May Day

Too often, we see Americans demonstrably divided about a number of issues.  In some cases, I admit, rightfully so, people, including Christians, take positions that are in accordance with Biblical truth, and that will result in disagreement.  But, when anger and rage take over, when people protest, as it seems, just for the sake of protesting, perhaps even when a financial benefit is present, it becomes more of a show that an honest effort to express opinion.  And, when anger leads to violence that becomes very unacceptable.  We all have opinions, for sure; and believers in Christ should make sure that our opinions - and the expressions of them - line up with Scripture.  This passage really spoke to me recently, from Matthew 5 (ESV):
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’
34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.
37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

So, Jesus taught that we should be forthright in what we believe, and our allegiance should be to God and God alone.  We should not embrace positions that are not consistent with Scripture.  

After members of Congress who declare "No Kings" actually giving the standing O to a real King, King Charles, last week, another in a seemingly endless stream of people taking to the streets to protest who knows what occurred.  It always seems to center on opposition to the President, who was elected by a majority of Americans through one of our greatest forms of expressing opinions - the ballot box.  And, by the way, remember, you can make your voices heard by voting on Tuesday May 19 and selecting candidates who best represent your Christian values.

Now, back to the sea of protest; and by the way, public expressions of opinion are a legitimate activity protected by the First Amendment.  Christians have been know to gather publicly to express their views.  

There just seems to be a manufacture of division that is concerning.  Last Friday, on May 1, May Day, according to FoxNews.com just days before it:

Agitators and protesters are expected to gather in cities across the country Friday for May Day, boycotting work, school and shopping in demonstrations driven by the "Workers Over Billionaires" motto.

Nearly 500 organizations are planning more than 750 events, including roughly 200 virtual events, that will take place in New York, Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles and other metropolitan cities.

"On May 1, 2026, workers, students, and families rally, march, and take action across the country to demand a nation that puts workers over billionaires, with many refusing business as usual through No School. No Work. No Shopping," May Day Strong, which is the main organizer of the demonstrations, describes the event.

How rich (pun intended)!  You have employees skipping work to protest the people who have the resources to hire and employ them.  Because they have too much.  How quaint - how Marxist.  Class warfare.  So, your employer has too much money?   Take a day off and protest that company.  A building owner in New York City has too much money, in your estimation?  So, do like the mayor did recently - announce you're going to tax him more, even though he's probably already paying a higher tax rate.  Sounds like unjust measures to me, which is something the Bible warns against in Proverbs 11.  The owner, who was planning a huge project that would employ hundreds of workers, is now considering taking the project elsewhere.  

The Fox article went on to describe the Marxist roots of May Day celebrations.  And among them, as Jeff Johnston of Focus on the Family pointed out at the Daily Citizen: The National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), who "are joining other leftist groups and encouraging members to celebrate May Day Strong National Day of Action with hundreds of rallies across the country."  Johnston describes how teachers were being encouraged to gather together before the school day:

Walk-Ins are 30-45 minute events before the school day where “parents, educators, and students, along with neighbors and community leaders” meet in front of their school for a rally. During school hours, teachers are encouraged to have students create artwork and write reports about the day.

Again, this is a political event, with teachers unions encouraging the indoctrination of children into Marxist and socialist ideologies.

So, many should rightly ask, "why?"  Because, despite the divisive rhetoric, by and large, there are disturbing trends in public education.  Johnston writes:

"Parents of children in public schools generally think their local schools are doing a good job. And, again, many schools and teachers do terrific work.

But national surveys demonstrate low academic achievement among most students. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the Nation’s Report Card, fewer than two thirds of American eighth graders can do math (26%), read (30%), or do science (31%) at grade level.

Despite their rhetoric, teachers unions don’t advocate for students – they advocate for teachers. Perhaps if educators spent less time agitating, organizing and power-building, we would see students performing better.

More time teaching the basis, less time teaching ideology that flies in the face of people's deeply-held beliefs.  That is why there was a renewed emphasis on parents' rights following the pandemic, as virtual learning revealed concerns over what was really being taught. Parents were empowered by the U.S. Supreme Court decision last year allowing parents to opt-out students from LGBT curriculum material.  You have to wonder why that subject matter is even being taught in any school - but the answer is the public intimidation that LGBT activists are promoting.  So, in that sense, protest has worked, to a certain degree.  But, at what cost?

I believe that hundreds of organizations, whether it be May Day Strong or Indivisible, who run the "No Kings" protest, are chipping away at the soul of America, because they seem to believe that division makes us stronger.  The embrace of left-wing, even socialist policies does not contribute to a well-functioning society.  

Keeping people divided and fanning flames of hatred is contradictory to a society that reflects the ideals of our Founders - or the Scriptures.  But, you might say, well the Founders were protestors, weren't they?  But, look at the motivation - there were legitimate concerns over the tyranny of the Crown.  And, they, motivated by a deep-rooted faith in God, took steps to sever the relationship.  Unfortunately, it resulted in war and many lives were lost.  But, out of that furnace of affliction, a great nation was born that has survived the test of time, and we celebrate that faith-infused Declaration of Independence on July 4 this very year.  

From a Christian perspective, I do believe God is calling out to His people to draw near to Him.  There is certainly a "May Day" - a cry of distress, for help, a call to repentance and righteousness that is being sent out, found in the words of 2nd Chronicles 7:14 - surrender to God.  Even though there are many challenges we face as a nation, we recognize that our hope is in Him.