By Hunter Hines
Christian Action League
January 7, 2021
Chaos broke out at the nation’s capital Wednesday when after a Trump rally, pent-up emotions spilled over into rioting. Hundreds of protestors stormed the Capitol building and overcame the capitol police, vandalizing House Speaker Nany Pelosi’s office, breaching doors and windows, looting art, and taking control of the Senate chamber. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, one woman was shot and killed, while three others died of medical emergencies.
The U.S. Senate and House were in the process of certifying the election results for the 2020 presidential election when the unrest occurred, bringing the certification procedure to a halt. Vice President Mike Pence and Congressional members were immediately evacuated to safety by law enforcement.
After being strongly urged by both Republicans and Democrats, President Trump called on rioters to stand down and disperse. He said:
“I know your pain. I know your hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election, and everyone knows it, especially the other side, but you have to go home now. We have to have peace. We have to have law and order. We have to respect our great people in law and order. We don’t want anyone hurt. It’s a tough period of time. There’s never been a time like this where such a thing happened, where they can take it away from all of us…from me, from you, from our country. This was a fraudulent election, but we can’t play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So, go home. We love you; you’re very special. You’ve seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel, but go home.”
Congress reconvened late Wednesday and certified the Electoral College votes. Some Republicans, which had planned to object to certification, changed their minds and supported it.
Early Thursday morning, President Trump issued another statement promising:
“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out; nevertheless, there will be an orderly transition on January 20th.”
In a statement released to the press, Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, said:
“I fully understand the frustration of those who believe the election was stolen, the process constitutionally undermined. I share those sentiments. Like many, I smell a skunk in the woodpile.
“But I also believe the Scriptures which instruct the follower of Christ, ‘Man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness God desires’ ( Ja. 1:20). ‘For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds’ (2 Cor. 10:3). ‘And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God – not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God’ (I Cor. 1:12).
“Christian hear me: Mob violence, lawlessness, whether it is Antifa or Black Lives Matter or Trump supporters, is not the way of Christ. You cannot coddle or cooperate with it, lest you stand against Christ himself.”
National religious leaders made similar statements. Franklin Graham, head of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Tweeted:
“I am deeply saddened by what took place in our nation’s capital today. Our country is in trouble. We need God’s healing, and we need God’s help. Pray for peace and the protection of our nation. Let’s come together – on our knees.”
Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, said in a statement provided to the Christian Post:
“I am deeply grieved over the destruction and violence at the U.S. Capitol. The peaceful transfer of power is a hallmark of American democracy, and today we saw the opposite of peace. This is not what we are called to be as Americans, and this is surely not what we are called to be as Christians. Let us continue to pray for America.”
Perhaps one of the broadest statements made, which put the entire event into perspective, was by Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. Donohue said:
“The Catholic League condemns the violence that occurred in the U.S. Capitol yesterday. We also condemn the violence that occurred throughout 2020 in many urban areas. The two are not unrelated: When the aggrieved on one side riot with impunity, it inspires the aggrieved on the other side to act accordingly.
“Just as worthy of condemnation are those who refused to denounce last year’s rioters but are now exercised over this year’s rioters. Selective indignation is morally offensive.
“Moreover, when Antifa and Black Lives Matter rioters were on the loose, we were told to understand the root causes of their anger, yet no such empathy is shown to those who rioted yesterday. This kind of duplicity is intellectually dishonest.
“Those who riot must be stopped and prosecuted, no matter what their grievances or objectives. We will not make progress in this nation until everyone can agree on this fundamental principle. Sadly, listening to our elites over the past year, we have a long way to go.”
Tony Evans had an even more in-depth explanation for the events which transpired in Washington, saying that the chaos was “a tragic illustration of what happens to a nation when it abandons God’s person, principles, and policies.” He continued:
“America is undergoing the passive wrath of God which takes place when his standards are compromised (Romans 1:18-32). The result is chaos…conflict, and lawlessness. Only a radical return to God by his people will change this. The answer to saving America is not in the White House – it is in the church house.”
Creech said that he was a Trump supporter and believed the treatment the president had received over the last four years was “nothing less than grievous and unjust.” He said many were saying the bad actors in Washington were Antifa and Black Lives Matter groups posing as Trump supporters.
“I don’t doubt that some of the rioters were Antifa and their ilk, but when one person on my own Facebook posts, whom I personally know as a Trump supporter and a professing Christian says he was proud of what he and others did by taking back ‘our House.’ Then that indicates to me Trump supporters were not guiltless and engaged in lawlessness,” said Creech. “I understand how the media can misrepresent matters. I don’t believe the vast majority of Trump supporters were involved, but when all this is sorted out and people are prosecuted, I think we will see many of them, if not most, were from the Trump camp. And to all those, who like me, have believed in and supported our president, I say the politics of the mob is anti-Christian, and you should have nothing to do with it.”