An excerpt from the book
“Standing Strong Through the Storm”
by Paul Estabrooks and Jim Cunningham

Pages 83—84.

Responding to Harassment

Be PASSIVE! — P-A-S-S-I-V-E

P — Be Praying

Immediately ask God for grace and wisdom. Being arrested as a Christian means you are under a “larger” spiritual attack by your only adversary, Satan.

The police are his agents — not your enemy. Whatever you say — and do — has implications for other brothers and sisters around you!

“. .. but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors,” (Ecclesiastes 7:12b).

A — Be Accepting

Do not run, fight, resist, beg, plead — or believe you can get off easier by “cooperating.” The police are in control.

You have lost control and loss of control often produces anger.

“If a ruler anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great errors to rest. There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler,” (Ecclesiastes 10:4-5).

S — Be Sincere

Remain sincere. Be calm, polite and non-combatant. Do not bad mouth or admit to anything.

Suppose the police make an offer? Only a judge can “make an offer!”

Say nothing to the arresting or interrogating officer. Ask them to speak to your legal counsel!

“Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame” (Romans 10:11).

S — Be Still

Stay silent. Christians tend to “talk too much!” Many assume that by revealing information (truth) it is going to help their cause!

Do not sneer, mumble threats nor offer any information to convince them of your innocence,

“Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone,” (Proverbs 25:15).

I — Be Innovative

Appeal for whatever legal assistance is rightfully yours. Do not answer anything without receiving legal counsel from a known and respected person.

“if, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar,” (Acts 25:11).

V — Be Victorious

Spiritual battles require spiritual weapons. Be prepared with Bible verses memorized, knowing how to walk in obedience and understanding the power of prayer.

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases,” (Proverbs 2 1:1).

“…Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, ‘0 Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, 0 king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, 0 king that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up,” (Daniel 3:16-19).

E — Be Expectant

You will be mocked, humiliated, touched, abused and even beaten.

It happened to our LORD and He opened not His mouth, but went as a sheep to the slaughter. It will not be “easy!”

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered,” (Romans 8:36).

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