"We must never respond to hate with hate... God saw the world in its broken condition and sent his Son, not only to save us, but to show us to respond to the world with love."
On May 25th of this year, George Floyd was suffocated to death while being detained by a police officer. This sparked nation-wide outrage for yet anther unarmed black man dying at the hands of the police. Protests quickly spread especially in Floyd's local cities of Minneapolis and the state capital, Saint Paul. Police were called in as some groups turned to rioting and targeted the police precinct of the men who were arresting Floyd when he was killed. As more police swarmed the cities, using tear gas and batons to deter the crowds, the mobs turned even more violent. They looted and burned buildings, only to have the National Guard called in.
This escalation will only grow, causing those who are still peacefully protesting to be caught in the crossfire. Fire is being fought with fire. Hate is being fought with hate. That is why we are seeing police respond violently to a protest started against police violence. That is why the issue is so ugly, there is no clear "good side" anymore. Both sides have been escalated to their extremes, attacking and destroying.
As Christians, we must never respond to hate with hate. Or else we will keep seeing what is unfolding in our cities around the country. We must respond to this situation, as any other. We must still hold fast to our true Christian ideals by living God's commands. God saw the world in its broken condition and sent His Son, not only to save us, but to show us to respond to the world with love.
I have seen Christians on both sides of this fight "claim God" by saying He is on their side. The truth is, if we look at Jesus, he is often opposed to all sides, never saying one political group had it right. He opposed corrupt authorities, but he responded with peace. The only time Jesus was righteously angry, He was getting rid of something that was taking away from God (John 2:13-22). Authorities were out to silence His voice, but He spoke only love and had compassion for all people.
In the Old Testament, we see something similar. As Joshua is preparing to fight the first battle with the Israelite army, he meets an angel of the Lord. Joshua asks if the angel is with him or his enemies. The angel replies with "neither," that God is on His own side. Then Joshua fell down and called himself God's servant (Joshua 5:13-15).
In times of great debate, we cannot claim God as being on our side. That gives us the authority. Rather as Christians, we must claim to be on God's side. We must humble ourselves to be His servants and do His will. Humbling ourselves to not raise fists. To have compassion for those who wish us harm. To "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," as Jesus commands us (Matthew 5:44).
We must uphold love, loving our neighbors, loving our enemies, loving "because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). We are not called to be judges, we are not called to be violent, we are called to love. If we want to rebuild this world, we cannot destroy. If we are to preserve life, we cannot harm or kill. We must love only.
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
~Matthew 22:36-40
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