A Look At Broken Culture: Protests and Riots

I Peter 3:8-12

(Note: This was originally written 1 year ago) During our second week of testing, I did a review over the civil rights era in Georgia. Yes, I am a science teacher, but when it comes to the Georgia Milestones testing, we all pitch in at my school and try to help each other and our students review the content. We watched a pretty cool video that led to a discussion. Also, the questions over the content spurred other discussion. One of the statements I made to my students was, "No matter how just the cause, when it resorts to violence, I lose all respect for the cause."

If I am honest, I do not like mass protests. I realize that there is a constitutional right to such meetings, but as we have seen, it is too easy for them to be hijacked by those who wish to wreak havoc on cities. Also, people get brave and do things they would not normally do when the mob mentality kicks in.

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Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.  For “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”

I Peter 3:8-12

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Verses 8 and 9 contrast how we are and are not supposed to behave a Christians.

Do:

live in unity

have compassion

love as brothers

be tenderhearted

be courteous

bless others

Don't

return evil for evil

revile when reviled (insult when insulted)

Notice that the do list is much longer than the don't list. So much for the argument that the Bible is a book of "thou shalt nots." As Christians, we are to take a stand against culture when it is wrong. However, we do not act like the world around us in taking that stand. If we do, then we are no better than the behavior we are against.

Let me give a few examples:

Police brutality is wrong, but so is rioting. Christians should speak out against both.

Abortion is a sin, but so is blowing up abortion clinics. Christians should speak out against both.

LGBTQIA+ is sin, but so is berating people in hate. Christians should speak out against both.

Abusing people is wrong, but so is refusing to forgive. Christians should speak out against both.

Being judgmental is wrong, but so is not taking a stand against sin. Christians should speak out against both

I could go on and on. The point I am trying to make is that there are things we criticize, but how we go about doing this is equally as important as the side of the argument we are on. When we take a right stand in a wrong way, we become just as guilty of sin as the ones committing the acts we are against. I also want to be clear that I am not saying this from some ivory tower of achievement. I struggle with this as well. This is why Paul told the Christians at Ephesus to "be angry and sin not" (Ephesians 4:26). A few verses prior to this, Paul said, "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).

Father, Your Word is clear that there are things that are right and things that are wrong. We are told to stand for righteousness, but we are also told that how we stand is important. When we claim Your Name we represent You. Help us represent You accurately and well!