WHAT MAKES violence and lawlessness suddenly erupt across a nation?
'Fat cats' - Bankers greed
One upset church minister in Liverpool tweeted “What we are seeing is EVIL”. Who can disagree, when people turn feral, and smash, loot and burn?
But what does “evil” mean?
First, social evil. As one London-based youth worker said: “To pretend has nothing whatsoever to do with the erosion of our social fabric, the closing of youth centres, and the sense among a mass of people – not least the young – that they have no real future in a country where the poorest are being made to sacrifice most while bankers get away with murder… that’s pure fantasy.”
If Britain is “broken”, its brokenness has injustice close to its source.
The Jesus Army speak for those without voices. We cannot just shout “thugs” and call for tough measures. We must work for justice and stand alongside and among the disadvantaged.
But to leave it there risks excusing the inexcusable. There is another level of evil at work here: moral evil.
“I’m not really bothered” said a Manchester rioter. “I’ll keep doing it every day until I get caught.” “We can do what we want” crowed a female London rioter. Gangs smash and loot shops – for greed.
But it’s not just the gangs. Bankers gambled with economic stability – for greed. Politicians helped themselves to public money – for greed. Media moguls turned a blind eye when journalists were immoral – for greed.
We’ve got to embody something better – and call people to join us.
Because, deeper still, under social evil, under moral evil, there is spiritual evil. As the Bible says “We are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil spirits” (Ephesians 6 in the New Testament).
Spiritual powers, by their very nature, hide behind human evil – whether it’s greed expressed in violent looting or greed expressed in high-level corruption.
So how can the people of Jesus engage in a spiritual “clean up” campaign?
We can pray. We can share the good news about Jesus and see its transforming power, changing selfish people into new people. We can speak out for justice and against unfairness (giving the voiceless a voice may prevent them from finding a voice through wielding a baseball bat).
Pray, share, love, speak. And embody something better.
That’s what the Church of Jesus should be about.
