The upheaval of the last few weeks—has it only been since May 25?—has produced in my mind a swirl of thoughts and feelings on par with a great tsunami raging across the land with the debris of civilization being swept along with it.

In particular, the anarchy exhibited in looting, arson, beatings, autonomous zones and the destruction of American icons has so fiercely and suddenly “flooded the zone” that it’s hard to know where to look. What are we to make of what we’re seeing and what is our response to be, not just as Americans, but as American Christians?

Some of our brothers and sisters in the faith have embraced the ideology of the progressive Left, that America is hopelessly intolerant, racist, and xenophobic, and that the most important thing we can do is to love one another as Jesus taught. That means, of course, not challenging the secular orthodoxy of the day because that would be, according to them, unloving.

On the other hand, some of us, myself included, categorically reject the fascist narrative that this country is somehow illegitimate because it was founded by white Europeans on Judeo-Christian values. It is precisely because we’ve abandoned those biblically-based values that we find ourselves in the situation we’re in today.

But where do we start with making sense out of what we’re seeing? The first order of business is to correctly describe what is happening. That’s what I tried to do in yesterday’s Broadside.

I believe that what we’re seeing is the fulfillment of a radical agenda that has produced one or two generations of anti-Americans who hate this country. They are fascists who want to destroy the ideological foundations of our society and build a new one on its ashes. That means getting rid of anything that makes us original, historical America.

If that is true, then what is the proper response? For me, I have to consider the question from the perspectives of the two identities I hold: American citizen and Christ-follower.

As an American citizen I have many questions. Here’s a few that I’m pondering:

• Why are the forces aligned with BLM, Antifa and the progressive Left allowed to rampage through our cities and tear down statues with impunity? That isn’t “democracy.”
• If I value testaments to our founding, such as statues or memorials, how do I, as a patriotic citizen, oppose or stop their destruction?
• If the police or other authorities aren’t going to stop the violence, then do I, as a member of “We, the People,” join with others to stop it?
• Can I accept that we are beyond the point of no return and that eventually I will be forced to make a choice: surrender to the mob or fight the mob?

As a Christian and citizen of heaven I have many questions. Here’s some I’m pondering:

• We are to be in the world, but not of it. Does that mean that we ignore the threats to our freedoms in the United States because it’s a “worldly” matter? Do we allow lawlessness?
• To what extent do I have freedom in Christ to take up arms on behalf of my country, should I be called to do so?
• Can loving God and loving people include, “a time for war and a time for peace” (Ecc. 3:8)?
• Does battling evil include fighting evil ideologies that will eventually escalate their violence to the levels of mass murder?

These are weighty, substantial questions about my responsibility as a member of the body of Christ participating in the great experiment called the United States of America. The mere fact that I’m asking them is a serious matter.

Part of the reason I blog is to work out my reasoning. At this point I have reached no conclusions other than it’s time to ask.