, the police in the UK are not perfect, and I read of scandals in the 18 years I have lived mainly in the US.

I hope for a sea-change in American society where our police leaders shift from Roman to Greek.  I hope to never hear again about law 'enforcement', but about policing of, for and by our society.

Our Father

Our Father,

Whose existence fills and beautifies where You are,
May Your name alone among all names, be honored, revered and worshipped.
May Your holy reign come fully into force here, where we are.
May Your desire, wishes and intentions direct all things,
especially where we are, just like where You are
Indeed may those two places be the same!  And I beg you, start this revolution in me!

I'm utterly dependent on You, moment by moment, for every kind of food that I need,
Only You can forgive me for my selfish, disobedient, foolish, brokenness,
Teach me to be forgiving like You are, towards other people
Protect me from my vulnerabilities and weaknesses,
Protect and save me from darkness and evil

You alone are King of all existence!
All power belongs to You!
My grand and noble Emperor and Father!

May all this be so, now and for all times.
May this be so.

Bible; Sacraments; Charity; Fellowship

I don’t like the word ‘evangelical’ any more.  What it denotes has been lost it what it now connotes, which all too often leads to the word being used either as a fundamentalist banner to be waved at perceived enemies, or as a pejorative term by those who embrace other theological or social positions. 

Instead I’ll use ‘friendship with Jesus Christ’ as a means to express the high, wonderful and mysterious calling of walking The Way of Jesus.   Friendship with Christ involves encountering the Risen Word of God (Jesus) in ever-new ways, as we engage in a life which is wholly a life of worship to God.  That’s all well and good, but how is the Christian, or rather, the friend of God, to put one foot in front of another as we walk along the Way?

Four words are useful here:

Bible – the written word of God, in which we encounter The Living Word of God.  The Bible may be read, studied and lived out.  This is the primary means of encountering Christ.  The Holy Spirit, who always points to Christ, will lift the words from the pages into our hearts and minds as we read, and hours, days, week and years afterwards.

Sacraments:  Christ comes to us in special ways as we obey his commands.  All Christians recognize that we encounter Christ in baptism and in communion (Eucharist).  I personally would also embrace marriage as a sacrament, for those who choose it.  Catholic and Orthodox Christians will embrace other practices as sacraments too, such as confirmation/chrismation, holy orders, reconciliation and anointing with oil.  In all cases, these acts of obedience and dependence upon Christ acts as channels in our lives through which Christ gives Himself to us.

Charity – or perhaps Charity and Service.   John Wesley would call them acts of charity – the active living out of the good news by loving others, especially the marginalized, those with no voice, the humble and our enemies.  When we live out our trust in Jesus, it honors Him, brings Him glory and makes us more like Him – we are changed by obedience.  We encounter Christ.  

Fellowship.  Much as the church is easy to criticize, it is Jesus’ idea, and His gift to each of us.  We belong together.  Church is where we can bring our gifts and talents to bless others, and also be blessed by others; where we can become known, and know others; where we can pray for and be prayed for.  Fellowship - the living and worshiping together – reflects the relationships within the Holy Trinity, into which all humankind is invited – by amazing grace.   As we fellowship, forgive and build each other up, we encounter Christ and become more Christ-like.