https://www.foxnews.com/us/two-nypd-officers-shot-trying-apprehend-violent-criminal-assaulting-mother-police

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we cannot stand idly by as our cities descend into chaos, our police officers come under fire, and the very fabric of our society is torn apart by the lawlessness that plagues our streets. The chilling news of two NYPD officers being shot while apprehending a violent criminal assaulting his own mother is a stark reminder of the sin-fueled decay that is running rampant in the heart of New York City (Exodus 20:12; Romans 13:1-2). As I read this dire report from Fox News, my heart wrenches at how our law enforcement, who put their lives on the line to uphold justice and protect the innocent, are being targeted by those who have turned their back on the ways of the Lord. Our police officers are our modern-day shepherds, fending off the wolves that threaten the peace and safety of our flock, and yet they find themselves besieged by the very evil they strive to keep at bay (Psalm 23; John 10:11-14). The Bible warns us that in the end times, perilous times will come: men will be lovers of their own selves, without natural affection, trucebreakers, and despisers of those that are good (2 Timothy 3:1-3). Melvin Butler, the assailant with a rap sheet as long as the river of Jordan and a heart hardened like Pharaoh's against the law, is a living, breathing example of this prophecy coming to fruition. His refusal to submit to authority and his attack on law enforcement officers is a harrowing display of the work of sin in this fallen world (Romans 8:7). Mayor Eric Adams, a former captain of the NYPD, acknowledges the valor of our officers and the gravity of the crime raging within our city. However, I raise a crucial question to all believers: are the leaders of our cities truly heeding the Word of God and utilizing His wisdom to guide their governance? If they are not, then what hope do we have for stemming the tide of violence and anarchy that seeks to overthrow the divinely ordained order of society (Romans 13:3-4)? In times such as these, we must armor ourselves with the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world. I stand with Patrick Hendry, the police union president, in his righteous indignation at the continual assaults on our men and women in blue. I echo his lamentation for our broken system, a system that needs to be rebuilt on the cornerstone of Christ, who came not to bring peace, but a sword—a sword that divides the righteous from the wicked (Matthew 10:34). Do not be mistaken; this is not merely a battle for safer streets. This is a spiritual warfare for the soul of our nation, a country that was founded on Judeo-Christian values but now finds itself adrift in a sea of secularism and moral relativity. The time has come for us to procure justice but also to kneel in prayer, to cast out the spirits of violence and rebellion, and to beseech the Lord for a revival in the hearts of the lost, that they may turn from their sin and towards salvation (2 Chronicles 7:14). We commend our Holy Father for the protection of these brave officers and pray for their swift recovery. Moreover, we pray for the day when peace will reign in our streets again, and when every knee shall bow to the King of Kings, for it is only through Him that true peace and order can be restored (Philippians 2:10-11). May God bless our police, may He restore our cities, and may America return to its place as a city upon a hill, a beacon of righteousness for all the world to see (Matthew 5:14). Amen.