“The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.”
John 10:31

I’m amazed at the reaction of many people I know regarding the George Floyd protests. Not just a couple people I know are quite vocal in their approval at the violence of the demonstrators. They say that big change only happens as a result of violence. When asked about the peaceful approach of Martin Luther King Jr., they point that civil rights legislation happened only AFTER the violent protests that erupted as a result of his assassination. Most of the vocal people I know that say these things are young, college-educated, and liberal-minded.

Many others, while not specifically endorsing violence, are vocal in their understanding of how things became violent. They are very vocal in demanding radical change in the overall culture, particularly with regard to law enforcement. I have been surprised just how forceful some have been in expressing their opinion. I’ll be honest with you; I wonder if many don’t actually approve of the violence but just haven’t gathered enough courage to say so. Many of these are young, but many aren’t.

Let me make sure you know my demographic. I live in a rural, predominately white area of the country with pockets of Hispanic and Somali populations in some of the larger communities. I have no close black friends. I really have no experience with black culture or racism from their perspective. I can claim to be sympathetic all I want, but many are quick to label me as part of the problem whether I like it or not.

I’ve done a lot of thinking about the state of the world for the past few years, and my findings are that there seems to be a building up of anger that has turned to pure hatred within our own country. Maybe it’s always been there, and I have been oblivious. That’s always possible. Still, I look at the divide with our political leaders, and I see absolute hatred – so much so that nobody is willing to even consider working with the other “side.” This is getting worse and worse. What’s even more troubling is the viciousness in hatred people are expressing. I’ve seen hatred, but nothing like it on this level.

Then we had COVID-19 that was revealing this among the population at large as well. It was only two weeks ago that we were seeing big protests against government shut-down orders. This was reaching a level of fevered pitch, as far as I could tell. It was a tinderbox just waiting for a match.

And then a bad cop kills George Floyd, and BOOM! Riots and National Guard all over the country going on a couple of weeks now.

1 Peter 5:6-11 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Lord, we need you. Amen.

Copyright © 2020 Scott Powers