God hates riots

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Riots are not protest, if you are rioting you are out of control as a group with some individuals not making decisions for themselves.  To go with the flow, however, is in itself a moral decision.  To resist going with the flow requires character.  It has been stated that many people arrested for criminal activity associated with the riots were "previously of good character".  This cannot be true.  The reality is that these people were previously of good behaviour, but their character wasn't up to much if they just joined with looting because everyone was doing it.  We all need training to build up character, we need to practice being good.  The Bible contains the book of Proverbs contains lots of advice on how to do this, advice that works and has stood the test of time.  In chapter 6 of the book of Proverbs, there is a list of what God hates.  In the latest episode the podcast there is an edited down version of my sermon on this passage and a brief response to the riots.  God hates, it seems, pride, deception and killing.  I really think that God hates riots.

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