A Christian Response to Riots Left and Right

Riots in June and now riots in January—and there may be more as our nation transfers power from one administration to another. Peaceful protest is a protected right in this country, rioting is not.

Let’s set the politics aside and consider the biblical principles for a moment.

Religious liberty is clearly under attack in this country—politically, socially, in the media, with big tech. Frustration for political conservatives is running high. The sense that an election has been stolen and fear of the future has erupted in unrest. However, believers must not act in fear, anger, or frustration. This is the moment where our biblical sensibilities must shine. This is a moment to be different from the world around us.

Partiality (respect of persons) is wrong.

James says that it is important to treat one another (even those outside the faith) with equity. Even Old Testament Israel had a legal system designed to protect strangers in the land. It is wrong to judge others for certain behaviors and then excuse those same behaviors in the group of people we deem to be the “good guys.” Such an attitude reflects two different sets of standards for behavior. If you excused the riots in June, you are insanely inconsistent to condemn them now, yet there are many who are doing just that. If you condemned them in June and commend them now, you are equally inconsistent. If it was wrong then and it is wrong now. The same biblical and legal principles apply.

Injustice never excuses injustice.

“Life isn’t fair,” said every father when accused by his child of some parental injustice. It is true. Injustice is an ever-present aspect of living in a fallen world. Cain suffered injustice in the first recorded history outside the blessedness of the Garden of Eden. The Church in every age has suffered injustice. Every human being will suffer injustice at some point in life. We do not like it. It is right to want to prevent it, but it will still be with us.

However, we are never given permission by God to sin because we are sinned against. This is a foundational principle for Christian living. Children are not given permission to rebel because their parents have been inconsistent. God does not grant a wife permission to do violence to her husband because he has been unfaithful. Moses responded to the sin of the people by striking the rock and was still judged by God.

Every pastor knows that this is one of the things he faces in counseling most often. One person sins and the other complicates the matter by responding to sin sinfully.

God has given us specific instructions regarding how to respond to injustice.

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)

Repaying evil for evil is sin. It is not just something that is a bad idea. It is direct disobedience against a command of God. Obeying this command is not a sign of weakness. It takes tremendous strength to do the right thing when everyone around you is doing the wrong thing. It takes strength to do the right thing when it costs you dearly.

Honesty is essential even if others are not honest. It is an interesting word Paul uses here. It could be translated as honest or honorable or simply good. Our response to everything that happens around us must be characterized as good. Acting in an ugly, unkind, unloving way is not good. Lying is not good. Passing on the lies of others is equally not good. Those ugly Facebook arguments are not good. Neither are a lot of the re-posts. Believers need to consider the ethics of what they re-post on social media without vetting it for truthfulness. Our responsibility is to communicate the truth, not just get “likes” or repost things that confirm our own biases.

We should seek to live peaceably even with sinners in a fallen world. This is not always possible but it should be our goal. This includes living peaceably with the neighbor whose lawn campaign signs are different than your own. It also includes obeying the law.

Avoid taking vengeance. But how do I do that? If I have suffered injustice and no one is standing up for me, should I not stand up for myself? There is nothing wrong with exercising your legal rights, but executing vengeance is another matter.

We always have a higher court to which we can appeal.

The Supreme Court is not the highest court. There is a God in heaven who not only sees all, but also understands all, is all-righteous, and always just. Paul says that He WILL repay. This is His promise. He cares about cheating, injustice, murder, blasphemy, the misuse, and abuse of His children, and more. When the justice system of man fails, the justice system of God always prevails.

So we can suffer injustice, not only without responding sinfully but also with inexplicable kindness because we KNOW that the God of heaven will make things right. As surely as Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, He will repay. He cannot break His promises.

We have an opportunity right now to live out the instructions that Paul gave to the Romans. We have an opportunity to depend upon the justice of our God.  Let’s do this right.