4 Tipping Points That Could Spur Societal Chaos

The sentiment in the United States recently has been so fragile and fraught with anger and fear, that it can perhaps take only one major event to result in a tipping point towards societal chaos. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 taught us that not even the great USA is immune to confusion and mass chaos.

The following four tipping points could result in societal chaos in the USA:

1) Race riots

The riots that took place recently in Ferguson, Missouri, demonstrate that there is still much distrust among people of color when it comes to social justice issues. A similar outbreak could have easily taken place in NYC several months ago when Eric Garner died after being placed in a chokehold during an arrest.

Whether the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson was justified and/or the chokehold of Eric Garner was necessary is beside the point. A society where there is abundant trust between divergent ethnic groups and/or between minority communities and the police (and the judicial system) can handle a controversial shooting or unintended death during an arrest.

However, the O.J. Simpson trial several decades ago demonstrated that there is still a huge racial divide when it comes to perception. The whites largely thought O.J. was guilty and the people of color largely believed he was innocent. The Ferguson issue can become a huge tipping point that can trigger unrest beyond their region because, if riots erupt if the police officer who shot Michael Brown is exonerated by the grand jury, then it can potentially lead to a collapse of the judicial system in that region and beyond.

This can indeed become a huge tipping point across the nation because of the unresolved, seething issues of perceived racism, which evidently trumps the judicial system—one of our major pillars for peace and civility.

2) A viral pandemic

The response of the present administration to the Ebola outbreak in Africa demonstrates that the USA is ill-prepared to deal with a potential pandemic. Furthermore, we have been hearing for years that the frequent (and often unnecessary) use of antibiotics among the population as well as the ability of super viruses to mutate and adapt make a huge pandemic in the USA more likely as time goes on.

I doubt Ebola will ever spread in our nation. However, there are far more dangerous strains of viruses  that can eventually cause a tipping point towards societal chaos and confusion.

3) A terrorist attack

It has been a major miracle that the USA has not experienced another terrorist attack on the scale of Sept. 11, 2001. It is not only due to the great job of the FBI, Homeland Security, various police agencies and CIA, but in my opinion, due to the grace and mercy of God. With the advent of weaponized drones (that can spew dangerous chemicals or ignite a nuclear weapon) and the proliferation of groups like Islamic State that now have access to raw materials to produce weapons of mass destruction, it will be far easier in the future for radical jihadis to wreak havoc across our nation. This can be a tipping point that could cause mass hysteria and unrest.

4) An economic meltdown

Although many think the economy is doing well today, there are a number of events that could trigger a collapse of the stock market: a terrorist attack, an Ebola-like pandemic, mass rioting resulting in mass unrest and more—all of these fall under the category of a “Black Swan,” which in this context has to do with an unpredictable event that can catalyze a tipping point towards economic chaos. As we have seen, people are volatile and mercurial and so is the stock market—any one of the above tipping points can result in a huge economic crash.

Furthermore, some believe that if the U.S. currency is ever replaced with other national currencies (something I do not think will happen very soon), then the U.S. federal government will not be able to continue to print money to pay down the national debt—something that will cause a huge financial implosion in our nation.

In conclusion, only God can protect our nation. It is up to the church to be vigilant in prayer, since the enemy who wants to destroy our soul also wants to destroy our nation. Ultimately, if the Lord doesn’t protect our nation, then no political leader, military leader or church leader will be able to prevent an event that can tip our nation over into chaos.

Joseph Mattera is overseeing bishop of Resurrection Church and Christ Covenant Coalition, in Brooklyn, New York.