The other day I received a note about the church’s response to the current injustices. The writer shared how he was organizing his church to publicly question police tactics, to be actively involved in legislating change, and to rally in protest. And then he posed what he thought was a politically charged question, thinking it would support his and his church’s response.
He asked:
What Would Jesus Do?
He shouldn’t have gone there …
What would Jesus do? Let’s take a look, shall we?
In Jesus’s day the Romans regularly persecuted, tortured, and killed people by scourging and by crucifixion. Those who were not Jewish were crucified naked for all to see in an inhumane and humiliating act. Men (rarely women) were regularly put to death for crimes as petty as theft.
What did Jesus say about this travesty? Not a word.
The Jewish people in that day were quite racist against those who lived on the “other side of the tracks” in Samaria (let alone those who weren’t Jewish!). They regularly sanctioned the Samaritans and boycotted their businesses, belittled their people, and had no problem cheating them in the marketplace.
Again, what did Jesus say about their treatment? He was completely silent.
Jesus’ cousin John was imprisoned without trial because he spoke out against a public figure’s lack of morality. He sat in jail without “bond” and without just cause for weeks or even months. But that wasn’t the end of it. What was even more unjust was his summary execution without trial, judge, or jury – instead, his killing was the worst sort of a party trick displayed for all to see.
Jesus’s response? Although he did have the good sense to leave the district, he didn’t call for protests, he didn’t organize a rally, and he didn’t engage in lobbying, politicking, nor did he offer public rhetoric about the injustice of those imbued with privilege and power.
The list can go on and on and on. Women’s rights. Unfair taxation. Unjust leaders (the emperor and the king were both known for their cruelty). Crippling poverty. A lack of even the most basic rights for the physically challenged or diseased. Although for each of these, Jesus personally modeled grace, mercy, and respect – he said nothing and gave no instructions (other than to pay your tax obligations in full to a government that was seriously oppressive).
So … what “sin” and “injustice” did Jesus choose to directly address over and over again? Hypocrisy of the religious leaders – not about the way they did or didn’t address social issues, but because of their holier-than-thou attitudes toward those in the community.
That’s not to say the church shouldn’t speak out against injustice … the prophets regularly did that and we should too. But the church has a deplorable record on addressing social ills when using society’s tools (lobbying, protesting, politicking, etc.). In the 20s we got our noses bloodied in the war against alcohol (I guess we forgot Jesus made 120 gallons of wine in a single sitting). In the 1940s, we looked pretty bad when the US Church vehemently supported Isolationism and suggested the Jews fend for themselves. In the 1960s, we didn’t do so well trying to defeat abortion. In the 1980s, we lost face in the face of homosexuality. And in the 2000s, the battle against same-gender marriage was seriously lost.
Jesus charged the church with making disciples of Jesus Christ, and I think I can safely argue that a faithful follower of Jesus Christ (not just a “Christian” or a “church member”) has a pretty good handle on the Golden Rule and on Paul’s admonition that in Christ there is no gender, no race, no ethnicity, no social distinctions, etc. The only “cure” for our nation’s ills, or the world’s ills, for that matter, is Jesus Christ, and the only effective tool the church has for making that a reality is evangelism and discipleship.
Which is to say, if the church had been faithful for the last 2000 years with the Great Commission, and if the US Church spent as much time, energy, and resources engaging in effective evangelism as it has trying to right all of society’s ills using society’s tools (something even Einstein suggested was futile), then MLK, Rodney King, Ferguson, and now Minneapolis might not have happened in the first place.
We must all be good citizens. We must vote. Write letters. Even protest. But the CHURCH, the organized Body Of Christ has a single mandate … to make disciples. When we get sidetracked with anything else, we cease being the church and become just another non-profit organization. We’ve been protesting racial injustice since well before Martin Luther King, Jr. Things have changed … but only incrementally. Perhaps it’s time for the church to put Jesus’ plan for global redemption onto the front burner …
And that is why I teach evangelism, church growth, preaching, and pastoral leadership … because if we were faithful and effective at those four, the US might not be rioting in the streets tonight.
