A Better Answer

At 7pm this evening, and through this week, I will be joining with others using the Evangelical Alliance call to prayer in response to riots in England - call to prayer.

This time of rioting and violence seems to have started on Friday last week, see bbc news, when violence broke out during, or near the end, of a protest, which had been peaceful following the death on Thursday of Mr Mark Duggan. As a community we need to find a better answer.

Poverty is not an excuse for violence
If it is claimed that there is poverty in our land, this cannot be denied, some parts of London are 300 times wealthier than others. Poverty is an offence in our socieity which should be robustly addressed, but poverty will never be an excuse for violence.

Injustice is not an excuse for violence
The original protesters were calling for justice following the shooting of Mr Duggan. The cause of justice will never be served by violence. The bereaved family of Mr Duggan will not be comforted to know that other families have been bereaved, that homes and shops have been looted and burned.

Violence is always the wrong answer
The most commonly called for response on radio phone in's or social media sites is for state sponsored violence against the rioters. To respond with violence will only reinforce the perception that violence works. We may succeed in restoring order to the street for a while with water cannon and other violent means, but we will not resolve the underlying issues. There is a myth of 'peace' following violence which we need to lay bear. 'The fight back' (David Cameron's phrase) is the wrong phrase, implying the wrong answer.

There is a better way. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Love others first, without thought of self-benefit. Humility promotes justice. Passive, non-violent protest is always better. The way to fix what is wrong with our society is to build new communities.

I hope that all Christians will unite in prayer for our communities in these days; may God have mercy upon us all.