Should Christians Protest?

This past Saturday as I was enjoying another Sabbath at my parents’ house, piecing together a puzzle, I couldn’t help but overhear a sermon my mother was listening to in the living room. The speaker- Pastor Carlton P. Bryd. He explained how he had had recently attended one of the Black Lives Matter protests that are grabbing the attention of the media as of late.

Pastor Byrd said that a church member or whomever explained to him that he noticed Bryd on social media talking about his attendance at a protest and remarked that he shouldn’t be involved or take part in these protests because he is in the church. Like Pastor Bryd, I could not believe what I was hearing. In response to this that person’s remarks, the pastor mentioned a couple of scriptures. The one I remember came from the book of scriptures, which says,

“Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.” – Proverbs‬ ‭31:8-9‬ ‭NKJV‬.

I don’t know about other Christians and my own church members, but I see many people in need. A police officer, with his hand casually in his pocket, kneeling on the neck of a man pinned the ground until he is silenced indefinitely. Male cops shoving women with all their might, ignoring any teaching their mothers might have told them about how to treat women. Cops showing no respect toward their elders by shoving them to the concrete, letting them bleed. In this case the great need coming from many is for law enforcement officers to not use excessive/deadly methods on the job when the situation can be resolved in another way. Not just towards black people, but all people.

My fellow believers our duty is to help those in need. Speak for those who are unable to speak. Speak for those who are no longer here. Help someone you see being mistreated. Pick that person off the ground. Tend to their bruises, and prayer for them. It is not required to go out in the streets. I haven’t been out to any protests, but I am utilizing tools called social media, blogs, and prayer. Use whatever tools you can. But let your words not be of violence or hate, but out of love. Among your words don’t be afraid to mention Jesus, who wants us to love another and to take us to a place much better than what we’re forced to live in at present.