Over the past week chaos ensued across the nation, particularly in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Jacob Blake’s shooting by police officers ignited a flurry of violent riots, looting, and confrontations. Protests turned into dangerous encounters as buildings were ransacked, cars burned, and private property destroyed. The situation on the ground in Wisconsin got so out of control that the state of Wisconsin issued a statement of emergency on August 24th, 2020.

The incident grabbed national media attention because of another police shooting of a black man. Further, the news spread as videos of the incident began to circulate. Instigators from the Black Lives Matter organization immediately called Jacob Blake’s altercation with the police “attempted murder.” Further, people took on to their social media accounts to express their horror about the fact Blake was shot by the police.

Jacob Blake was shot 7 times in the back. The deployment of 7 bullets by the officers seems a bit excessive. It is hard to conclude one way or another. Perhaps this incident serves to demonstrate our police officers need better training in the use of excessive force.

The quick rush to judgment against police officers is becoming common place. Ironically, Christians used to be known for being judgmental. Now, everyone makes judgment about things before having the facts. How the tables have turned. James reminds us of the best way to approach difficult issues, “Everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19). The question is, are we listening? Or simply making conclusions about situations because media narrative is driving our perception of reality?

I want to be clear, I do not condone unwarranted violence. Unwarranted violence is violence toward others without cause, without scrutiny, and justification. But, when is violence warranted? It is not warranted when: 1) violence is done in the name of religion [I know Christianity may have a history of unwarranted violence, which I do not condone], 2) violence toward the innocent is not warranted, 3) abusive violence is evil, 4) violence that stems from human jealousy, and 5) violence that leads to murder are wrong. However, Romans 13:3–4 concedes governments the right to use force to restrain and punish evil.

There are a few types of violence such as structural, economic, social, domestic, psychological, and moral violence. As it relates to Blake’s shooting, people are claiming structural violence is the issue. Structural violence is when political, social, and cultural structures pressure, discriminate, and persecute minorities and the marginalized. However, Blake was not a victim of such violence. In fact, he was approached because of his own violence.

Many cried #justiceforJacobBlake, but justice had come to him. It came in the form of armed police officers tasked to defend the innocent. Pastor John Piper is correct in asserting:

Governments, of course, do not have the right to use force for any purpose whatsoever. They do not have the right to use force in order to lord it over their citizens and impose unnecessary restraints upon freedom. There are two purposes for which this text [Romans 13] says the government is justified in using force: the restraint of evil and the punishment of evil. The purpose of force is not just to prevent further evil from happening, but to punish evil acts by bringing the perpetrators to justice. Government is acting as a “minister of God” when it serves as “an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.”

In Jacob Blake’s case, I believe government was exercising its God-given right (Romans 13) to avoid greater evil. There is a difference in murder versus killing. The sixth commandment does not say, “Thou shall not kill.” A more proper translation should render it “Thou shall not murder.” (Btw…we should also not forget to express outrage toward people who are violating the eighth [don’t steal] and the tenth [don’t covet your neighbors’ goods] commandments by looting, destroying, and appropriating property that does not belong to them!)

Were Officers in Jacob Blake’s Case Justified in Using Force?

The officers who shot Jacob Blake did not partake in attempted murder, as BLM contends. Why? Well, for many reasons. Facts on the case:

First, Blake had a warrant out for his arrest.

Second, police officers attempted to arrest him for violating a restraining order stemming from an alleged sexual assault.

Third, Blake was approached because his girlfriend called the cops to aid her. She told the cops, according to the police report, that Blake came into her home, argued with her, placed his fingers in her genitals, stole her keys, and drove away with her car, taking his three children with him.

Fourth, Jacob Blake resisted arrest. The Kenosha police union detailed that Blake fought with police officers, put one of them in a headlock, and yielded a knife, even shrugging off two attempts to stun him. Further, a recorded video shows officers yelling “Drop the knife! Drop the knife!” before shooting him. Disrespect for authority caused him to be shot by the police.

Why are such facts important? Because Jacob Blake was not innocent. The rush to judge the officers’ action as racist is baseless. Riots, looting, and other violence, like 17 year-old Kyle Rittenhouse who shot and killed two people, are the result of anger, confusion, and social chaos caused by ideology, both from the left and the right.

Don’t be fooled, a lot of what is going on in our culture is the result of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6). Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44). He is having a heyday in our country! A lot of what is going on in our culture is spiritually instigated. Remember, it was Satan who instigated Adam and Eve and deceived them into sinning (Genesis 3). He is still instigating people to sin. The only remedy for the ills plaguing our nation is the gospel of peace. Jesus alone can heal the deep rooted pain people are experiencing in communities across our nation.

Have blacks suffered, and still suffer, racism in America? Yes! Is every police shooting incident racist? No! We should express anger at unwarranted violence, at injustice, and evil. Peaceful protests, police reform, social initiatives to heal communities must always be in our radar (James 1: 27). However, in Jacob Blake’s instance, we should be less indignant at the police officers who tried to keep the peace, exercising their authority, then with Blake himself.

Abusive police brutality must be challenged. It must not be left unchecked. For instance, on August 14, three black police officers beat a black man to death. The justice system in America should hold abusive police officers accountable. However, the use of force by police officers in Wisconsin, in my humble opinion, was employed in order to avoid greater evil. Further, it does not seem it was motivated by racism, even though BLM wants people to believe it was.

Our hearts should break for Blake’s children who experience this horrific incident. We should pray for Blake’s recovery. We should pray for his eternal salvation. And, we should also stand with the police officers who were doing their job. We should pray for their trauma as well. We should pray for the backlash they are facing from all sides of the political, cultural, and societal spectrums. Furthermore, we need to pray for the Kenosha community to heal. We need to pray for business owners, citizens, and organizations that have been directly affected by the evils of recent days.

We must cry out for justice. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ““No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream [quote from Amos 5:24].” But let us remember, justice must be “blind.” In other words,  justice must be impartial and objective, because facts do matter. Otherwise, chaos and unrest become reality.

May Paul’s words ring true for all of us:

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Written by Daniel Messina