Would Jesus Protest Cities Church?

The videos of protesters storming into Cities Church in Minneapolis with whistles, curses, and chants of “Ice Out” has raised all kinds of legal questions and one important theological question: would Jesus approve of this church storming?

Scriptural Support?

Seeking to justify the actions of the protesters, several social media theologians and personalities have referenced the time when Jesus’ flipped over tables in the temple. The gospel of Matthew provides the following summary of that event: “And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. (21:12).” These commentators equate the protesters’ belligerence that left children in tears with Jesus’ smashing of pigeon cages.

Were the Protesters Justified?

While Jesus’ actions in the temple were unquestionably disruptive and angered the self-righteous leaders of the temple, thoughtful readers will look beyond the action in an effort to discern their purpose. Jesus did not advocate for disruption for disruption’s sake. He had more non-violent interactions with the temple and other places of worship (shaped by dialogue, Scripture readings, and sermons) than violent.  When Jesus did breakout the whip, he did so not to prevent worship but to prevent others from preventing worship. Jesus offers the following commentary on his actions, “He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers (Matt 21:13).” He cleansed the temple because he longed for the temple to proclaim the glory of the Lord so that all the nations might worship him and spirit and truth. Any spiritual practice that runs contrary to the worship of Jesus (even if profitable and sanctioned by someone with reverend before his or her name) was to be purged from places of worship.  

Even if you grant that one cannot be an ICE Agent and a Christian (which I do not – the Scriptures permit men to defend the state – see Lk 3:14), the one thing he would need most would be the worship of this church which transforms people more into God’s image.

In other words, Jesus would not have joined these protesters as they brought and end to true worship for the sake of a political point. Jesus would have support those who shared his vision for spiritual worship and were “teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God (Col 3:16).”

In short, Matthew 21:12-13 condemns the protesters’ harassment of Cities Church. And the passage will also condemn any future protest of a local church that seeks to worship the one true, and triune God in accordance with Jesus’ teaching.

I share the pastor of Cities Church – Jonathan Parnell- assessment of the protest: “This is shameful.”