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Bulletproof Vests and Broken Hearts: A Christian View of the Los Angeles Riots | TLTS016 CWP100
What happens when we're unable to see the divine image in those across the political divide? The recent Los Angeles riots in response to immigration enforcement actions have revealed the deep wounds in our social fabric—and the critical need for spiritual perspective. Join Jeremy Jeremiah, and Mario Andrew as they touch on this issue from an Orthodox perspective.
Pray for everyone involved in these conflicts, not just the people on the ground, but the higher-ups too that are making all of these calls.
Drawing from personal military experience, our conversation explores how protective equipment like bulletproof vests can transform more than just physical vulnerability—they can alter our perception of others. "When you're geared up, you're like wearing a suit of armor, you're invincible," shares Mario, describing how easily this mindset leads to dehumanizing those on the opposing side. This sobering reflection offers a powerful metaphor for our current social divisions.
We dive into the complex dynamics of law enforcement militarization, immigration policy, and Christian responsibility. The Orthodox understanding that every person—regardless of documentation status, political belief, or uniform—bears the image of God challenges us to look beyond superficial divisions. While acknowledging the necessity of laws and order, we grapple with showing Christ-like compassion to families caught in immigration enforcement actions.
The conversation ultimately leads us to our personal responsibility before God. Rather than attempting to control government actions or change others' beliefs, our faith calls us to prayer—for protesters, police officers, policy makers, and everyone affected by these conflicts. In times of division, perhaps our most powerful witness is seeing the icon of Christ in those with whom we most strongly disagree.
Listen now and join us in seeking a path forward that honors both justice and mercy in these challenging times. How might your perspective shift if you truly saw God's image in everyone involved in today's conflicts?
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You know, I was in the military and so when you're wearing the bulletproof vest on, your geared up like you're wearing a suit of armor, you're invincible. And when you put this on, you know you have that testosterone going, you're ready and you have an enemy right, and these people hate you. They want to hurt you. But what's the response? You want to hurt them back, right, you start hating them and so it just becomes this hate. You'll battle where you just want to hurt each other.
Speaker 2:wow, you know, and I don't think good for anybody, it sounds like the playground of demons. Welcome to clouded witnesses radio. All of you, unless you're living under a rock, have heard about the Los Angeles riots going on right now, the response of the government to deal with those things. My name is Jeremy, I'm Mario, we're Orthodox Christians and we think it's important to talk about these types of things, to see what is an Orthodox response, what is an Orthodox perspective on these types of things, to see what is an orthodox response, what is an orthodox perspective on these types of issues. So I marley thanks, because you know you brought this up to me and I think it's a great topic. Um, maybe give me some of your initial thoughts, like what does this mean to you?
Speaker 1:I mean it's important, you know it's important to to me, you know, especially as I come from an immigrant family, um, and have a lot of friends, you know, that are coming from immigrant families. I have friends that are undocumented as well, but I also was in the military. I have friends that are police officers, you know. I have friends that work in the government, and so I think it's important to remember that both sides are people, you know. I think I understand the passion and the hurt. You know that that these people, I think it's important to understand, like that passion is an isn't an excuse to hurt her.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, on either side. On either side, I 100 percent. Mario. You have a very unique position, which is you really do see it from both sides. I think that's a fascinating background of coming from it.
Speaker 2:I'm a Hispanic myself not first generation or anything but certainly I understand that side of it as well and I do have a ton of respect for people who have to uphold our laws, who have to put themselves in harm's way to defend this country, defend cities, defend property, et cetera. And yet we live in a country where we have the right to express our disdain, our anger, our feelings, our thoughts to our government Shouldn't include violence ever, and that's when you know sometimes you have to up the ante. But you said something very important. You said you need to see the person right on the other side. As Orthodox Christians, we are told again and again and it's one of the beautiful elements of our faith that we are created in the image of God. We are the icons of God, right? We ourselves are individual icons of the image of God, and that's a that's a wonderful thing. And that's not just me, and it's not just people who agree with me politically.
Speaker 2:It's everything and tell me, mario, cause you? We were talking about this a little bit earlier. You were explaining how you used to wear the uniform, yeah, and you said, how, tell us about that, how that made it hard sometimes.
