Talking to Protesters

My husband came home from his men’s Bible study this morning and said there were a few protestors on the sidewalk in our little town. Their signs said the usual, “Love, Not Hate,” “Stop Fascism,” “Be Kind,” “Defend Democracy”, and so forth. I’ve been wanting to talk with people who are different from me, so this was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. I would not have considered going if it had been a large demonstration, but he said there were less than ten people. He didn’t want to go, thinking it was a waste of time, but I was not afraid to go alone. I put some water in a cooler, got some tracts and off I went.

I prayed that God would be glorified in what I said. My approach was to refer to their signs mentioning kindness and love. I asked, “What is the most loving and kind thing we can do for someone?” Getting no response, I told them that it is telling people that there is a God in heaven who sent His Son to die on the cross . . . and I think that’s about as far as I was able to go, in spite of trying several times.

One man got a little upset. As soon as I mentioned Jesus, he referred to that stupid meme of President Trump which some people thought was meant to look like he was Jesus. I repeatedly told them that I was not there to talk about politics. I did say that I don’t believe our president is a Christian, but he does have respect . . . didn’t get to finish that thought, either. One guy said he’s just after votes. The upset guy, whom I was told by another man could get belligerent, kept referring to political issues and I continued to say that I was not there to talk about politics. He said something about the way I vote and I told him, “You don’t know how I vote.” He acknowledged that kindly. He kept referring to all the harmful things that Trump has done. I did say at one point that I was confused because no one recognized that Biden had done anything harmful. I was told that we had the best economy ever when he was in office, but, he said, I wouldn’t know that from watching Fox News. “I don’t watch Fox News,” I told him.

One woman responded to my attempt to share Jesus by saying that “we have to live it.” I told her we couldn’t do that without God’s Spirit, to which she replied, “We all have that.” I disagreed, but did not continue to belabor the issue because it was clear she was not interested.

At some point, another man approached me and we had a really civil discussion. He and I agreed that we must talk to each other, even if we disagree. He asked me if I had ever heard the word calling and I told him that is a word often used in relation to Christianity. He said he was called to “do this.” I told him I am called to tell people about Jesus. He told me he was passionate about the group’s cause and I told him I am passionate about Jesus. I was able to tell him that Jesus changed my life fifty years ago. As we continued to talk, I found out that he knows my brother, which was an interesting development. My brother is estranged from me. I would love to hear the conversation when he informs Robert that he met me. I honestly think he was left with a positive impression of me, not because I changed his mind on anything, but because I was kind.

I offered cold water and tracts, but no one accepted. I told them I was glad for their sakes that it was a bit cooler than in previous days. I left feeling like it was a successful endeavor because I may have caused someone to realize that their preconceived notions of people “on the other side” are not all true. I hope to have other opportunities to talk to people who are different from me.