Protesting with grace: A Christian’s response to totalitarianism

Easter Sunday of 433 was a dark day for many in Ireland. On that day, the king forced the people in the land to participate in the Druid holiday by refraining from lighting a flame. According to Trinity Bible Church, St. Patrick responded by scaling the highest hill in the area and lighting a large fire in a tree as a symbol of opposition to the king’s godless totalitarianism.

After the townspeople observed his religious rebellion, it became a story passed down from generation to generation. Approximately 300 years later, a man wrote a melody called “Slane,” which would carry the memory of this event on to generations after. In 1904, a woman came across “Rap tu Baile,” a Gaelic hymn based on the story of “Slane” from the 1400s, and translated it into English. This hymn would later be known as “Be Thou My Vision.”

Over 100 years later, “Be Thou My Vision” remains a widely sung hymn across the world, with a melody relatively untouched since the 15th century. Its function is more than simple worship; when listening with reference to the story behind it, the message multiplies. “Be Thou My Vision” is a reminder of what civil protest looks like. It is an example of a Christ-follower.

In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar compels the people of Babylon to worship a golden idol (Daniel 3:1-7). Upon hearing that certain Jews were not adhering to his command, Nebuchadnezzar called for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to accuse them. They responded to their accusations by saying, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king” (Daniel 3:17).

And so, after the three Jews were cast into the fire, the king was baffled to see four men walking through the furnace unharmed. Nebuchadnezzar could no longer deny God in that instant, and so he praised God and no longer worshiped idols (Daniel 4:1-3). This transformation that the king, and in turn Babylon, underwent would not have occurred if the servants of God took matters into their own hands, relying on works instead of faith.

So then, how are we, the Christ-followers of today, meant to respond to the kings of Earth who wish to force the worship of false gods on our lips? We can reply to this totalitarianism by way of antagonistic remarks as many do, or we can set an example for others by having grace toward those who seek to bring harm upon us. And whether we are thrown into a fire or made to go without it, we can cling to the message of the hymn and rely on Christ’s judgement to guide us in testing times.

Kilker is the opinion editor for the Liberty Champion