Speaker 1:See, the other side. You know, I was in the military and so when you're wearing the bulletproof vest on your, you're geared up, you're like you're wearing a suit of armor and you're invincible. And when you put this on, you know you have that testosterone going, you're ready and you have an enemy right and these people hate you, they want to hurt you, but what's the response? You want to hurt them back, right you? You start hating them and so it just becomes this hate. You'll battle where you just want to hurt each other.
Speaker 2:Wow, you know, and I don't think good for anybody it sounds like the playground of demons. Yes, to be honest with you, you know it is. It's an, it's an issue, it's a question that people talk about, which is you know, have we over militarized our law enforcement? Right, you know? You see, there's law enforcement now, regular, regular small town cops who have AKs. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, that's not the point, but you make a great point, which is that feeling of you've got this invincibility Can't help but thinking about the armor of God in comparison to an armor of Kevlar and the difference there, you know, and how one, if I'm hearing you correctly, maybe all too easily can breed feelings, thoughts, divisions that shouldn't be and you know something.
Speaker 1:something about that is that if these weapons, these armor isn't used, you're going to lose the funding for it. So if it is used because of the escalation of the violence that's happening, then the police is more justified in being able to order more, you know. So the opposite effect that you know these protests want is what the police are getting. That's fascinating, yeah, because I mean you hear it in the military like use it or lose it, absolutely.
Speaker 2:I'm sure that the police works the same way the federal government works 100, you get a budget for the year. If you don't spend it all, what's the response? Oh, I guess you don't need all that money. Then, exactly right. But mario hit that point home because that's fascinating. So people who are in support of or let's just say, maybe another way to put this people who are in support of, or let's just say maybe another way to put this people who are not fans of the ICE extraditions, of these roundups, etc. They of course, historically generally have a distrust for government, have a distrust for law enforcement, these types of things. We're talking about political lines that are common, have a distrust for government, have a distrust for law enforcement, these types of things. Right, we're drawing. We're talking about political lines that are common. Yes, doesn't describe everybody, but are common their very actions, the violence, the. You know, the national guard was called in. Yeah, the marine corps the marine corps two seven, yeah, was called from 29 poems.
Speaker 2:Right, yep is. Is there now? Right, guys, are you know, door kickers? Right, they're there. You're saying that's actually going to give the law enforcement, the military, even more reason they can be like remember 2025, remember when you needed us? Exactly, we need this tactical, you know? And again, I'm not saying they don't I, but it's an interesting issue, yes, and it's an interesting contrast multifaceted.
Speaker 1:There's a lot of people, a lot of different parties. I mean we have what ice federal government, probably the fbi, the marine corps, protesters like state police, tons of players all in this battle, absolutely. So it's important to see what's going to come of it. I think what's important is that we make sure that we're praying for everyone that's involved, not just the people on the ground, but the higher-ups too that are making all of these calls Right right.
Speaker 2:Something I want to touch on is, you know again, from an Orthodox perspective and thank you for bringing us back home to it does it all comes down prayer. It all comes down to our own place. I'm not responsible for the actions of our government, I'm not responsible for your actions or political beliefs. I'm responsible for myself before God. I'm responsible, I'm accountable to my family, to my spiritual family, etc. To our church. We are called to love our neighbor. We are called to love our enemies. One thing that really is driven home to my mind and heart when I see these types of conflict, as I tend I'll just say it, I tend to be a bit more on the right when it comes to political views, but I believe as a Christian we are not to be cold hearted and mercenary and just you're here illegally, You're out of here. You know my heart breaks for families.
Speaker 2:I too have a lot of friends who and I've worked with over the years I worked in the restaurant industry for many, many years. A lot of people may or may not have been documented properly, etc. These are good people working their butts off, oftentimes two, three jobs, to support their family. They're not here, they're not criminals, they're not trying to hurt anybody. Some of these people are being rounded up in these ways Now, same time. Mario, I understand we have to have laws, need to have order, there needs to be a process for becoming a citizen, etc. These are the tough issues, you know that I see and that I pray for God's mercy and grace to hopefully understand them with humility, and may God, through His church, bring some changes that changes why we're talking about this right now.