I envision a modern-day version of knighthood. A Protestant religious order, if you will, that performs the following functions:
- Local [parish] surveillance (a la the Neighborhood Watch programs);
- Safety patrols (a la the Guardian Angels);
- Service projects as a witness for Christ (a la the Paladins);
- Fighting crime and political corruption through investigative journalism (to be published on the order's website).
While I'm dreaming, let me dream a little bigger. Members of the order would be trained as medical 1st responders, so as to handle medical emergencies while on patrol, until the ambulance arrives. Local groups might also train in search and rescue techniques.
Training could be as involved as local individuals or groups desired for their service projects: auto mechanics, rappelling (not RE-pelling, please), firearms safety & instruction, becoming a CPR instructor, etc.
Local members of the order might look for gaps in the plans of their local or regional disaster agencies and make a niche for themselves by filling those gaps.
The order would appoint chaplains in each locale who would direct the devotional and evangelistic aspects of each local group. He would also lead in prayer or give short messages at community events sponsored by the order (e.g., CPR classes, self defense seminars, childhood safety classes, community surveillance groups, etc.)
The investigative journalism aspect of the order is, I think a suitable compromise in terms of pursuing justice. It would not leave us open to the same kinds of criminal charges that full-fledged vigilantes would face. However, bringing criminal activity and public corruption under public scrutiny is bound to have an effect resulting in suppression or possibly even prosecution of wrongdoers.
Members of the order engaged in this endeavor would have to be trained in journalistic methods and legal boundaries. Nonetheless, the American Establishment sees the 1st amendment of the US Constitution almost wholly as the "free press" amendment, so that this is probably the safest avenue for the order to take in pursuing justice for the guilty.
Local surveillance; safety patrols; service in both stable times and disaster; pursuing justice through investigative journalism -- a worldwide religious order with local teams of Christian Martialists who serve their King and their community -- that's my dream. The name for my dream organization? Order of the Cherethites, after David's personal guard, led by Benaiah the warrior-priest.
While this is as close to vigilantism as I'm willing to commit at this time, please recognize that a local chapter of this order could well serve as a nucleus for community organization in times of natural and economic disaster as well as civil disorder.
9 comments:
Where do I sign up?
I too have envisioned something like this. The problem I have to run into with being a modern day knight is (as it was back then) it is expensive and requires training. The knights of old had Barons and Orders that supported them. Before we can expect to flourish as Christian Martialists, we need the Barons (much older, wiser sheepdogs who are willing to help either physically or financially with the training of the knights). to show us how.
Forgot to mention that I consider this Blog a huge step in the right direction.
Thank you to gravelbelly for his hard work for the kingdom.
Thanks for the kind words, BK.
I agree that that it would be nice to have patrons who could support us financially, and the training and trainers are there for those who can afford them.
As I said, it's a dream -- one that I have neither the skills nor the resources to bring to fruition. But if our ideals define us, then I think there are Christian Martialist knights walking among us, whether we have the organization & finances or not.
Count me in.
I've been following the blog for a few weeks, and I'm impressed by your insight. I think I've been looking for something like this for a while and didn't realize it.
Welcome to the blog, WW.
I'd be very much pleased to "count you in" if there were something to count you into. As it now stands, however, I would not want to undertake starting an organization like this without at least a small group of solid, mature, worldview-conscious, experienced Christian men who share the same kind of vision.
Without the right leadership & guidance, something like this could very easily go astray and become something it should not. I would hate for my efforts to be hijacked by racist or other fringe groups.
Sad to say that, for now at least, the Order of Cherethites must remain in the rarefied atmosphere of personal fantasy.
But let me hasten to add that I am always encouraged by comments & look forward to hearing more from you.
Of course. I meant "in" in a hypothetical sense. :) Such a commitment could only be undertaken with mature and disciplined leadership under serious caution. But the kind of grassroots readiness you're discussing is valuable whether anything like that comes about or not.
In that case, I'll count you in ;-)
Where do I sign up?
...
Count me in.
Ha! That was my exact response; "If this were real, sign me up!"
Thank you to gravelbelly for his hard work for the kingdom.
Enthusiastically echoed!
And as long as we're talking in hypothetically.... When do we start? :-)
Spencer
Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Hypothetically . . . I would start as soon as my Christian Martialist efforts would (could?)provide a living for me and my family . . . or as soon as my present work would provide me with enough money + leisure to pursue this dream.
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