Good for you Bill. Your willingness to take an unpopular position.is to be commended. Thank you for reminding us all of what the fundamental Christian response to injustice should be. And before others jump on this, fundamental is not a dirty word. It means basic like John Stott’s classic book, Basic Christianity. The basics of Christianity rests in a great commandment Jesus gave to all of his followers,‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” It is pretty basic, Love God and love our neighbor. The commission Jesus gave to his church was also great,..” go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This mission is also pretty basic, Go to all people and share the Good News of Jesus Christ, bring them into fellowship with other Christians and teach them about the love and forgiveness Jesus stood for in life and death.. Might this be the message President Trump was silently trying to convey while holding up his Bible in a much attacked “photo op”?
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God..
So “right on target” Bill. Thank you for sharing this.
One of your very best posts. Thanks
Thank you Bill!! A very thoughtful message for church leaders as well as those of us in the pews.
Here’s a contrarian view: 1. Biblically – a. We cannot delete “Your Kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” from Jesus’ model prayer. b. We cannot avoid Jesus’ proclamation (made before John 3:16) that “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (what some call a “new world order”) and is springing up all around us. Some Biblical views of the end times do not end in cataclysm and rapture. c. If God’s aim (Rev. 11) is that “the kingdom of this world shall become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ”, does that mean anything to us in the here and now? d. When that righteous man asked Jesus about how to enter the Kingdom, and they had that wonderful discussion about the Great Commandment, isn’t it probable that the man had an edge in his voice when he asked, “Well, who the heck is my neighbor?” Then Jesus told the parable and selected the single, most far-fetched, unlikely, unimaginable example of “neighbor” as his example of neighborliness. (If Jesus were here today and re-telling that parable, who would he depict as our “Samaritan”?) e. The Old Testament is packed full of examples of structuring society with systems that cared for the poor and connected neighbors. Read OT scholar Brueggeman’s “Journey to the Common Good.” f. Judaism has no real word for what we call “charity.” They don’t practice “charity” at all. The closest Hebrew word they use means “justice.” What we call charity and philanthropy is, for Jews, “going out and fixing the world.” f, g, h …. The list goes on.
2. Historically: a. Was Wesley missing the mark when he gave such attention to slavery, child labor, poverty, health, etc.? b. When you say “the church has a deplorable record on addressing social ills when using society’s tools (lobbying, protesting, politicking, etc.), didn’t you leave out the Church’s role in years of motivating people working on social systems regarding women’s rights, slavery, child labor, war, creation car, and more? Has the Church only and always used “society’s tools”? c. The fall of the Soviet Union happened because of numerous pockets of resistance from congregations, pastors, and laity in Ukraine, East Germany, Romania. These stories are of heroic disciples of Jesus who had steadfast commitment to a Kingdom not of this world announced by their Lord. 3. Missionally: a. The United Methodist Church states that our mission is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Is that a misstatement? b. Our understanding of “neighbor” puts us in direct contention with the systems that produce homelessness. Our nation is the world champion for incarcerating people. Economic changes hurt people in Appalachia and the Rust Belt and among Native Americans. 160 people got off death row because The Innocence Project has includes committed disciples who are literally saving lives and witnessing to their faith (working to convince/invite others to become Jesus’ disciples). You don’t mean to say our record as God’s people with Kingdom issues is only “deplorable”?
It surely is on a lot of fronts, and it is anything but that on a lot of fronts. I think you raise a great issue – just like the good man who asked Jesus about obtaining eternal life. He, like us moderns, had to be downright annoyed with Jesus’ answer to “Well, who the heck is my neighbor?” Does following Jesus as disciples mean we have deal with those annoying passages like Matt. 25 and that blasted book of James and the troubling Sermon on the Mount. I know you don’t want to suggest that the only important issue in discipleship is getting ourselves and others to heaven.
