Front Line

Where is the Front Line, when we think about the police?
Will the police be able to deliver the service we expect from them, if the 20% cuts are implemented? The BBC reports that 'The chief inspector of constabulary says some police forces in England and Wales will struggle to make cuts without losing front line officers.' Of course, the argument will then move to agreeing who are the front line officers! How can the front line work efficiently, without adequate support and wise deployment? Those who make the big policy statements seldom seem to work out the details, and then we all wonder why things don't work our well.
In other areas of public service, the same arguments apply. In the Health Service and in education, the emphasis is on those delivering the front line service. It is assumed by many that only those on the front line are being useful. I doubt if this is true. Others are playing their part too.
Turning my thoughts to followers of Jesus, where is the Front Line? And who is serving on the Front Line? Who are full-time Christians, and who are the part-timers?
Just asking the questions identifies the difficulties which arise from this thinking.
When Jesus spoke of his followers as salt and light, he addresses this issue.
 '“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavour? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.' (Matthew 5.13-14)
The point is that salt does not suddenly stop being salty - its nature stays the same, whatever the context. Unless it is salty, it is useless. And the lights that Jesus was talking about didn't have an on-off switch. The light was shining because it is light.
So, all followers of Jesus are on the front line today and every day. There is no such things as an off duty Christian. At no time in the day is it safe for us to think we can let down our guard, and be ourselves. Every moment requires us to keep close to Jesus. That is quite a challenge. Are you up for it?
Best wishes,
Richard