The Testimony of the Times
The streets of our nation have become a theater of discord, as the friction between federal mandate and local resistance ignites into open flame. We look specifically to the recent escalations in Minneapolis and Portland, where the air is heavy with the smoke of protest and the echoes of enforcement. Following the tragic shooting of Renee Nicole Good on January 7, 2026, during an ICE enforcement action in Minnesota, we have seen peaceful vigils rapidly dissolve into violent confrontations. In Los Angeles, the “No Kings” protests of the past summer have set a precedent for a nation that no longer knows how to “agree with thine adversary quickly” (Matthew 5:25, KJV), leading to widespread property destruction and injuries to both citizens and officers. The spirit of the age is one of riot, where the cry for justice is frequently eclipsed by the roar of lawlessness.
The Scriptural Exhibit
The Apostle Paul, writing to a church surrounded by the volatility of the Roman Empire, gave a command that pierces through the fog of modern rioting: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” (Romans 13:1-2, KJV). Furthermore, the Word warns against the infectious nature of the mob: “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.” (Exodus 23:2, KJV). These mandates are not suggestions for times of peace, but requirements for times of upheaval.
The Forensic Analysis
A forensic study of these “civil disturbances” reveals a dangerous convergence of genuine grief and calculated anarchy. In the case of the Minneapolis shooting, the immediate leap from a local tragedy to a national riot suggests that the “multitude” is often moved by forces other than the pursuit of truth. When protesters in Portland are arrested for “Interfering with a Peace Officer” and “Riot” (as seen in the Jan 9, 2026 reports), the evidence points to a rejection of the “higher powers” in favor of a self-appointed justice. This is the “mystery of iniquity” at work—a lawlessness that masquerades as righteousness. The believer must discern that while the “stranger” is to be loved (Leviticus 19:34), the “sword” of the magistrate is also a divine instrument for the punishment of evildoers (Romans 13:4). To participate in a riot is to abandon the “peaceable life” (1 Timothy 2:2) for a seat in the council of the ungodly.
The Verdict
The verdict is final: The Christian cannot find common ground with the spirit of riot. We are called to be “repairers of the breach,” not the ones who widen it. Whether the cause is immigration policy or civil rights, the method of the believer must remain the “fruit of the Spirit,” which is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23, KJV). We must mourn the loss of life, such as in the case of Renee Good, but we must also uphold the sanctity of the law. If we lose the rule of law, we lose the very structure that allows for the safe proclamation of the Gospel. Let our protest be in prayer, and our resistance be in holiness.
Stand fast, for the King is at the door.