Don’t disagree with the exception that there’s a difference between what the organized church does and what an individual Christian is called to do and respond. James wasn’t addressing the “church,” but the individual Jesus follower, so yes, individuals are expected to respond appropriately. However, Matthew 25 is addressed to how believers treat believers, not how the church reaches out to its neighbors (it’s addressed to the least of these “my brothers and sisters” and the Gospel writers are clear “who” the brothers and sisters are – we’re all God’s creation, but only believers are children of God – John 1:12-13 among others). That doesn’t mean we’re not to do “good works,” we definitely are, eg. Matthew 5:14–16 – but again, we do good with the primary intention of sharing the gospel and “giving glory to God.” Finally, if being a disciple of Jesus is only a fire escape from hell, then I kinda wonder what’s the point? I’m definitely not suggesting that discipleship and evangelism is a get out of hell free card. Discipleship is meant to touch every part of our lives – nothing would be excluded, including how we respond to injustice in this life. But that’s not a mandate for the church.
Faith Without Works Is Dead! I agree, Our Faith in Jesus, We should make disciples out of All Man. However, The Bible speaks from Genesis to Revelation about Fighting for Justice, for the Widows & Orphans, and those Oppressed, that requires “Action”.. You are either The Problem or Through Jesus you are The Solution.. There’s No Middle Ground.
I see the earlier Post about the Greatest Commandment. and I see Bill’s answer to Injustices is to do Status Quo. “Nothing”. I see my Brothers & Sisters in Christ have made Animals, Guns, American Flags, Political Party, Wealth, and everything else except Humans; Their Neighbors. So Most White Pastors/White Preachers passed on the Other Side of the Neighbors in Need? Most White Congregations of Believers (People who Knew Better, But Didn’t Do Better) Passed on the “Other Side”? The Bible is Clear ” Don’t think more highly of yourself ,than you ought to! No Wonder their are So Many Injustices & Oppressions, many are done by the People who say they Love God!
A Very Sad Commentary!!!
Interesting … I don’t see anything about “doing nothing.” I see a call for individuals to be effective citizens and do what’s right and just. And I see a call to action for the church to make disciples, something it has been woefully inadequate at doing for nearly a hundred years (conversion rates for the church haven’t been good since before the early 1900s – the average US church hasn’t done a single conversion baptism in over five years). Engaging in evangelism and effective disciple making isn’t nothing – and if the church focused on that rather than trying to use society’s tools to solve spiritual bankruptcy, as I said, there might not be rioting in the streets tonight. This is a call to do something different because, as you point out, the status quo has been woefully inadequate – and that status quo has got to go. The church has been protesting for over 50 years and the results are pretty much what we’re seeing – a lot of noise, the spark of riots, and in the end little legislation that will change behaviors. Perhaps it’s time to DO something about the heart issue. Transform the heart and the behaviors follow.
I agree with you, that legislation can not transform the Heart. only Jesus & His Word by aid of the Holy Spirit can transform hearts & behaviors! However, God Created Real Law & Order. If you legislate to take away all the Guns, People would still kill a lot of People the Old Fashioned Way *Pipe Bombs” (Like Oklahoma City). Because the Hearts of Men are still Evil & full of Hate.. However, Laws deters people from violating Law & Order. and keeping some Order
Plus, I begged to differ on the Church fighting for 50 years. Most White Churches have been very Silent & Non- Responsive on Social Injustices & Police Misconducts. There are many Photos of Whites Physically Hitting Blacks with their Bibles, ( The Absolute Wrong Way to use the Bible, Aka Like A Prop Only at Church For a Photo Op – A man who is 75 year Old & Still Can’t Pronounce Books in the Bible) WHEN Blacks fought for their constitutional Rights to be treated Equal and not less than Human. If anything, many Whites have been on the side of Evil. They were tying to justify their mistreatment of fellow Humans with Misinterpret the Scriptures. Whites were looting, lynching, rioting and killing Blacks/Little children for the right to Education, Voting, Prosperity, and Fair Treatment in this Country and Workplace,. (Read Black Wall Street)
Again, they Have Made Animals, Guns, Flags, Constitution and everything else their Neighbors, except Fellow Humans. (As God Intended). Many White Churches will fight you tooth & nail for Guns, Animals & Flags Rights. (Very Backward).
