Let’s be unequivocal. Doing wrong is never right.
Two wrongs do not make a right.
The ends do not justify the means.
Grateful for the Peaceful Protests
I’m glad we live in a nation where it is both possible to peaceably protest and that the right to do so is protected. This right is a blessing for each one of us. We are all the better for it.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time and energy to peacefully protest the perceived brutality against a fellow citizen George Floyd in Minneapolis. As observed in the video footage which is incomplete and begins after Mr. Floyd is already on the ground, as untrained, non-law-enforcement officers, most observe that the treatment he received by four officers failed to meet any standard of human decency.
As a result of the peaceful protesters, we are all reminded of both the necessity to treat all people with kindness, respect, and dignity as they are in the image of God. Further, the protesters provided a reminder that many suffer in our communities every day.
Grateful for Conscientious Law Enforcement Officers
Furthermore, I am grateful for conscientious law enforcement officers. When the truth is told, of the around 700,000 law enforcement officers in the US, almost all of them are as upset or even more upset than the common citizen. They realize that a brother in blue both seemingly sinned against a fellow citizen and, by doing so, represents all of them. Their anger rages as well against this officer who has been charged in the death of George Floyd.
This is just one man who may represent more but doesn’t represent all.
For every bad actor in law enforcement there are many, many great actors. There are men and women who sacrificially serve each one of us in our communities. Men and women who kiss their families goodbye every day and night on their way to work who do not know what will happen throughout their shift. They never know when someone will put them in jeopardy. They never know what will happen next.
Why do they do this work? Of course each person has his or her own motivation; however, it is not for the money. These local heroes do not make bank. Most of them receive low wages in fact.
Are these individuals perfect? None of them. However, almost all of them do their best and are conscientious. They hate what happened in Minneapolis to George Floyd as much or more than any of us do.
I say without any hesitation, “Thank you men and women in blue!” For my friends who are law enforcement officers, my sincerest thanks.
Police Brutality and Racism Are Wrong
Anywhere and everywhere there is police brutality, it is wrong.
Do the police have a job to do that ultimately helps the community? Yes. That is both their goal and responsibility. The Bible says so as well (Rom 13:1-8).
However, anytime and anyplace they break laws to enforce laws, they are wrong. And, as I wrote earlier in this piece, doing wrong is never right. A double wrong does not equal a right. The ends do not justify the means.
They have bad days, pressures at home, rough calls, and countless other stressers in their lives. Their personal experience also plays a role in how they do their jobs. All these things combine, at times, into a lethal cocktail. In a moment sometimes or for a season, the police officer fails to maintain his or her professionalism, personal ethics, mutual respect for others, or composure. In these moments, the officer fails as a servant and as a person.
All of us inherently understand this because it happens to each one of us. We at times also fail as servants to others in our community as neighbors and as people. When it happens to us though, our tools of injustice are typically less brutal, dangerous, or powerful. And just like us, where we would face prosecution if we broke the law in our own exasperation, a lawbreaking law enforcement officer must as well.
Where and when there is any vestige of racism among law enforcement officers, this is also wrong. The Bible is clear in this regard too (James 2:1-13). I am saddened anytime and anywhere a fellow citizen does not feel safe, respected, and helped by law enforcement. These things should burden all of us. As citizens in our communities, we each should become leaders who demonstrate respect for each other. We can continue to set a high standard for our entire communities by our own kindness, lack of prejudice, and impartiality. Further, we can pray and promote respect among all people as fellow citizens in our communities.
We universally condemn brutality and racism.
Rioting Is Wrong
The Bible teaches that we should be an angry people – specifically angry toward sin and any mistreatment of others (Eph 4:26-27). However, the Bible also teaches that we should not sin in our anger.
Peaceful protesters help bring attention to key issues of concern. They highlight the plight of individuals, poor policies of government, and various community or otherwise systemic problems. These are all good things.
Rioting is always wrong. Anytime and anyplace rioters break laws to highlight their own agenda or principles, they are wrong. And, as I wrote earlier in this piece, doing wrong is never right. A double wrong does not equal a right. The ends do not justify the means.
From an observer’s point of view, almost all Americans agree with the protesters. Almost all Americans would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the peaceful protesters during the day. We celebrate both the freedom and solidarity in doing so.
However, what takes place at night is by a very few bad actors as well. Regardless of their goal, the destruction of governmental or private property, stealing, defacing, or any otherwise criminal act is still just that – criminal.
Do not be confused in your logic here. Rioting is wrong regardless of the perceived cause. We do not compare rioting versus police brutality as both are wrong. Wrong is wrong.
Further, be very clear here as well: not all protesters riot (in fact – only a marginal few in the big picture). We do not want to conflate the protesters and the rioters. Almost all protesters are law-abiding citizens who care for their fellow man. We stand in solidarity with them.
However, whenever and wherever a protest turns into a riot, we universally condemn it.
The Problem with Pragmatism
We as a nation are pragmatic at heart. We often functionally live as if the ends do justify the means. This is true in both our personal and professional lives.
I am a pastor. Often I see pastors practice a Christian pragmatism in both their ministry philosophy and methodology. Churches and pastors fail here often to the same degree as the rest of the public.
We see it in our politicians. Should I say more? From the very top down, politicians often approach life from an ends justifies a means perspective. And, seemingly like some of us pastors, the end the politicians often serve is their own good.
I could go on and on with examples from every walk of life. The idea is simple: pragmatism often rules our society/culture on many levels.
Pragmatism puts the person’s, business’, government’s or organization’s end goal above the means. In other words, as long as it works out the way the person, business, organization, or government wants it to, the way we get there is justified. The end over the means.
Here’s the problem: pragmatism fails to love God supremely and our neighbors sincerely. It fails to love God supremely because pragmatism minimizes the holiness and righteousness of God. It fails to love our neighbors sincerely because when it is practiced it selfishly places an end goal above loving one’s neighbor more than self. As such, pragmatism as a functional philosophy of living or practice is wrong.
The means do matter. “Whether therefore you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31). Not just the end goal but all points between.
Police brutality – a pragmatic choice which fails to love God or neighbor in an effort to get at an end. For that law enforcement officer often it feels justified. Yet, it is wrong.
Rioting – a pragmatic choice which fails to love God or neighbor in an effort to get at an end. For that rioter often it feels justified. Yet, it is wrong.
The end is not greater than the means. Personal feelings are not greater than God’s standards. Pragmatism fails us as individuals, institutions, and as humanity.
In Sum
What do we do then?
We raise our voices with those who protest sin. In fact, we choose to be angry without sin.
We tip our hat to law enforcement officers who serve willingly, voluntarily, and sacrificially. For you, we are grateful.
We humbly seek to root out any vestige of pragmatism in our own lives. As leaders, we seek to do the same where we have responsibility.
We resolve to glorify God in both the means and the intended end.
We choose to love God and our neighbors more than self.
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
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