The Appropriateness of Protest

"Based on your readings of textbooks and then of psalms of lament and perhaps especially the book of Lamentations, please comment on the following issue: Under what circumstances is protest to God appropriate in Christian worship, life, and theology? Are there limits to such protest? And, what does your view of this question say about your view of divine agency and goodness?"

I'd suggest these texts teach us that protest and lament are ok and often necessary from where we sit. Nick brought up Habakkuk, and it is worth noting that God's response was a legitimate answer to Habakkuk's protest. If David and the prophets, and even Jesus, needed the voice of protest to God, then I think we should recognize it as not just a necessary thing, but as part of our faithfulness.

It is important to see these protests and laments in the context of a more comprehensive life of devotion and worship, *but* it is not necessarily a mark of strength or goodness to be able to look at gross injustice and easily join in praise songs. Nor is it a sign of theological sophistication to be, as so many of us are, beneficiaries of injustices and talk about God's sovereignty.

I'd say we need more people who just can't make sense of just how messed up the world is, and having wrestled with God, are forced to say "God how can you be silent through all of this? Where are you?"

After all, if God is as concerned and grieved by these things as we proclaim, perhaps God wants to hear prayers like these sometimes. If injustice bothered us that much, then perhaps we would repent and call others to repent.