The idea of non-violent protest is ridiculous. Throughout history, especially in this country, nonviolent protest has been the medium of choice for those who wish to change what they believe to be injustice. Activists of all sorts; be it environmentalists, gay rights activists, pro life advocates, civil rights activists, hippies, Christians, etc, have all desperately sought to seek changes in their favor in a nonviolent, passively insubordinate way. But to what avail?
I would venture to say that nonviolent protest, without violent intervention has been all but useless. Dr. King needed X and the Panthers. The only protests we remember ended in a massacre or explosion. It seems very clear to me that, if you want to get something accomplished through protest, the quickest and most effective way is to take up arms and take what you want. A whisper in the ear will not get nearly the attention as a shot to the head…right? If you ask me, nonviolent protest is a cop out, the weapon of choice for people who want change things but not willing to get their hands dirty and are more than willing to end with a good try and we’ll get em next time. And for the record, I’m not calling Dr. King a quitter by any means, but there were also very few of his demonstrations that remained nonviolent.
So what to do? Violent protest (in almost all cases) is absolutely unBiblical and nonviolent is absolutely stupid. The answer is…quit protesting. For Christians, it seems that so much of our time is wrapped up in reacting. We hear about a new bill or politician, or abortion clinic and we get all in a tizzy; when in reality if we had been doing our job of living as a counter culture and preaching the unadulterated Gospel the problems may not have gotten to the point they are at. We waste so much time defending that we don’t have any time to do what we were made for, to love God and love people and make disciples in the process. We need to start living the lives we proclaim and protest for and stop wasting time thinking up clever ways to tell homosexuals and abortion doctors we hate them as we pass them on the interstate. Christ lived on earth in a way that was radical and different and people took notice. He needed no signs or bracelets to let people know that change was coming…He was just different…amazingly different…and change occurred around Him. It’s time for us to put down the signs and pick up our swords, the Word of God, and live it in a way that is unmistakable and impossible to look past. Action speaks louder than billboards. I might get a bumper sticker that says ::End Protesting::…what a waste.
