Should Christians Protest?

Should Christians Protest?

Protesting is a hallmark of modern culture. People march, shout, and demand their rights. Increasingly, Christians have joined in—sometimes in the streets, sometimes online—believing that this is how to “stand for truth.” But when we read Scripture carefully, we find a very different calling. The New Testament does not command believers to protest the world; instead, it calls us to live quietly, submit to authority, and address sin within the church through humble, biblical process.

Submission to Authority, Not Uprising

Paul and Peter both write with remarkable clarity on how Christians are to interact with governing authorities:

• “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” (Romans 13:1, NLT)

• “For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed.” (1 Peter 2:13–14, NLT)

The world uses protest to resist authority. Christians are told the opposite: submit to authority as an act of submission to God.

The Call to Gentleness, Not Quarreling

Paul instructs Titus to remind believers:

“They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.” (Titus 3:2, NLT)

Protesting thrives on slander and quarreling. God’s people are called to gentleness and humility. This doesn’t mean agreement with evil—it means choosing Christlike conduct rather than worldly methods.

Judgment Begins in the Household of God

Even when it comes to confronting sin, Paul makes the boundary clear:

“It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.” (1 Corinthians 5:12, NLT)

Christians are not called to stand outside the world with signs condemning it. We are called to deal with sin within the church itself. And even then, Scripture provides a process.

The Matthew 18 Process: Private, Not Public

When someone in the church sins, Jesus doesn’t tell us to protest them publicly. He gives a process:

1. Go to the person privately (Matthew 18:15).

2. If they refuse, bring one or two witnesses (Matthew 18:16).

3. If they still refuse, bring it before the church (Matthew 18:17).

4. Only after every step has failed does the matter become public.

This is the opposite of “calling people out” on social media or staging public protests. The church disciplines in-house, with patience and humility, not public spectacle.

The Witness of Quiet Faithfulness

The New Testament vision is striking: instead of raising our voices in protest, we raise our lives as a witness. Paul urges believers to “Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands… Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12, NLT)

This is not weakness. It is faith. It is trusting that God is judge, that vengeance belongs to Him, and that His kingdom does not advance by protest signs but by crucified love.

Conclusion

Should Christians protest? Scripture’s answer is no. Not the government, not outsiders, not even fellow believers until every private step has been taken. The Christian calling is not to demand change through public spectacle but to live transformed lives that quietly testify to the gospel. The world shouts; the church serves. The world marches in anger; the church kneels in prayer. That is how God changes the world.