Are Protests constructive? Or do protests cause destruction?

Starting in March 2019, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong to show their dislike for a law that would allow suspected criminals, who had allegedly committed a crime in mainland China, to be extradited from Hong Kong back to China to face trial. Some Hong Kong citizens were concerned that this law could be used against political dissidents as well as those who committed criminal acts. Eventually the Hong Kong government withdrew the bill, but the protests kept going. Some demonstrations became violent, with the smashing of shops and vehicles and the throwing of Molotov cocktails and other projectiles at police who were trying restore order.

So, are the protests worth the consequence? In other countries internal unrest is also increasing, especially in the United States, where many protests are associated with violence and civil disorder. Many believe these demonstrations are essential to achieve justice, human rights or other objectives, and indeed some have been precipitated by very unjust acts. Yet in the process innocent people are hurt and businesses that took a lifetime to build are destroyed.

Of those who take part in these protests, a great number claim to be religious, calling themselves “Christian.” Lets ask and answer the question: “Should a follower of the Bible take part in protest movements?”