In this time of political and spiritual unrest, many Christians, myself included, are watching the decline of our nation afraid to "get involved." Some Christian denominations teach that protesting our government's evil policies is a sin. I'm no Bible scholar, but I am a follower of Jesus Christ so in layman's terms I'm a disciple. I believe that means I should follow the example of Jesus, who did not preach quiet submission. As our role model he stood up in the face of compromise and injustice and wasn't afraid to offend his listeners.
Jesus began his ministry making waves by turning the culture upside down. He went throughout all the towns and villages and spoke in synagogues, hillsides, and fishing towns challenging the spiritual and political leaders about the error of their message. Sometimes Jesus did his protesting quietly like on the Sabbath, a day of total rest, when he healed a man with a shriveled hand.(Mark 3:4) "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save a life or kill?" At other times Jesus' actions were inflammatory like when He criticized the elders, (Matthew 23:3)"Practice and obey whatever they teach, but don't follow their example,for they do not practice what they preach." Sometimes his words and actions were provocative as the time the leaders brought him a woman caught in the act of adultery, a crime punishable by death. As her accusers stood around her with rocks in their hands Jesus said, (John 8:6)"Let the one who has never sinned cast the first stone." He never shied away from being publicly disruptive as the time he entered the temple courts yelling, turning over tables and flinging a whip to drive out animals and wealthy merchants buying and selling in the house of God. (Matthew 12:13) "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are turning it into a gathering place for thieves." In addition, he restored sight to the blind, the deaf could hear, he cast out demons, and raised a man from the dead. Believe it or not, with this incredible record of how one man changed the world, he told us...his followers...we would do even greater things in his name.(John 14: 12-14)
Radical? You bet! Righteous anger moved him to act whenever he saw injustice, corruption and greed.
Jesus' words and actions started such a fire storm, angry mobs backed by religious and political leaders began to plot to kill him. Jesus' teachings are so countercultural he had the entire countryside in an uproar 2,000 years ago and now in 2023. Generations have listened to his message of the good news of salvation enabling him to start a movement that persists to this day.
His earthly ministry was filled with advocating for the oppressed, abused, abandoned, and victimized citizens of his day, inspiring his followers to do the same. Jesus didn't hide from the haters, instead he allowed himself to be mocked, threatened, slandered, ridiculed, discredited and eventually crucified by the authorities.
Today, as the politicians and those who follow them, push ideologies that cancel the Bible and our fundamental rights under the Constitution as hate speech we need to ask ourselves, "what would Jesus do?"
Some words used from Stephen Mottson author of Social Justice Devotional March 16,2016
