Whose side are you on? Do you stand with the protesters or do you stand with the cops? For thoughtful Christians that is a "sticky wicket" question. You see not all cops are bad and not all protesters are lawless rioters. In my view what we are witnessing today is the judgment of God. When a society steeped in the Judeo-Christian ethic tramples it with disdain then God gives such a society over to a debased mind resulting in "murder, strife" etc. (cf. Rom. 1:28-32). John Adams was right when he said: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

There is always a BIGGER picture. From the human perspective the kingdom of Israel split over political unrest and tribal discord. But from a divine perspective it happened because of JUDGMENT for Israel's sin. 1 Kings 12:15 says, "the turn of events was from the LORD" and in verse 24 God says, "this thing is from Me." God is sovereign over ALL of history. He "removes kings and raises up kings" (Dan. 2:21). What is happening is always BIGGER than merely a human perspective.

True Christians march to a different drummer! We are completely out of sync with the spirit of the age. Christians were never called to be worldly revolutionaries. The New Testament does not present our mission in terms of political or social activism. This is the wisdom of the world which so many professing Christians buy into. It sounds good but it lacks biblical depth. When Christians make "activism" part of the gospel mission they have completely misunderstood the New Testament. The fruit of the gospel must not be confused with the gospel.

God's people are to love everyone - including their enemies. Our mission is BIGGER than this life. It has eternity in view. Ours is a gospel mission! The apostles never advocated political reform - they lived and died for GOSPEL TRANSFORMATION. It is kind of amusing to see so many Christians think that they can change society with something else other than the gospel or with something in addition to the gospel. The New Testament holds forth just ONE answer - THE GOSPEL. In Christ there is "neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:28).

Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (Jn. 13:35). This is an INTERNAL family of God strategy. God doesn't use the world to change the world. He uses His people. Our love for each other in the family of God is to make a powerful impact on the watching world. We are NEVER going to make the world behave! To think so is to have an unfounded faith in humanity which lacks understanding of human depravity. Can the leopard change its spots? (Jer. 13:23). People CANNOT fundamentally change their moral disposition. Yes, the flesh can be trained to a point, but that is not real CHANGE! Only the gospel can truly change a heart of "hate" into a heart of "love". No law, no revolution, no amount of clamor can accomplish this. This is a GOD-THING!

The world thinks in polarizing terms of whose side you are on. As Christians we think differently. We are on GOD's side and that fundamentally changes how we approach life. We see all those who don't know Christ as lost people. ALL of them are our MISSION field. We want to love them ALL evangelistically. Ours is a GOSPEL MISSION not to be clouded by the flesh fighting tribalism of the world.

As the children of Israel were preparing to enter the Promised Land suddenly a Man stood before Joshua with a sword drawn in His hand. Joshua did not initially realize it was the LORD and said to Him, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?" (Josh. 5:13). That is how we humans tend to draw it up. "Which side are you on?" The LORD's response showed that He is BIGGER than any human side.

Joshua 5:14 (NKJV)
14 So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”

God is all about His own agenda and caters to no man! We would be wise to WORSHIP as did Joshua. As God's people we want to align with God's agenda as spelled out in the New Testament. I submit to you that it is a GOSPEL agenda involving ALL people. But note it carefully. If you love "the other side" the world will hate you for it. But this is our calling, we are called to love everyone including "haters" (cf. Rom. 5:8-10). In the end ONLY those who are on God's side are the winners. For God's people it's all about being on God's side. That is the ULTIMATE issue. Don't make it something else.

1 Timothy 2:1–4 (NKJV)
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.