Federal Air Marshals (FAM) fly the friendly skies alongside all of us other passengers regularly. On an international flight, you can guarantee there is at least one, usually two or four marshals on board. On domestic flights, typically they fly on less than 5% of flights.
According to TSA.gov, “The Federal Air Marshal Service detects, deters and defeats hostile acts against aviation. Federal Air Marshals are armed federal law enforcement officers deployed on passenger flights worldwide to protect airline passengers and crew against the risk of criminal and terrorist violence. Federal Air Marshals perform investigative work and participate in multi-agency task forces and in land-based investigative assignments to proactively fight terrorism. The Federal Air Marshal Service promotes public confidence in the safety of the nation’s aviation system.”
Federal Air Marshals “blend in with other passengers on board aircraft and rely heavily on their training, including investigative techniques, criminal terrorist behavior recognition, firearms proficiency, aircraft-specific tactics, and close quarters self-defense measures to protect the flying public.”
Needed and Helpful But Limited
FAMs perform a needed and helpful task in the airline industry. Although they have never caught a terrorist in the act of committing terrorism in the skies, they serve as an incredible deterrent to those who may consider such acts. Furthermore, the flying public certainly feel better knowing they are on board doing their duty.
Their role, although incredibly important onboard a plane, requires an undercover presence. In other words, the average passenger cluelessly flies from point A to point B without knowing who the Marshal is.
In fact, as things can and do at times go wrong on board, the FAM limits his or her involvement. The primary goal of a FAM is to secure the cabin of the plane from any kind of terrorist intention. They maintain anonymity at all times unless they must forcefully handle a threat.
Reflections Related to Christians
As I recently flew, I considered how many times fellow Christians or myself function more like a FAM than we do a supposedly normal Christian. Is it possible as a Christian that we function more undercover and quietly than we do as a light or salt?
Jesus taught:
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
Are You an Undercover Christian
I conclude today with a simple question for both you and me. Do I function today more as an undercover Christian who rarely let’s people know his or her identity or am I more like a light-and-salt Christian who lives overtly for Jesus Christ?
My concern, of course, is that way too many of us function primarily undercover. We fail to engage often as followers of Christ. However, different than FAMs who function best and keep everyone else safer if they stay undercover, when we do that as Christians, we actually jeopardize those around us. God intended for us to shine and make a difference, not covertly act only in extreme circumstances. We are to live our life in Christ openly.
Today, are you this kind of Christian?
Image Credit Suhyeon Choi
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
