What's Really to Blame for Riots & Looting

Published: Sept. 2, 2020, 5 p.m.

The root of the civil unrest in cities like Portland and Seattle isn't the want of true, biblical justice.  The root is envy and anger.  In this episode we talk about the book "In Defense of Looting" by Vicky Osterweil which was praised recently by NPR.  In it the author admits that the goal of looting and rioting is to tear down the system that requires work (and, therefore, responsibility) so people can get stuff for free.  Seriously.  She also says that looting and causing damage to businesses aren't the same as a home invasion because...well, businesses are bad because they have stuff, or something like that.  

So, as you can see, the root of this is envy and greed.  It's the desire to have stuff and to have it immediately.  This leads to violence, of course.  

The biblical mandate is for security of property (thou shall not steal) gained through honest work.  This is the basis for voluntary commerce and is the only way for a society to be peacefully established and maintained.  All work is Godly and no one should use force or fraud to gain anything.  This should be the goal of biblical social order.  There will still be differences in wealth amongst people and families in such a society but that's not evil.  Evil is using force to gain something at someone else's expense.  In this way, the rioters and looters, motivated by hate and envy, are in open rebellion against God's order for a free and fair society.