Why Protest Using the Military for Law and Order?

I’ll shoot straight with you: I love law enforcement, I respect the uniform, and I believe Romans 13 still means what it says—that God ordains civil authority “for good.” Yet, as a pastor and a veteran, I also know that power must stay within its God-given bounds. That’s why many folks—left, right, and in between—are pushing back on the idea of a President leaning on military muscle to police American streets.

Today’s Situation (What’s actually happening)

Multiple reports indicate that the administration has deployed or proposed rapid-reaction National Guard forces for domestic unrest, including in D.C., and has explored broader quick-reaction models stationed in Alabama and Arizona.

Civil liberties groups, some governors, and legal analysts are contesting the scope and legality, citing the Posse Comitatus Act and warning about the potential for escalation and setting a precedent.

Ongoing litigation in California challenges recent deployments tied to immigration protests. Meanwhile, debate rages over crime trends and whether local prosecutors’ policies or broader social factors are to blame. (The Times, Politico, Reuters, CalMatters, Brennan Center for Justice)

God’s View: Hope, Change, and Practice

1) HOPE — What does Scripture call us to believe?

• God hates chaos and loves justice. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne” (Psalm 89:14). Government is a minister of God “for good” (Romans 13:1–4). When criminals terrorize neighborhoods, victims—made in God’s image—bleed twice: once from the wound, once from the delay of justice.

  
  

• But God also guards liberty and limits. Israel’s kings were bound by law (Deut. 17:18–20). In the New Testament, the church spread under regimes often tempted to crush dissent. The Biblical pattern is lawful order under lawful limits.

  
  

• That’s why America’s tradition—reflected in the Posse Comitatus Act—keeps the standing military out of civilian policing except in narrow, explicit cases (e.g., the Insurrection Act). (Brennan Center for Justice)

Word study (brief):

• Justice (Heb. mishpat) = right (proper), measured judgment; not mob emotion.

• Peace (Heb. shalom) = wholeness—safety with freedom; order with dignity.

  
  

2) CHANGE — What should be corrected—on every side?

• 
  

Yes, prosecute crime. When local authorities neglect to uphold fundamental laws, communities endure negative consequences. Some research associates “progressive prosecution” with rises in specific crime categories, while other studies suggest that broader socio-economic factors play a more significant role. Wisdom necessitates that we consider all the data, not just the parts we prefer. (CrimRxiv, Taylor & Francis Online, Center for American Progress, Legal Defense Fund)

• But don’t short-circuit the Constitution. If Washington can routinely federalize Guard units or edge toward active-duty roles without clear statutory triggers, yesterday’s exception becomes tomorrow’s norm. Legal analysts across the spectrum warn that relying on vague, emergency-style authorities to police civilians risks sliding past the guardrails Congress set (Posse Comitatus; limited Insurrection Act use). That’s why you’re seeing protests and lawsuits right now. (Politico, Brennan Center for Justice, stevevladeck.com)

  
  

Pastoral Experience: I’ve worn a uniform and I’ve worn a clergy collar. I know how quickly “temporary” measures outlive the crisis that gave rise to them. Our grandchildren deserve both safety and a Bill of Rights with sharp teeth.

3) PRACTICE — What do we do, starting today?

For the President and Congress

• Use the right tool for the job. Policing belongs to police; the military deters enemies. If violence rises to “insurrection,” the Insurrection Act exists—but it must be invoked transparently, lawfully, and sparingly. Clarify the statutes and tighten loopholes that blur the lines between military/civilian roles. (Current coverage and litigation show the fog. ) (Politico, Reuters, Brennan Center for Justice)

  
  

• Fund and fix local justice. Back local departments with training, staffing, and accountability; resource prosecutors and courts to move cases swiftly and fairly. Debate policy with data, not slogans. (Today’s dueling studies prove we need sober analysis, not team jerseys.) (CrimRxiv, Center for American Progress)

  
  

For States and Cities

• End performative non-enforcement. Mercy without truth becomes anarchy; truth without mercy becomes cruelty. Prosecutorial discretion should be exercised wisely, not through blanket non-prosecution. If a policy spikes victimization, repent and recalibrate. (Several new legal and empirical analyses are pressing this exact point.) (wustllawreview.org)

  
  

For the Church (that’s us)

• Pray, show up, and witness. Pray “for kings and all who are in authority” (1 Tim. 2:1–2). Attend city council meetings, D.A. forums, and school board meetings. Support officers who serve honorably; defend those who are vulnerable among us.

  
  

• Speak the whole counsel of God. The Cross tells the truth about sin and offers mercy to sinners. The state bears the sword (Rom. 13), but Christ bears the sins (1 Pet. 2:24). We need both: order to restrain evil and the Gospel to transform hearts.

  
  

Why some protest—and why I listen (even when I disagree)

When the Pentagon studies a 24/7 domestic “quick-reaction force,” when D.C. police structures are temporarily federalized, when troops guard federal sites during protests, Americans who remember our history get nervous.

They hear the rattle of bayonets in civilian alleys and remember that freedom is easier to lose than to regain. You can love the troops, demand tougher prosecution, and still insist the Constitution keeps the military in its lane. That tension is not cowardice; it’s constitutional fidelity—and biblical prudence. (The Times, Brennan Center for Justice)

Bottom Line—My Shepherd’s Take

• Hope: God wants shalom—safe streets and free souls.

• Change: Prosecute real crime, refine failed policies, and refuse mission-creep that militarizes daily policing.

• Practice: Pray, vote, show up, and hold leaders to the law—all of it. When we wed courage to constraint, we honor victims, protect liberty, and keep the sword where God placed it.

—

If you want the legal nuts and bolts that are driving today’s outcry, these are the key pieces I reviewed:

• Politico

• The Times

• Reuters

• Brennan Center for Justice

• Brennan Center for Justice

• Politico

• CalMatters

(As always, I’m praying for wisdom over heat, and for leaders—local and federal—who will pursue justice without trampling liberty.)

Pastor Terry

docbmedia.com