Like most people I found the London riots  last week shocking. Some of the scenes were quite frightening and the speed with which the whole thing spread to other English cities was especially scary. Among the many things that were hard to stomach about the rioting, however, was the way some of our elected politicians called for a stronger imposition of boundaries and morality on the lives of others while at the same time flouting those very same boundaries themselves. Hypocrisy is quite unappealing.

One positive in it all has been the way the church has responded to the 2011 riots. I’m sure those churches in the areas affected have especially stepped up and are doing much good practical work – work that more often than not goes unreported. While this practical help is essential, as church we also need to tackle some of the deeper issues that led to and sustained the riots. Here are some thoughts for you.

Resentment
It seems to me that one heart issue that was on display was the deep resentment that infects our society. The poor resent the rich for what they have; but the rich also resent the ‘undeserving’ poor and the benefits system that exists to help them. Along with bitterness, anger and unforgiveness, when resentment is allowed to fester, it can only lead to bad results.

As Christians – knowing what it is to be forgiven – we have learnt what it is to forgive and not to hold onto resentment. Living this out in our everyday lives will help change the culture around us.

Exclusion
Belonging to a gang is not only the preserve of disaffected youths and the tracky-bottoms and hoody combo is not the only uniform on display in our society. We all feel the need to belong and to be accepted by others – it is one of the basic human needs. So when some are excluded then you can expect a reaction of some kind.

Church is a gang. But is it exclusive or inclusive? Have we learnt to do what Jesus clearly could – accept the person without condoning his or her actions? If a petty thief regularly attended our services, would we welcome him? Or a drug user? Or a homosexual?

Being inclusive in the way Jesus was inclusive would again begin to change the culture around us.

Materialism
We live in age where we want better, bigger and more. And if we were to be self-critical as church for a moment, how uncomfortable would we feel if we were to look at the message of the prosperity gospel and what it says to the world?

I sense that this desire to acquire is closely tied to our sense of identity – I have, therefore I am. Will we be satisfied with what we have if we’re not satisfied with who we are?

But once again, we, as ones who know we are the loved children of God, have a powerful answer to an identity-seeking society. Project this – and what difference would it make?

Authority
One common response to the riots has been to say that respect for authority has been lost. What the world means by this, I suspect, is that those on the bottom should respect those at the top. But Kingdom principles turn this upside down. Having authority is not about lording it over people, said Jesus, but about serving them.

Of all the values we hold as followers of Jesus I think this one would be the most culture-changing of all. And it’s not just the senior policeman, the magistrate, the MP, the consultant who has authority and power over others; it’s also the carer, the classroom assistant, the parent. In these and so many other areas of life, doing authority differently would change the culture from below.

Resentment, exclusion, authority, materialism. Do you struggle with any of these deep issues of the heart? I certainly do. But I also know that if I could overcome them and live differently this little corner of the world that is mine would change for the better.

What about you?


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