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Sarasota Labor Day Protest
Sept 1st, 2025
Labor Day is a day to recognize the achievements made by the working people. This is a day to celebrate the people and the working class. America is not the only country to have a Labor Day, but Canada does too. Is this a time to protest the rich? The wealthy? The billionaires? The successful business owners? I would argue that it is greed and envy that make people want to tear down someone who has achieved so much. What I saw at both protests in Venice and Sarasota was condemning all millionaires and successful people who have wealth.
Why do people want to tear down those who have wealth? Is it because you are less fortunate? Is it because you had no generational wealth passed down to you from your parents? Is it because you don't want to work and feel that, because these individuals are wealthy, they need to give you money so you don't have to work?
These are questions that come to my mind when I see people holding signs that state "tax the rich!" and "Defund the billionaires!"
I believe success comes from taking chances. Would it be fair that we tax you because I'm less fortunate with what I have? It is not fair or just to treat others unfairly due to their circumstances. As a Christian, we know God shows no partiality.
Romans 2:1-11
"Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God."
Another way of saying this is that God has no favorites and judges the same every person, no matter rich or poor, jew or gentile, slave or non-slave. We need this mindset when it comes to wealth and those who are successful in business. In Romans 2:1-1, the Jewish people saw themselves as better and with a higher status due to being chosen by God through their covenant relationship they had. Do we think we are special because we are the working class? Is it because we work a 9-5 job? We should treat all people, rich and poor, the same, and it is an injustice to take from someone who has more and treat them any differently than yourself. What we judge, we expect the same judgment back, but worse. Some people view this as karma. I believe that God has made it clear about man's nature in how people will react when you treat others badly or unfairly. Expect them to treat you worse. (Luke 6:38)
It is not for us to take from others and force them to give up what they have to help those in the community. It is the responsibility of every person to do so. Take the church as an example, we are called to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, the widows, and the orphans. We do not look at the world and tell the world to do these works; we look to the church and Body of Christ to come together and achieve these things. The time spent protesting and screaming at politicians, millionaires, and billionaires, and blaming is many hours wasted. These individuals at these protests, which are in the 1,000s all over the country, could be spent serving the community and helping those who are less fortunate. The time and hours spent holding a sign pointing at successful people could be spent volunteering at shelters, teaching finance, and more and the same standard can be applied to the church (The Body of Christ).
There were fewer productive conversations during this protest. The hostility in this group was worse than what I experienced in Venice, FL. But I will say the best part of the Sarasota Labor Day protest was a woman asking me about what I do for the media. When I told her I was Christian, she turned and said, "That's what I thought," and immediately after, she turned and apologized for how she came off. Later on, she approached me and we found common ground on Christianity and what the Church is here to do. We had a productive conversation for about 5min and that made my heart warm up. It felt good to know that we can find common ground despite our ideological Differences. She came up with an open heart and wanted to understand what the Bible tells us about how to treat others, the poor, and how the Bible views the wealthy.
God commands us to follow Him with all our heart, mind, and soul. We cannot serve two masters, and the path to Christ is narrow. We must put Christ first before all things of this world. A verse she brought up was Matthew 19:24.
Matthew 19:24 "And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
This verse is taken out of context much of the time and used against the wealthy by the secular. This verse is speaking of a man who possesses a lot of worldly goods. He is rich with worldly possessions. The needle that is mentioned is speaking of a literal gate at that time. The camels during that time were used to carry belongings, but the gate, which was called the needle, was a small passageway that required you to unpack your valuables from the camel in order to fit through.
In context, Jesus is emphasizing that in order to enter into the Kingdom of God, you must unburden yourself of worldly things. He wants all of you, and what we must do is leave everything behind and put the Lord above all things. What this verse is not saying is that being rich is evil. We need to look at it in full context. People with a lot of wealth are under more pressure and temptation than someone who is poor. They must submit themselves to Christ and dedicate what they have to the works of the kingdom. But many will not want to give up their wealth because they don't want to give up their power and the life they have, and become a servant as Christ did when He came off the throne to dwell with His creation. As Christians, we serve the community with what we are given. We realize that what we have is because God deemed it so. My finances are the Lord's, and my belongings are the Lord's, and He may do what he pleases. But to admit this requires a lot. This is why it's harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.
This event didn't cause me to feel unwelcome or unwanted. I enjoyed the conversations I had with individuals who were open to talking. There are always people who are going to want to argue, but I go to learn and grow. I want to experience other people and see where they are coming from to heal the gap that has torn America in two. I see common ground being made between what is taught as the Right and the Left of the political spectrum.
I pray that all who go to these events come with an open heart, like the women who spoke to me about the duties of a Church.
Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."
Acts 26:18 "To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’"
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