We sat in an undercover car, encrypted police radio blasting as detectives spotted for a UC who was about to purchase an AK47. The crooks had counter surveillance to our surveillance, the UC and CI were chatting on the phone, as we strategized and plotted our next move. You check every possibility of what can go wrong. The most important criteria for any operation is to keep the detectives safe. We sat in the comfort of air conditioning, smoked glass windows, investigative flack jackets in the back seat and enough firepower to stop a small army. We watched intently as detectives called out the location of the suspects from their surveillance positions. 1351 delta, S-1 southbound on the C street. 1342 delta I’ve got the eye. We are away crossing the “L” street. He’s at the red ball, still S/B. Fresh green and were now North on San J. 1361 delta I’m taking over… 1361 D, S-1 just pulled a hard U-turn against the red looking for tails. I’m continuing N/B, who can pick him up? 1370Sam I’ve got him and he is hinked up. We are going to back off, Air do you have him? Afirm. He is again N/B. He took the left and now W/B…looks like he is 97 at the target address can someone pin the door. 1363 D I’ve got it. A police aircraft hovering at a high altitude peels away as the U.C.’s bed down for the deal.
Out of the blue the guy I’m with says…Do you think I have a reprobate mind? Huh? Do you think I have a reprobate mind? He is referring to a passage in Romans where the Apostle Paul discusses the out of control idolatry and celebration of sensuality that led to “wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity.” No! Why do you ask? You gay? We both laugh, He is the furthest thing in the world from being gay. He is a neat Christian man who loves God. No! he replied. I feel uncomfortable going to church. I get all sweaty, nervous, tense and uncomfortable. We sat in silence pondering his feelings.
The radio crackles, the CI is out and the address is 11366 N Street. He is carrying a bag…looks like it’s a go. The UC is away, let’s meet up to debrief at the Target. Surveillance cars take S-1 away and bed him down. He’ll be surprised when SWAT officers throw flash bangs through his windows to get his attention. The radio chatter of turns and a crook trying to make sure there is no tail fades away into the background as we get back to our discussion of being a reprobate.
So, what is your idea of church? Four walls; a roof; some uncomfortable pews; an offering and a message? Oh yea got to throw in a few hymns or praise songs with it. The kind where you sing the same verse 20 times to get emotional. If you are uncomfortable with that join the crowd. Many people our age are no longer impressed by TV land Christianity. He seemed to relax a little. We began to discuss what a church really is. We know for sure it was not a building. The early Christians met in homes. It wasn’t until hundreds of years later that an actual church building was erected. Even then it was modeled after Pagan temples, artifacts and all. We discussed the scriptures and how the church describes it as a group of people who have made a choice to follow Jesus. A church is God’s people, those who band together in worship, encourage each other, give to one another (especially those in poverty), hold each other accountable to this new way of life and invite others to the fold. God never intended for there to be 162 Protestant and Evangelical denominations, in the US and some 900,000 separate churches across the land.
To me the question is: how does one know if he is part of the Church (Colossians 1:24) and not a reprobate? 1 John chapters 3 and 4: We know we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love his brother is dead…we ought to lay down our life for our brothers (serious stuff). If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Let us not love with words or speech but actions and in truth.
Jesus’ favorite disciple wrote this. I believe he knew Jesus’ heart. This is his command: To believe in the name of his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.” I think Jesus was serious about loving our brothers in Christ.
The cell phone chirps. It’s the case agent: 1320S the reprobate just called the CI…he has a quarter pound of meth to sell.
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