Can Christians Justify the Violence on America’s Streets?

Quick to Listen

Christianity Today

Religion, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.3 • 622 Ratings

🗓️ 2 September 2020

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the past week, a video has circulated on social media that appears to show Christian author Eric Metaxas punching a protester in the face following President Trump's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on the White House lawn. This week, Metaxas addressed the incident to World Magazine. “For context, just so you know, the guy came at me with his bike and was very menacing for a long time,” he said. Commentary over Metaxas’ action took off during a week in which a 17-year-old vigilante shot and killed two protesters in Kenosha and a counter-protester was shot and killed in a Portland demonstration. This uptick in civilian violence, which has occurred at protests organized in the aftermath of police brutality, inspired writer Bonnie Kristian’s recent column for The Week, “You Know What Violence Is.” “The basic, standard definition of violence, that you'll find across the board, has pretty consistent elements,” said Kristian, who is also a columnist for Christianity Today. “One is that it involves the use of physical force; so it can't be purely verbal. And then one is that there's an intent to inflict harm.” Kristian joined global media manager Morgan Lee and editorial director Ted Olsen to discuss whether silence is violence, if violence always begets violence, and why people often don’t want to own the actions of their side as violence. What is Quick to Listen? Read more Rate Quick to Listen on Apple Podcasts Follow the podcast on Twitter Follow our hosts on Twitter: Morgan Lee and Ted Olsen Music by Sweeps Quick to Listen is produced by Morgan Lee and Matt Linder The transcript is edited by Bunmi Ishola Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of Quick to Listen is brought to you in part by Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company,
0:04.9	a ministry-focused insurance provider serving Christian churches, schools, and related ministries.
0:10.4	For more information, visit Brotherhood Mutual.com.
0:13.5	It's been a violent week on the streets in America.
0:16.3	Last week's Sunday, Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by Kenosha police officers,
0:21.6	catalyzing protests and riots in the Wisconsin City of 100,000.
0:26.6	In addition to the residents who marched, armed vigilantes also arrived on scene.
0:31.6	On Wednesday night, Kyle Rittenhouse, a teenager from one of these groups allegedly shot and killed two protesters.
0:39.1	After the shooting, an armed Rittenhouse notably walked past law enforcement,
0:43.2	while protesters in vain tried to activate the police to respond to what had just happened.
0:48.3	On Saturday, a man was shot in Portland during a protest.
0:52.5	This 37-year-old was wearing a hat that bore the insignia Patriot Prayer, a far-right
0:57.9	group with a history of counter-protesting.
1:00.9	The police there currently have no suspects.
1:04.2	Christians on Twitter have been talking about a different violent incident.
1:07.8	A video is circulating on social media that appears to show Christian author, Eric
1:12.2	Metaxus, punching a protester in the face following President Trump's acceptance speech at the
1:17.0	Republican National Convention on the White House law. We wanted to talk about violence. What is it?
1:23.3	What is it not? And how can Christians talk about it in more constructive ways?
1:30.2	You are listening to Quick to Listen, where we go beyond hashtags and hot takes discuss a major cultural event.
1:36.9	I'm Morgan Lee, global media manager here at Christianity Today.
1:40.4	And I'm Ted Olson, editorial director at Christianity Today. Well, we just hinted that we had a pretty heavy topic to talk about, and I can't think of something that is heavier than this in many ways.
	...

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