Since you seem to be responding to something I said in the comments let me offer a line or two of clarification. First, as a “Protestant” it would be absurd for me to say I don’t believe in protest and I never have said such a thing. Context is everything.

You also misquoted or misrepresented what I actually did say. You said, “to say that it is not a Chirstian’s job to protest or counter protest seems to fly in the face of 2000 years of history.” I also understand the historical realities of this since the larger evangelical tradition has been protesting for over 500 years. However what I said was, “As a follower of Christ I am reminded that my role in this world is not to stage concerts or counter-protests but to proclaim the gospel. No amount of marching or protest will ever change the depraved hearts of wicked men.”

What I hope you will understand is that the preaching and communication of the gospel is a protest against all that would seek to exalt itself against the Triune God. I too believe that preaching must never be divorced from a real and living faith that communicates the truth in love. However that is something very different than saying we will show up at a KKK rally and , “literally encircle hate with love.” It is statements like this that are far from clear as to what you hope to accomplish.

However, if what you mean by all of this is that you will attend the rally and lovingly preach that the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ died once and for all on behalf of sinners and that He now reconciles such people by faith alone in His finished work on the cross and that no amount of good works could ever merit such grace then I applaud your efforts. I hope you will also understand that this is what we try to do everyday as we seek to be salt and light for Jesus Christ in this world, even when the cameras aren’t on.

Thanks for the interchange Jeremy.

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I agree with the need to stand up and proclaim the gospel in word and in deed. My hope is that stand will be one that continues when the cameras are off and the KKK are no where to be found.

The perpetuating issue that is before Christians today is whether what we believe in theory is going to affect how we live and do church in practice. Racial reconciliation and integration is something that churches in Athens and throughout the United States have either ignored or struggled to achieve. The church is not a building or location but a body of believers living in covenant community together seeking to glorify Christ by making disciples and reaching their world. That indiscriminate purpose inherent in the gospel is something I (and I believe others commenting here) long to live out in our lives. My hope is that through events like this, we will be awakened of our need to not only go across the street and outside the camp (Heb. 13:13) to reach our unbelieving neighbor regardless of the color of the skin, but we will also go across the world to reach all tribes and peoples with the good news of Jesus Christ.

I am not familiar with the daily political grind in North Alabama as I have been removed from the area (currently living in Louisville, KY). The purpose and perspective I have attempted to bring to the situation is not to assess partisan politics but to reflect on this as a Christian who wants to honor Jesus and communicate the gospel. What concerns me more than the presence of racists in the political parties is the racists in the church.

I am curious to see how the non-Christian public will respond to the KKK. My hunch is that they will likely them. Now if they protested in front of Wal-Mart, I think that would be altogether another scenario!

Paul,

Thanks for chiming in. It’s nice to hear from someone in Huntsville. Your question about being missional in a rural setting is a valid one, and if I am not mistaken, Scott Slayton brought that up on his blog earlier this year. I agree with you that I don’t think the KKK will make any headway with this protest; however, I do find this situation an opportunity to understand and apply the gospel to race, society, and culture. I have lived in Athens for 16 years and aware of the need for racial reconciliation in our community. I think that part of the church being the church and carrying out the gospel mission has huge racial implications, much like it did in the churches of Galatia Ephesus and Colossae. The churches in Athens, I believe, have an opportunity to express the racial implications of the gospel in how they respond to such groups as the KKK.