So, would you like to argue about something?

I don’t, but if your answer is yes to the question, you are living in modern times. Have you noticed that arguments are very common, in the news, and the best protest argument is always emotional. Get angry, and shout, or cry, The loudest emotional expression is the most convincing in a modern conversation.

Watch any news story, especially about a protest action, and you will see and hear strong emotions.

For example, you have probably heard about the protesters who walked into a church, in St Paul, Minnesota, in the U.S.A, and protested immigration policies. Apparently, one of the pastors in that church had some connection to I.C.E.. I don’t think I need to explain what I.C.E. is. 

You may have your own opinion about the recent crackdowns on illegal, or undocumented immigration, in the U.S. and in many other countries. This seems to be a worldwide trend.

In St Paul, a Christian church was meeting, and the service was interrupted by a group of loud protesters. They shouted about something, and people in the church service were frightened, including children.

As you read this, you are free to form your own opinions about governments and immigration policies. I only hope that you can act with some courtesy, and show respect for other people.

The protesters in the church were loud and emotional. I am writing as a Christian, and I can imagine what a church service would be like, where I live, if protesters broke into the building and had a loud protest, during a church worship service. Of course, this kind of action could also happen in a Jewish synagogue, or a Muslim mosque, or a temple of any other religion. 

Brace yourself.

The protest action in the church seemed to be focused on loud expressions of emotion, and I don’t know if the Christians in the church service really understood what was happening.

If you want to see what happened, there are many videos, on the Internet. Here is one example:

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The distinction here must be between “how” and “what.” How did the protesters make their point, in a public place, and not what they were shouting about. People choose different sides in arguments about immigration, or any other social issue. What they argue about doesn’t seem too important in our modern cultures. How they argue and protest seems to be the most important thing. 

The loudest noise is the best argument; break into a church worship service and make loud emotional noises.

We could protest that protest. We could make out own sounds of anger and emotional disgust, in response to what those protesters did. I’m sure that is happening now, in many places. In our modern times, almost anyone could pull a cell phone out of their pocket, and make a video of some loud protest. We could then post our video, on the Internet, with many comments.

We live in interesting times.

There is one problem with protesting the protesters.

If we disagree with “how” they express their opinions, we can easily use the same “how”, the same style and method that they used, to protest them. We can follow their lead, when we disagree with them.

Of course, if we use the same methods to protest their methods, if we are all the same with the “how” message, the “what” argument will get lost in all the noise. 

People who listens will probably not understand us.

In the Bible, Christians have some instructions about how to reply to people who offend them. We were instructed, by Jesus himself, that we should not answer in the way we were spoken to. We have to change the “how” in the way that we answer. We cannot be like the people who offend us:

I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5: 44 to 48)

As our modern culture changes and protesters become louder, we need to be prepared. We don’t get to fight back, using their methods. God has a different path for his children.

That is how we win the “what” argument.

Some of these old ideas, in the Bible, will come back to us, as the world turns.