France is on fire. If you’ve been paying attention to the news you’ve seen the pictures and watched the video of shop keepers lamenting their losses. Mobs of young men in hoods and masks run through the streets looting buildings, lighting buildings on fire and clashing with law enforcement. It’s not new. Whenever people get frustrated with a system that is not working for them the calls for protest emerge. But is there a difference between a peaceful protest and an unruly mob? Are the same people committed to civil disobedience also those who resort to violence and theft? Today angst over rising everyday costs, housing shortages and cut-backs to entitlement programs are pushing people to take to the streets in protest. Across Europe in Countries like Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Belgium and France the protests have become louder, more angry and more often. The Netherlands has avoided the extremes that France is currently experiencing but we have had our own (mostly peaceful) protests over these same issues. What does God want His People to do when faced with broken systems and broken promises?
As Christians living in the Netherlands participating in a peaceful protest is not breaking the law. Of course, legality is different than morality. Rioting is always wrong, but is it right for Christians to be involved in peaceful protests? Arguably, most major changes in laws or governments began with a protest of some sort. People got fed up and organized like-minded citizens. Together they lobbied for change and worked to improve a situation they found intolerable. The Protestant Reformation is one of the most famous protests in world history. Without Martin Luther’s courage and conviction, the errors and abuses of the Roman Catholic Church may have continued unchecked.
An obvious example of a protest gone wrong is the mob in Pilate’s court being stirred up to shout, “Crucify Him!” and send Jesus to the cross (Matthew 27:15–26). As with many mob protests, it had less to do with justice or lawfulness than with disinformation and ill intent (see Acts 19:23–41 and Acts 21:26–36). Anger at the abuse of power is often the spark that ignites the flames of protest. Passionate people can be swept up in a mob mentality before they know it and find themselves joining causes without close examination. Before a Christian gets involved in a protest, he or she should consider these questions carefully:
1. Is this a worthy cause?
2. Would Jesus support the convictions behind this cause?
3. Will my participation violate any legitimate laws?
4. Do I know the real motives behind this protest, and can I support those motives?
5. What message will my involvement send to people outside this protest?
6. Am I being used as a pawn in a hidden agenda I would not otherwise support?
7. Is this protest being used as an excuse for violence, destruction, or other forms of evil?
8. Is this protest the best way to further the message I want to proclaim?
9. What do I expect to be the result of this protest?
10. How will I treat those who do not join me in this protest?
It is easy to get caught up in earthly concerns. We must remember our aims. If a protest furthers making disciples and glorifying God, then it may be a righteous pursuit. But if involvement in a protest violates God’s law or invalidates our Christian testimony, then it cannot be pleasing to God. (The above article was borrowed, in part, from one of my favorite sites for honest questions: gotquestions.org. We should always be striving to think well about the world we live in and resources like this are very helpful).
Pastor Dan
