Is Jesus Calling Us to Be Troublemakers?

Scrolling through the comments brought all the feelings back. I remember that weird sensation of total strangers mercilessly mocking and criticizing me.

In 2022, my band, No Longer Music, was in the middle of a tour when an angry tweet from a random concertgoer sent all of Brazil into a frenzy.

Suddenly, we were the cult American band trying to infiltrate their beloved music scene with our “Emo Gospel” message. We became the new story of the entire country.

And now, it looks like we’ve gone viral again.

This time, the stir came from a “protest march” led by our European team through the center of Glasgow, Scotland. They carried signs reading “God Is Love” and “No More Lies,” cheering and dancing their way down the main street while people stopped to watch.

This street ‘protest’ is a regular occurrence in Steiger, and apart from the occasional mocking, they are usually well-received and lead to deep gospel conversations. This time, like in Brazil, a local content creator with almost no following posted a clip with the headline: “God Squad Christian Ultras Take Over Glasgow City Centre.”

‍And then it blew up—with over 3,000 people engaging.

Most of the comments criticized the ‘protest,’ calling it awkward, pushy, or just not right for a public space. A few defended their right to be there, but overall, the vibe was harsh and critical.

So how should followers of Jesus respond to moments like these? Are they flukes—or are they signs of faithfulness?

I’m a pretty agreeable person. I don’t mind a good debate, but being on the receiving end of thousands of hateful comments? Not exactly a good time. Still, maybe this is part of the cost of preaching the Gospel outside the Church.

Are we called to be troublemakers in this world?

If we are, we wouldn’t be the first.

In Acts 24:5, the High Priest didn’t exactly give Paul a glowing review. He said, “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect.”

‍If we’re going to be seen as troublemakers, we need to make sure it’s for the right reasons. That means carefully considering our motivation, method, and message.

First: Motivation

‍As Paul said, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Backlash from a loveless attempt to reach people isn’t just ineffective—it’s ungodly and annoying. Think street preacher shouting hellfire at strangers and calling it ministry.

Before we do anything to reach anyone, we need to ask God to search our hearts and give us His love for the people we’re trying to reach. If we don’t have God’s heart, we might still cause a stir—but not for the right reasons.

Second: Method

‍We’re not called to cave to culture, but we can’t ignore people’s language and context either. Sometimes, the message gets rejected simply because we come off as weird—our words and style just don’t land.

In Acts 17, Paul didn’t walk in and start swinging. He paid attention to the culture, listened, and built a bridge before sharing the Truth.

Nothing but the essence of the Gospel is sacred. Every method must be weighed by how well it helps people understand the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Finally: Message

‍We’ve got to stay focused on Jesus and what He did on the cross—not get caught up in politics, moral debates, or how old the earth is. The Gospel will offend—but if we’re going to offend, let it be because of the Cross, not because we’re fixated on secondary issues.

Causing trouble for the wrong reasons doesn’t just miss the mark—it distracts from the very thing we’re called to proclaim.

Sharing Jesus outside the Church—with care for how it’s heard and a heart that breaks for people—will stir up trouble, but for the right reasons.

I don’t love being hated, even on the internet—and honestly, it’d be weird if I did. But this seems to be part of the deal when you stand for truth in a world that’s actively resisting it. We have to embrace being uncomfortable, misunderstood, and criticized.

We all want to see the miracles of Jesus and Paul—but the beatings, the riots, the rejection? Not so much.

Unfortunately, it’s a package deal.