With the Minneapolis riots, we now have yet another instance in which the left is engaging in violence and rioting. They claim that their righteous empathy and compassion regarding political issues and treatment of minorities justify their actions.
Pastors and Christian leaders need to call them out– in the pulpit and otherwise. The destruction of property and acts of violence in such circumstances as these are never justified and are contrary to scriptural teaching. The American system allows for peaceful demonstrations; petitions for redress; and lawful political action. These people have other alternatives.
The media– whether mainstream media or social media– creates a fog of confusion when such events occur. They lead people to believe that the rioters must be right; and that the authorities being rioted against are wrong. Of course, this usually does not turn out to be the case.
Part of the job of Pastors and Christian leaders is to teach people the difference between right and wrong. To the extent they shrink away from speaking biblical truth, they do everyone an injustice. They have a role to play in shaping the beliefs and perceptions of thinking adults.
In the 17th century, certain sects of Christendom, such as the Anabaptists and, later, the Quakers, denied the legitimacy of taking oaths or making vows. The teaching of chapter 23 of the 1689 Baptist Confession was designed to clarify the meaning and confirm the lawfulness of oaths and vows when properly used. The 1689 Baptist Confession retains the substance of the Westminster Confession, but it abbreviates the form.
The Scripture offers the following support for lawful oath:
The commands to swear in Jehovah’s name and the prohibitions against swearing falsely assume the propriety of lawful oaths.
A society that respects the oath is not easily disrupted. In this kind of society, people still recoil from lying and expend energy in taking their office or calling seriously. An oath-bound monarch is bound by the rights of his subjects that have been established in the constitution, so that his administration does not exercise tyranny. Oath-bound physicians are committed to healing their patients. An oath-bound officer serves the preservation of the state. An oath-bound property assessor can be expected to estimate property value honestly. By means of an oath in court, witnesses are restrained from declaring the innocent to be guilty, or the guilty to be innocent. By means of the oath, we are placed before the very face of God. Reverence for God has salutary consequences for society.
The high ethical demands of oaths and vows should caution us against the practice of pressuring small children to make unwarranted or untimely pledges to God. It’s common practice among evangelical churches today to pressure small children into making pledges of commitment to Christian service. Sometimes young children are encouraged to sign a pledge card or publicly to dedicate their lives to “fulltime” Christian service. As the child grows, his family and friends, as well as his own conscience remind him of this pledge. As a result, he may struggle with feelings of guilt at the thought of pursuing a secular vocation. This practice not only betrays a false view of “fulltime” Christian service, but it also reflects a lack of wisdom among those who pressure children into these formal pledges. Since oaths and vows should not be made lightly or rashly, we must be sure that those upon whom we call to make them are mentally and spiritually able to understand and fulfill the commitment they are making.
This still stands : “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. “Mark 16:15 (NIV) “
When rioters commit acts of violence against or otherwise tear down the efforts of those law enforcement officers who have taken oaths, Fred, obviously something is amiss. People’s worldview and understanding of right and wrong need to be trained and developed.
It is for sure wrong and even more evil to encourage it.
Absolutely, Fred.