Thoughts From the Front Line: The War Comes to Our Neighborhood

almost 4 years ago

Storming the Capital in Lansing

Does anyone know what this “white supremacist”, “armed to the teeth”, “childish“, “disrespectful” coronavirus lockdown protestor was shouting about?

He was shouting at a member the House security staff who had the day before forcibly ejected a woman from the capital building for walking into the viewer’s gallery of the State House and not leaving on demand.

We were told by the governor that this protest represented “the worst racism in the history of America”. We had people fuming about how this disrespectful child should go home and rethink his miserable life. We were informed that he was most likely spreading corona to our brave first responders who shouldn’t have to put up with this kind of behavior. We were told he had “stormed” the Capital in a show of frightening force that made Democratic lawmakers tweet from the floor that they had never been so glad of the police presence in the building. We were told over and over about how the dangerous protest was predominantly white and clearly did not care about anyone who might have lost loved ones to the virus because all they cared about was their own selfish little (likely Nazi sympathizing) businesses.

Storming the Streets of Suburbia

Then came yesterday. I saw a huge predominantly white crowd gather a few miles from my home, raise their fists in what looked eerily like the Nazi salute, carry guns, demand the police be defunded, shout that “blue lives murder”, not bother one bit with social distancing, and this time it was a peaceful protest with people merely exercising their right to protest injustice.

Photo CreditFists in the air, similar to Nazi Germany

The governor was in solidarity. These people were fulfilling a righteous cause. They were brave and selfless and the police deserved being shouted at.

The Double Standard

Why is one group terrible for protesting police and government overreach and the other is to be commended? Why is one group “storming” by submitting to temperature checks and police requirements before entering the Capital building to chant at closed doors, but another group smashes windows and burns cars and that is simply pent up frustration that is regrettable but understandable and we should be supportive? Why is one group racist for wanting their businesses open but the other group is doing what needs to be done to end racism by demanding an end to police departments everywhere regardless of merit?

I am reminded of Isaiah speaking in the control of the Holy Spirit describing the evil of his days. (Isaiah 59:14 -20)

Love Justice and Truth

This lying about each other has to stop. The anger and the injustice has to stop. And it will, but not by demanding that all laws be removed. Not by covering up the acts of some and inventing acts for others. It will end when the Father ends it. Because this is Truth stumbling in the public squares and he who departs from evil makes himself prey.

Justice is turned back and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares and uprightness cannot enter.

Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice.

He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation and his righteousness upheld him.

He put on righteousness as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment, so they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives.