Reflections on Riots at the Capitol

As best as I can, I try not to put my hope in a political candidate or political party or particular legislation.  It is tempting to do so and because of my weakness I am sure I flirt with this much more than I am aware and fall into it more than I would care to know.  But in the sober moments, while sitting in God’s word and in His presence, I know that there is no hope but one.  It is as the Apostle Paul says, “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” (Titus 2:13).  And he further declares, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).  There will never be a reason for me to be ashamed of that citizenship under that King!

If ever the dangers of putting ones hope in politics or political leaders is manifested it is this day.  A day that saw people break into the Capitol building and seek to undo by force an election.  I know this election is hotly debated by some.  I know this election will be scrutinized for days and weeks and years to come.  But this is a debacle. 

Riots marked 2020 and now in the first days of 2021 we are again under their violent hands.  As we reflect on this, we will do as our nature leads because we are like water, which can do nothing but flow down a hill.  We will compare.  We will compare the merit and handling of the riots of 2020 and this riot.  Why did law enforcement do this or that in these situations? Why are people not condemning this one when they condemned the other?  All the rancor will continue on and on.  Yet will we ever get to the bottom of the problem?  Will we ever get to the issue?

“I am the Lord, there is no other, besides me there is no God” (Isaiah 45:5).  The fundamental issue behind all issues is this: people live in rebellion to the first commandment.  God said, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).  In other words, “I am your Lord and King, I alone am your Savior and provider.” The problem of a riot doesn’t begin when property is destroyed or people are hurt.  The problem begins with the notion that we can force the change I want to see.  If I am reading my Bible right, the biggest change to the world that people can take credit for is bringing sin and death to it.  That hasn’t worked out so well.  Instead of thinking about how we can force change, the Bible presents us with a different path.  It calls us to repentance.  It calls us to repent from our desire to control and entrust life into God’s hands.

This is not a license to do nothing.  This is an exhortation to work hard to submit.  Our natural inclination is to take matters into our own hands.  My personal life is filled with the scars of trying to take control of that which I have no control over.  It is hard work to submit.  But when we do submit, we find that the “burden is easy and the yoke light” (Matthew 11:30).

I say this tongue in cheek.  Our submission is not really a function of our hard work, but the finished work of Christ and the resulting faith that comes when we hear about it.  I ultimately submit because God has worked on my behalf, namely sent His Son to die for my sin and brought Him back to life, and told me about it in a way that has created faith in my heart.  Because I believe this, I am convinced that God is good to me and now have a new desire to submit to Him.  Of course I still wrestle with my old nature, but that is the cross we all must bear in this world.

In the face of the events of today, perhaps instead of spending all our time figuring out who is to blame or which riots are the worse, we ought to repent of our fixation on control.  Perhaps we need to repent of our lethargy in prayer and apathy toward faith. 

This is the only biblical response to what we have witnessed this day.  Repentance.  The humble and meek response of putting ourselves at the mercy of God and trusting that He will be good to us because that is who He is. 

Let’s not try to fix this tonight.  Let’s entrust that through Christ, it is already fixed.  “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:19-20).  This news is better than results of any earthly election. This news will not be undone by any riot.  This news is greater than my sin and leads to my forgiveness (and yours!).

It is pride and arrogance that causes us to think that Jesus died for our sins, now we must save the world.  No! Jesus has already done that.  Our job is not to force change.  It is to proclaim Christ and His work, trusting that it is the “power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). 

Let the Christian stand up in the peace that comes through his or her faith in Christ.  Let him or her pray for this nation.  Let each model purity and meekness before God. And may each do the good work of loving one’s neighbor.

Remember that with Christ there is only truth. And He said, “Take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Believe this and live!