Street Protests and Widespread Chaos!

Shall We Rebel, Defy and Disobey—or Shall We Surrender, Submit and Obey?

Just now there is a lot of chaos in America. It is hard to turn on any media outlet without being exposed to the disturbances that have enveloped the land.

What do we mean? Presently, from the West Coast to the East Coast, from the North to the South, many are incensed and demand to be heard! It’s probably safe to say that none of us expected this sort of upheaval, especially in the midst of the pandemic that has occupied our mind.

At this point, we find it bizarre that one incident involving a black man (whether he was guilty or not guilty has yet to be determined at this writing) has led to such chaotic conditions. It is as though dropping a pencil in school (which was wrong in itself) would lead to such massive and unjustified responses! Just here, we are not referring to guilt or innocence, but only to the massive reactionary forces unleashed by this backlash.

Much of what we write here will not refer directly to whether the police or the rioters are guilty. Hopefully all (especially those who profess Christ) will agree that rioting is wrong–and the rioters are wrong. Further, we know that much of the rioting is not at all peaceful but wicked and reactionary. We know that they are looting which is a word that means “stealing” and taking what is not theirs. As we read Romans 1:28-32, we see a graphic view of how God looks on the character of this happening. We know that thieves (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) and those who steal (Romans 2:21; Ephesians 2:28) are in the wrong and do sin. And sinners will face the burning wrath of God (Ephesians 5:7-8) and death (Romans 6:23).

We want to emphasize here several elements that should help us to evaluate things more accurately, more wisely, and more dispassionately. For example, we want to settle strongly that true Christians will refuse to be pulled into ethnic strife. Such strife is the human tendency but Christ’s followers will not allow themselves to take sides in this conflict. As best we can, let’s evaluate things and view things as God would want.

First, God does not hold ethnic favorites. In other words, He doesn’t side with one portion of society and reject another portion, simply because of the color of one’s skin, or one’s background, or one’s geographical location. He doesn’t care about one’s gender, or financial income, or intelligence, or age. This is good and should be reassuring. (Just here we are not referring to the morality or immorality of our situations in life.)

Second, we are not here discussing other issues that are of great concern in society. Thus, we are not discussing one’s criminal background. We are not defending one’s criminal record. We are not discussing whether one is poor or rich, whether one is young or older. This is interesting information but not germane to our present discussion. We agree with other law-abiding citizens that we must be opposed to breaking the law, societal disobedience, and evil thought and behavior. Thus, it is wrong for one to violate the legal statues in society. If a criminal in the jail or prison system has broken the law, we need to recognize this. We don’t demean this, or speak evil of this, downplay this, or demonstrate against this.

We might say at this point, that (if we are true Christians) we are forbidden to disobey the higher powers of the civil government. God’s instructions about this are too clear to misunderstand. Notice these unambiguous commands and see if one can misunderstand them:

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves (Romans 13:1-2).

How clear! We are to be in subjection (we are to obey) governing authorities. The Witnesses used to say that this refers to Jehovah’s Witness authorities (the 8 or 10 “governing board” members in Brooklyn, New York). But this clearly refers to civil authorities—not religious authorities (especially authorities over a false cult).. Paul continues by saying that God is the one who instituted these authorities. If one “opposes” or disobeys these civil authorities, he or she has disobeyed God’s own ordinance or will. If we do oppose or disobey such authorities, we have rejected God’s own representatives. This is not a good place to be!

We also read: “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed” (Titus 3:1). This means that we are to be subject to civil authorities and rulers. We should be obedient people. We must not at all be known for being rebellious!

Another clear instruction is found in 1 Peter 2:13-14: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.” Interestingly we then read, “For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men” (v. 15). In other words, we are not to disobey the governing authorities. This submission will prove to others that we are not rebellious or insubmissive.

All of this shows that we definitely must avoid the marching, the parading, the demonstrating that some unbelievers are willing to do to make their point to others. This would be a shameful thing! Utterly irresponsible.

The true child of God knows that the way of Christ is impartial. As Peter said, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34b-35). Just as God is not “partial” regarding one’s salvation and acceptance by Him, so He is not partial regarding the ethnic background of people. As James wrote, “If you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:9).

God is “colorblind” (to use a trite expression). He accepts blacks, browns, whites, and people from all colors. He accepts the Chinese, the Indian, the Middle Eastern people, the African, the South American, the North American, and the person from the islands of the world. Regardless of parentage or color, God is more concerned about one’s relationship to Him.

Let me emphasize this. Since God is unconcerned about the color of one’s skin, one’s gender, one’s occupation, one’s intelligence, one’s place of origin, and such factors, is He unconcerned about a person’s spiritual state? It would seem that only a person’s spiritual relationship with Him is of ultimate concern. In fact, down through the years, God has emphasized that we are greatly concerned about whether a person has been born of God or not, whether a person is saved or not, whether a person has become a new creation or not (John 3:3-7; Acts 2:38-41; 2 Corinthians 5:17). This should guide our own views.

Thus we must totally condemn a person’s rioting in Minneapolis, or Atlanta, or Philadelphia, or Pittsburgh, or Los Angeles. Such behavior has no place in our lives or those in Saint Louis, or Dallas, or any other place such as this. This is wicked and the child of God must totally renounce this. Isn’t this what God, through the Holy Spirit, is saying in Romans 13:1-2 or 1 Peter 2:13-14?

One thing that we cannot understand about this has to do with “religious” people. We know that there are some preachers, teachers, or priests who are endorsing this wicked, rebellious, and disorderly behavior! This is hypocrisy and it must be condemned with severest terms. Notice that we are closing our eyes to the political divides in this country (whether Democrats, or Republicans, or Independents) that may influence this issue.

By the way, we can see the wisdom in God’s instructions that we are not to be “political.” Maybe we remember the words of the Lord Jesus before He was arrested: “My kingdom is not of this world; if My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm” (John 18:36). We are not to take sides with unbelieving and disobedient people but are to keep ourselves “aloof” from political strife.

There are so many factors wrong with the rioting, the bloodshed, the disobedience of the present situation that we must strongly condemn it all. Someone said that it is just as though we were living in Sodom again—in which a whole culture had given themselves over to sexuality. We are not discussing sexual immorality here, but civil disobedience, to unruly behavior, or to the flesh. But this society has given itself over vast amounts of evil. This should never characterize the child of God or the believing community, but we find this increasingly characteristic of society at large!

Let’s determine to think differently from others. Let’s speak and live differently. Let’s be the new creations of 2 Corinthians 5:15 as we refuse to settle into a complacency and acceptance of societal disobedience and rioting. Consider objectively: Why do we not demonstrate against the murder of infant babies, the wickedness of “same sex” (sodomite) relationships, the sex-saturated society of Hollywood found in the movies and porno, the greed-filled sports programs, and the rampant drug culture, and so much more! Why are people willing to defy the police departments, the government officials, and the system of justice that this country needs—and instead be willing to rebel against the government?

We find this present scenario to be scary as well as hypocritical. We call on law-abiding, religious citizens to submit themselves to civil laws, while calling on others to refuse to sin in this rebellion! Especially, we would call on religious teachers and preachers to refuse to fuel the fires of this rebellion through endorsing this wickedness. At least, if people with a semblance of Christianity refuse to participate in this hypocrisy (ether church members, or preachers, or authors), a certain amount of people will drop out of the present rebellion. Let’s do it.

May God give us the strength and wisdom to stand strongly against sin in public places. And may God give us the ability to do the right even when so many around us insist on doing the wrong.

–Richard Hollerman