The Art of Protest

These days are the labor pains that indicate the birth of something epic.  They are excruciating and difficult to breath through.  Sometimes they are pulsating, sometimes they are sharp, but they are always present.  They're here because local, national, and global corruption is close to boiling over.  The smell of restlessness is pungent  from a frustrated people, being fully receptive of the subliminal and deliberate information supplied during this age.  Poverty is used for intimidation...or suppression...or elimination.  The obvious threat of violence is as high as ever, but assumptions of biological control and restrictions on various freedoms are making the peasants anxious.  And even the democratic process is subject to bribery and political influence.  This air is of revolution.

If illiteracy was the hammer that pounded slavery on the Africans, then humility was the nail that kept it together.  Reportedly, one could even hear the learned slave denouncing revolts, possibly after being told Colossians 3:22, which asserts that person kept as property should obey their masters even when they aren't around to chastise.  Gabriel's Rebellion in Virginia in 1800 attests to this.  Many of today's [free] Christians not only echo this thought, but also proclaim strict adherence to Romans 13:1-3, which declares we should willingly live under productive and benevolent, as well as cruel and destructive leaders...and then labeling those who do otherwise are rebellious to God  (as the scripture would indicate).  Are these scriptures taken completely out of context?  Especially in this current, volatile world?

In these type of discussions, we put the "what does the Word say" hat on.  Yet knowing that, we must remember that Peter, Stephen, and even the Apostle Paul who wrote Corinthians, were rebelling against the Roman government.  Is there a contradiction here?  And consider a parallel to this principle.  The Word clearly states that women shouldn't even talk during worship and/or teaching services and actually calls the act "disgraceful" (1 Corinthians 14:34-35).  But this scripture is usually dismissed as currently irrelevant, citing that societal norms of the times when Paul wrote this were plagued with minimal woman's' rights.  So in this situation, if this is the prevailing thought here, wouldn't accepting oppression also be outdated?

Of course it would.  As a matter of fact, accepting oppression was never intended.  But that doesn't mean operating in rebellion is promoted by the Word of God.  Now I say this with full understanding that I live in the United States where our freedoms compared with many countries around the globe are unheard of.  Just a show like this in wealthy China puts it's hosts and other people's lives at risk.  Still, it's important that we consistently trust that what God said is always beneficial for us.  We then, displayed by Jesus and because of Jesus, have the ability to rebuke evils such as oppression and slavery through prayer, action, and grace.  John 8:3-11 is a good example of this.  Additionally, Jesus teaches against those who encourage people to break laws in Matthew 5:19.  He even shows us in Matthew 17:24-27 that paying taxes in a corrupt economic system is the right thing to do.  But with all that...when you consider that during His false imprisonment, sentencing, and execution that he never legally disobeyed Jewish or Roman law, you have to know that we are empowered to do the same in our situation.  Keep in mind that Jesus' obedience allowed for the Lord God to reverse scientific laws for himself and others.  Believers (then and now) can do the same through obedience to God, and shown through respect and honor to our family, church, community, and vocational superiors and our laws.  The U.S Constitution allows for protests, and if you believe there is any reason to do so, I suggest you legally take advantage of this right.  Most companies also have grievance systems in place for issues work related and [absurdly] social reasons.  But if none of those routes are desirable for you, then you have the power of prayer through the Holy Spirit...which is actually more effective than protest or grievance.  

Live peaceful...