Watching protesters on the streets of Los Angeles today brings to mind the riots that rocked the same city 33 years ago. In late April and early May of 1992, dozens were killed with thousands injured and thousands more arrested. Reports placed property damage at $1 billion, with 1,100 buildings damaged.

It was the most devastating event of its kind in American history, but was surpassed in the spring of 2020 by nationwide protests, with some estimating twice the damage.

Regardless of what is being protested—with injustices real or perceived—chaos, destruction, arson, violence, vandalism, theft, injury and even loss of life often follows.

I am writing this only days after over 2,100 “No Kings Day” protests involving an estimated 5 million people took place worldwide. In just the immediate radius of The Restored Church of God Headquarters in Wadsworth, Ohio, demonstrations occurred in dozens of communities—including Cleveland, Akron, Chagrin Falls, Cuyahoga Falls, Parma, Dover, Ashland, Mentor and North Ridgeville.

Ahead of the event, organizers described their purpose this way: “Cities across Northeast Ohio [are] preparing for a wave of protests Saturday as part of ‘No Kings Day,’ a national movement opposing what organizers call increasing authoritarianism and political overreach. From lakeside parks to suburban squares…participants [are] rallying under the message: ‘No Kings, not now, not ever’” (News 5 Cleveland).

Yet Christians are commanded: “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (I Pet. 2:17).

With the Kingdom of God not yet here, the apostle Paul explained this extends to all forms of government—not just monarchies. He instructed Titus, “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men” (3:1-2).

Peter further added people should “by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation,” and in the same context said, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (I Pet. 2:12-15).

Civil government can only be disobeyed if a Christian is personally commanded to do something contrary to Scripture. In Acts 5, Peter and the apostles were confronted with such a situation. After being commanded not to teach in Jesus’ name, “the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you that you should not teach in this name? And, behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine” (vs. 27-28).

Peter’s answer is key: “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men” (vs. 29).

Do not misunderstand! This is not license to engage in public, organized protest, but rather a command to obey God, no matter the circumstances.

That said, as commandment keepers, true Christians are seldom confronted with such trials. Rather than being the target of government officials, they are instead model citizens because obeying God’s laws yields peace and order!

The kingdoms of this world are deeply flawed. Just as Adam and Eve rejected God’s rule by succumbing to Satan’s influence and had to learn hard lessons, the same is playing out today on a worldwide scale. The bitter fruit is everywhere, and increasingly evident.

Notice Satan’s words in his failed attempt to make Christ worship him, where he took Jesus up into an high mountain and “showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give you, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it” (Luke 4:5-6).

Do not miss the point! The kingdoms of this world have currently been “delivered” to Satan the devil. However sincere certain human leaders are, they cannot and do not know how to administer the society God envisions and will bring—the Kingdom of God!

Christians wait for the Kingdom of God (Mark 15:43). They do not, through activism, attempt to correct governments as they currently exist.

God long ago warned of the dangers that come from engaging in mob mentality: “You shall not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shall you speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment” (Ex. 23:2). In other words, do not get caught up in the evils that flow from protest by trying to enact change. How plain!

King Solomon warned in Proverbs 24:21, “My son, fear you the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change”—think revolutionaries.

His reasoning was based on the principle outlined in Exodus, but also rooted in common sense: “For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both?” (Prov. 24:22). Senseless death and calamity—as well as all the other bad fruits of protests—are too often on full display when such events unfold.

Consider the grave injustice of Christ’s capture before His crucifixion. Yet note what He told Pilate: “My Kingdom is not of this world: if My Kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My Kingdom not from hence” (John 18:36).

Philippians 3:20 reveals that a Christian’s “conversation [meaning citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” II Timothy adds, “No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who has chosen him to be a soldier” (2:4).

The apostle James warned, “the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God” (1:20). No amount of human anger or action will bring about the revolutionary change only possible with the arrival of the Kingdom of God. This is why Christians every day pray, “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10)! Developing the character to rule in this coming Kingdom and asking God to bring it are the actions true Christians take.

Paul explained the civil duty of Christians: “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation [meaning generation or age], among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:14-15).

Do not be tempted to “make your voice heard” by engaging in protest—even in an instance where a cause seems just. Instead, be visible and take action in the way Christ instructed: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). God wants a person’s focus to be on personal conduct, which invariably translates to being a model citizen in whatever nation one lives.

Focus on developing godly character in your own life now and look forward to real change that will come worldwide in the Kingdom of God now just ahead!