Law Enforcer Tells How Believers Can Arm Themselves for Spiritual Battle
by Allie Martin
May 9, 2005
(AgapePress) - A veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says just as police officers must properly use armor and equipment in the line of duty, believers must properly utilize God's spiritual armor.In his new book, Take Up the Shield (Genesis Publishing, 2005), Tony Miano uses the law officer's uniform to illustrate the "armor of God" described in the sixth chapter of Ephesians. He says while police officers are called to fight the physical battle against crime daily, Christians are called on to fight the spiritual battle against evil.
"In order to fight the spiritual fights that we fight every day," Miano says, "we have to have a life marked by truthfulness, a life built upon the truth of God's Word. We have to wear the breastplate of righteousness, living our lives in such a godly way that the people around us can count on us to make the right decision in any set of circumstances."
The author says he has had many opportunities as a Christian peace officer, not only to gain a police official's unique perspective on scriptural truths, but also to share the gospel, even in the line of duty. "I'm often meeting people when they have just experienced some sort of tragedy in their life, or some type of critical incident, or are facing some type of stress. People rarely call us just to chat," he explains.
"Usually, it's something that's difficult in their life," Miano continues, "and they've called us out to come and try to help them handle that. And there have been times throughout my career where it's just been very appropriate to share the gospel with people like that." In fact, the Christian officer says a typical day "on the job" is rife with opportunities to reach out to people in need of spiritual as well as physical help.
Miano is a chaplain with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He is also founder and director of Ten-Four Ministries, an organization that gives practical and spiritual support to the law enforcement community, which the chaplain describes as not only a family but also a mission field.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.© 2005 AgapePress all rights reserved.
