A Christian Approach to Racism and the Riots

First, let me be clear that this post is not exhaustive but merely is intended to point the reader to a Biblical approach to what is happening in our country right now. As we know, Mr. Floyd was killed by a uniform police officer who placed his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck for an extended period of time resulting in his death. Within days, the officer was fired and arrested. A number of nationwide gatherings began to protest the treatment of African Americans by the police. Many of those protests turned violent and resulted in the destruction of personal property and looting. What should be the Christian approach to these events?

The moral law of God as given by God to Moses includes the following:
1. Thou shalt not murder;
2. Thou shalt not steal;
3. Thou shalt not covet...any thing that is thy neighbor’s.
Additional laws are found that cover striking and injuring another person and the requirement of punishment.

So it seems clear that what has taken place in the riots, not the peaceful protests, violates God’s law. Violating God’s laws is a sin. We will come back to this.

Racism has been around since Bible days. The Jews and Samaritans had a relationship that was full of tension. They generally did not like each other. Jews would not eat with the Gentiles because they considered the latter to be unclean. How did Jesus deal with the racial divide between Jews and Samaritans?  He befriended the Samaritan woman at the well and asked her for something to drink. Suffice it to say, this was a major disruption in the normal customs of the day. His disciples marveled that Jesus had spoke to her.  The events are recorded in the Gospel of John chapter 4.

When Jesus was arrested and questioned by Pilate, Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” Jesus was making a clear statement that His kingdom was not an earthly kingdom and He would not have His followers fighting over earthly kingdoms.

Our approach to the riots and fighting should as believers include the following:
1. Recognize that sin is abounding among those hurting others, looting and stealing. This is a sin issue.
2. Remember that our focus is to be on Jesus’ kingdom, not earthly kingdoms.
3. Recall that we fight not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places.
4. Recommit ourselves to fight using the weapons that were given to us as described by Paul: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the Word of God, and praying always in the Spirit.
5. Repent that we have been more interested in entertaining the goats (unbelievers) than evangelizing them and we have failed to feed the sheep God’s Word.

What we are seeing in the riots is the result of sin. A unsaved person is capable of just about anything. When you see the reports, do you sigh in disgust, or make detrimental remarks about the rioters? Does that do any good in the spiritual realm? I suggest that the proper approach is to call out to God in prayer for the souls of those that are lost? For those in the pathway of the destruction, I suggest praying Psalm 91 over them. We are to preach Christ crucified. That is the answer to riots. That is the answer to racism. That is the answer to injustice and inequity. We are ambassadors for Jesus Christ, and as such, we are called to be peacemakers, not instigators.