Let’s consider your question and two more questions related to the rioting, looting and destruction that we are witnessing in many cities across the United States. Of course, as always, Scripture will be our guide and provide the answer to each one.

1) Should we be CONCERNED? Yes, we should be concerned! Our country has never been more divided than it is today and the heart of the believer should be filled with sorrow as we see people bent on destruction and anarchy. We read in Isaiah 53:3 that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was “A Man of SORROWS and acquainted with GRIEF.” What was it that caused our Savior so much sorrow and grief? The first part of the verse gives us one reason, for it says “He is despised and rejected by men.” He came to this earth to manifest God to men (see John 1:18) and to provide salvation for every lost man, woman, girl and boy. Yet instead of believing He was “God manifest in the flesh: (see 1st Timothy 3:16) and receiving Him as their Savior (see John 1:12), they REJECTED Him and DESPISED Him. When we see people today filled with hatred and violence and rioting in the streets we know that they have, so far, rejected the Lord Jesus, for if they had accepted Him they would not be living such a sinful life. In fact, they speak evil of those who have been saved and who no longer live in riotous living. “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (KJV).

Another reason Jesus was “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” was due to Him witnessing the results of sin in the lives of those around Him, for He saw thieves, murderers, alcoholics, harlots, religious hypocrites, etc. We (believers) too should be filled with “sorrows and acquainted with grief” as we see people roaming America’s city streets at night burning down buildings, tearing down statues and monuments, and even murdering innocent people. These are all the “results of sin” and we should indeed suffer, along with our Savior, because of these things. In Romans 8:17 we read, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we SUFFER WITH HIM, that we may be also glorified together.” All children of God WILL SUFFER WITH HIM; this is a given. And this SUFFERING isn’t limited to being persecuted by unbelievers, but would include experiencing the same sorrow and grief as He did as He witnessed the emptiness in people’s lives because of sin, an emptiness that leads people into a corrupt life filled with disobedience to civil authority and hatred for others (see Titus 3:3).

2) Should we be SURPRISED? No, for Scripture forewarned us that men would become more evil as we draw closer to the coming of the Lord. “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2nd Timothy 3:13). “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all thing continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2nd Peter 3:3-4).

3) Should we be RESPONDING? Some would teach us that we need to respond to what we are seeing in our city streets by becoming political activists; in other words, by “protesting against the protesters/rioters” or by “voting the right leaders into office.” But how should the Christian respond to the chaos and violence we are seeing today? How did the Lord Jesus respond to the hatred and violence in His day? The Lord Jesus did NOT become an activist or a revolutionary; He was here, as we saw earlier, to “manifest God” to lost sinners and to “show them that He was the Savior of the world.” He is our EXAMPLE (see 1st Peter 2:21) and thus we too should be “manifesting God” to the lost and “showing them the way of salvation.” In Philippians 2:14-16a we read, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be BLAMELESS and HARMLESS, in the midst of a crook and perverse nation, among whom ye SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD; HOLDING FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE.” This, dear fellow-believer, is the proper response to those in our city streets who are angry, hateful and violent. We need to be a LIGHT to them in our lives, as we see in Matthew 5:14-16, “Ye are THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.” And we need to give them the “word of life” so they can receive eternal life. Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). The gospel of Jesus Christ has been entrusted to us as we see in 2nd Corinthians 5:19, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has COMMITTED TO US THE WORD OF RECONCILIATION.” When we give men the gospel and they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, they are then RECONCILED TO GOD, which means they are no longer in conflict with God but at “peace with God” (see Colossians 1:20 and Romans 5:1). They will then be set free from a life of sin and can live a life to the glory of God. In view of this wonderful truth let us go to lost sinners everywhere with this message of reconciliation. “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2nd Corinthians 5:20…NASB).  (435.3)  (DO)