The truth of the Matter, JESUS took care of both the Physical & the Spiritual Man. I commend Catholic Charities, they do a lot of good things as far the Physical Man, however, they need to work on the Spiritual Man More. All Evangelism while neglecting Physical Needs, Social Injustices,and Oppression is just as bad. Just like We need a Balance Diet, we need a Balance Spiritual Life. We need the Church to take care of the Physical (Social Injustices & Police Misconducts) and Spiritual’s Needs as Well. We need All Brothers & Sisters to do All that God wants us to do! Let The Church Be The Church!
God bless You
Bill TB,
Your message is muddy to me. You title your piece “When Protesting Doesn’t Work” which is a broad general statement, but your critique in the article is about a pastor who is organizing his church for a rally, an act that you have a principled disagreement with. You then appear to be making the statement that Jesus himself didn’t bother himself with injustices in his day and that if we would just live up to the call our faith our societal ills would be taken care of. I would hope that you would acknowledge that there are myriads of other interpretations of Jesus and how he responds to injustice in his time beyond your own.
My question to you is what does any of what you wrote in your article have to do with protesting not working? If you want to say a pastor should not be using his (or her) position to organize their church for a protest they (as an individual) support I would agree with you. If you want to say looting doesn’t work I would agree with you. If you want to say working for change without sitting down with community and government leaders in dialogue I would agree with you. However saying protesting doesn’t work simply is not true. If protesting didn’t work we would have no knowledge of the name Martin Luther King. If protesting didn’t work we wouldn’t be seeing the change that is happening in our country and our world right now. Protesting is a legally protected way for an individual or concerned community member(s) to express themselves. That expression is protected by the first amendment. My question is what are you really meaning to communicate?
Edlen Cowley
Hi Edlen, you make some good points. The issue isn’t so much that protesting doesn’t work on a larger scale, though in today’s environment so many “peaceful protests” turn into less than peaceful events, but that when it comes to the organized church’s involvement in protests that it’s a distraction from the main thing … making disciples. Protesting has its place … and is one form for putting pressure on the government to implement changes … but when the organized church gets involved, it’s not only ineffective, but has dilatory effects on the church’s mission.
A very comforting article if you are benefitting from the status quo. Anyone who may have felt convicted to support their brothers and sisters in a visible way can slip back into their lazy boy chair and get back enjoying their non marginalized life.
When Jesus healed the ten lepers was he healing lepers or making disciples? It looks like he may have made one disciple, but was still compelled to heal the other nine. Sometimes we have to stop looking at the scoreboard, or what appears effective or ineffective.
Therein lies the problem … the church has done exactly that. We’ve slipped into our armchairs and NOT been faithful at making disciples. We’re not called to inaction, but to action … evangelistic and discipleship action.
And if we don’t look at the scoreboard, we’ll continue to believe the lie that the church is and has been faithful because of all the “good things” we’ve done – never mind that the average “Christian” has never been instrumental in sharing their faith in such a way as to bring someone from disbelief into the family of God through Jesus Christ. Instead of counting butts in seats (or on Zoom) and bucks in plates (or on e-giving) the primary “score” for each Christian and each church should be the number of conversion baptisms and the numbers of new Christians in disciple-making classes (not Sunday school). If that became the primary marker of a church’s faithfulness above all else, most churches and most Christians would have to, or at least should, slink off into the shadows in shame. Until conversions, baptisms, and new Christian discipleship is the primary mark of an authentic Christian, our nation will continue along the path it’s currently on. None of the -isms or poverty or privilege can be protested or legislated away … it takes a heart change. It’s a spiritual issue pure and simple.