On Being a Peaceful PROTESTant

Author: kj
April 05, 2025
I'm going to a protest today. 

I have colleagues in Boise, Idaho and Austin, Texas who protest in front of their Capitol every week that the legislature is in session. I respect their commitment and I'm thankful for their witness - but that's not me. I've been to three. Well, after today I will have been to three.

Although, I am hesitant to join a protest, I am certainly not the first pastor at MPC to do so. Wayne Yost has a great story about being on Session when the word came that a newly hired Associate Pastor had been marching in the south as part of the Civil Rights Movement and was thrown in jail. Session had to decide whether or not to bail him out. They did.

Our Reformed tradition, as well as Mainline Denominations have a great tradition of peaceful protest (remember, we are Protestants). When our government does not align with our Biblical values such as feeding the hungry, taking care of those who are sick, and welcoming the stranger; then protest and advocacy are a few of the tools we have to get our representatives' attention.

Today there are protests scheduled all over the country, including Washington, D.C. and the steps of the Capitol in Harrisburg. I will be at the latter, wearing my clergy collar, uniting my voice and person with others who are protesting the decisions being made by the current administration. (The protest runs from 12-2. I'll be parking on City Island and walking over if you'd like to join in.)

While there, I'll be thinking of another protest. It took place on the streets leading into Jerusalem with people protesting the Roman Empire and welcoming a different vision of what kingdom could be. Jesus led this peaceful protest, while the crowd waved palm branches and shouted, "Hosanna."

We'll celebrate that protest next week.
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