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Christian police officer
Q: Can a law enforcement professional maintain Christianity? James
A: Excellent question Constable! Your use of the word "maintain" is particularly astute. It sounds like the Lord is urging you on to better things.
Initially, as a general rule, a newly saved person should keep their station in life. This is clearly stated in 1 Co. 7:17-24, with broad application from marriage to slavery. I'm sure it includes one's occupation too, until that is, God decides to promote you, (though you may struggle with Him like I did.)
As a side note; applying this is painless most of the time, but consider when you have just led a sex-worker to Christ, and she has to go to work the next day. What do you say to a prostitute?
That example highlights the dilemma a policeman will immediately be confronted with: Carrying out their occupation soon involves sin.
All police forces are utterly corrupt, not just Asian ones. If you don't agree you are either; very naive, have no coloured friends, or possess a vested interest in denying the obvious.
So the newly saved officer will rapidly have his, or her, integrity challenged. That will be the point at which they have to choose to compromise their walk with Christ, and their reason for existing, or hand in their badge.
Those who honour the Lord: He provides for. Those who betray Him, are honoured by the world. Who's honour do you want?
Also, bear in mind that in most countries, to serve as a police officer, you have to be willing, and are trained, to kill people; and that is obviously the antithesis of Christianity. (Lk. 9:55-56 KJV, Lk. 6:27-36) Those who live by the sword, perish by it. That goes for the military too. Real Christian soldiers never carry guns. They lay down their lives for their enemies.
So the answer to your question is; yes, if they are willing to forsake everything for Christ, starting with their badge. Mtt. 10:37-39, Mk. 8:34-37. Are you willing James?
Strange Tongues
Q: I pray in tongues, and also speak in tongues when the Holy Spirit prompts me to.
I have heard people praying out loud in "tongues" that sounds like dadadada da da da da, and frankly, I don't believe they're real tongues. I have a feeling of dread when I hear them talk this way. Could the Holy Spirit be giving me discernment that this is not the real thing? What do you think of this kind of tongue? Melinda
A: Genuine tongues in personal prayer, worship, and also speaking a tongues message with interpretation, bring tremendous blessing, and must be done. Fellowships that don't exercise this Gift are crippled (1 Co. 12:1, 1 Co. 14:1,39).
New believers should be encouraged to; get the Acts 2 power baptism, practise exercising tongues, and eagerly seek all the Gifts. They function by faith, and that requires confidence building in a group. It is better to have excess, and trim it back if it goes wrong, than to stifle anything the Holy Spirit wants to do. We want to cultivate the atmosphere of freedom and liberty the Spirit of God brings (2 Co. 3:17), or we descend into the snare of dead formalism.
Some new tongues do sound a bit repetitive, preachers call these "baby tongues", and encourage the person to develop rather than chastise them.
Operation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit is vital in these final days, especially in nations where the Bible is forbidden, and Christians are persecuted. Most Chinese Christians are Spirit-filled tongues-talkers.
However, all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are counterfeited by the Devil (2 Co. 11:14, 2 Th. 2:9). Many cults have a demonic version of "tongues". Witness Satan's Catholic "Charismatic" Movement.
On the mission field you get to see all sorts of raw demonic manifestations, and praise God the Lord always lets you know on the inside, and how to deal with it.
In your case, if you really sense it is not the Holy Spirit, have a quiet word with your fellowship leaders. They'll have more experience than you, and will know what to do.
Christian Meditation
Q: I understand that I should be reading the Bible, praying, and meditating. My question is; what do I meditate about? What should my main focus be exactly? Donnie
A: Perfect question! Start with Phil. 4:8, there God tells us to meditate on seven things. Look them up now Donnie.
Next, fix your thoughts on Jesus, as God instructs in Heb. 3:1, and The Holy Spirit wrote two whole letters through Peter to stimulate us to wholesome thinking (2 Pe. 3:1).
Romans chapter 12 tells us to renew our minds, and attitudes in very specific ways, and the Holy Spirit enables us to do so, because we have the mind of Christ (1 Co. 2:16). Eph. 4:23 echoes this.
And if you still don't get it; Col. 3:2 tells you specifically what to think about.
