Here we go again. The implementation of so-called “mostly peaceful demonstrations” is back on our news scene just in time for the political season to unfold in America. With almost an uncanny matching of the timetable to the Black Lives Matter fiasco that occurred just before the presidential election in 2020, this new scenario is being played out on college campuses across America instead of the inner city. However, the demographics of the “demonstrators” and their masked escapades seem eerily similar. This time, though, the chants do not deal with perceived racism but rather “death to Israel” and “death to America.” All of this is arising out of the outburst of violence by Hamas in October and Israel’s response to the attack on its soil.
As with the riots that unfolded in the summer of 2020, these new events also seem to be a little more complicated than you might be led to believe simply by listening to the chants and observing the obstructive actions of the participants. Make no mistake — these folks are not only attacking Israel but the very core of the foundation of American beliefs as well. In addition, they will not seemingly be deterred until there is an annihilation of all religious faith with the possible exception of radical Islam. Arguments can be made back and forth about where the rioters may have originated. However, their collective intent should be clear even to the least perceptive of the populace. This aggression is certainly concerning for our nation. But it could easily also be said that the nefarious actions of these individuals are a worldwide negative phenomenon.
Although to this point these latest events do not seem to be bent on as much destruction as those that occurred in 2020, nevertheless, they are bringing great chaos to the campuses and cities in which they occur. Unfortunately, though the riots are calling for extreme violent action, particularly against Jewish people and the nation of Israel, they seem to be at least tacitly welcome in a great number of our “higher learning” venues. That may well be because the venomous chants reflect the actual mindset of many of the professors and administrators. Just perhaps they have also grown from tainted seeds planted in our rush to the mediocrity of “Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness” as opposed to the excellence found in a focused search for truth, which should, by the way, be the goal of all real educational endeavors.
Whatever all the moving parts may be to these insurrections, one thing holds sway. The point of the spear is aimed directly at the nation of Israel and Jewish people of all nationalities. This reality was poignantly described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a Passover speech where he described his nation as “the canary in the coal mine,” and well she is. Just like the canary that is first to feel the effects of a lack of breathable air in the dark underbelly of the earth, the effects of antisemitism on Israel and the Jewish people also foretell the gaseous dangers for the entire world and the United States in particular. Make no mistake; despite the waffling of the present administration and his party, the well-being of America and Israel are woven together in such a way as to be inseparable. Our two nations are inexorably entwined together as are our collective fates.
Prime Minister Netanyahu went even further to draw a direct correlation between what is occurring in our nation with what occurred as the Nazis began their reign of terror in the 1930s. He ended his speech with these words: “Now, what is important now is for all of us, all of us who are interested and cherish our values and our civilization, to stand up together and to say enough is enough. We have to stop antisemitism because antisemitism is the canary in the coal mine. It always precedes larger conflagrations that engulf the entire world.” Do not be deceived; there are striking resemblances between our present time and what became the reality for Germany, and we would, as freedom-loving people, do well to be very cognizant of the parallels and govern ourselves accordingly.
At Southern Evangelical Seminary we are watching as these events unfold before our eyes. We are not only watching as citizens of this nation but as citizens of a much higher and greater Kingdom. From history and our faith, we intuitively know that these are not ordinary times in which we live. Nor does this presently created violent confusion have ordinary, earthly origins. That is why we are standing with Israel and her people and against the tyranny of chaos wrought by the mayhem of demonic forces at work in our nation. Thomas Paine once wrote that “these are the times that try men’s souls,” and indeed they are. But these days in which we now live should cause us as Christians to pray not necessarily for easier lives, but rather to pray for the courage to be stronger followers of Christ. In this season of uneasiness and despair, we know from experience and from our walk of faith that our anchor will ultimately hold fast in the storm. At the same time, our prayer is that America will weather these storms once again and in doing so that her people will turn their hearts toward the only truth that matters, the message of a God who can still restore the souls of men and of nations through His only Son, Jesus Christ.
After a successful career as a lawyer and judge, Judge Phil Ginn retired as the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge for the 24th Judicial District in North Carolina. Throughout his 22-year judicial career, he had the privilege of holding court in almost 50% of the county seats in North Carolina. Currently, Judge Ginn serves as the president of Southern Evangelical Seminary (ses.edu) and is a regular contributor to Christianity.com and The Washington Times. Judge Ginn has also been featured on Fox News, CBN, Newsmax, Decision Magazine, The Christian Post, Townhall, and many others.
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