Should Christians boycott? How to Protest like Jesus

If you’re online for longer than five minutes, chances are you’ll see it:

🚫 “Boycott Disney!”

🚫 “Cancel Starbucks!”

🚫 “Don’t shop at Target—they’ve gone too far!”

Christians everywhere are drawing lines in the sand and taking stands… sometimes daily. It seems like every week a new company or product gets added to the “do not touch” list.

And to be real? I get it. The culture is getting darker. Entertainment is getting bolder. Morals seem to be in freefall. But before we hit the repost button on the next boycott campaign, here’s a question we all need to ask:

What would Jesus do with all this? How would He protest? Would He boycott?

Let’s break this down—not from emotion or outrage, but from Scripture.

Jesus Didn’t Protest Rome

First, a little context.

In Jesus’ day, Rome was the ruling empire. And let me tell you, Rome was not a moral place. Idolatry, corruption, sexual immorality, exploitation—you name it, they were doing it.

If anyone had a reason to boycott or protest, it was Jesus. But He didn’t.

He didn’t flip Roman statues. He didn’t refuse to pay taxes (in fact, He said “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar” — Matthew 22:21). He didn’t call Rome out for their pagan TV shows (or whatever the first-century version of that would’ve been). He didn’t cancel Caesar.

Why?

“My kingdom is not of this world.” — John 18:36

Jesus was laser-focused on the kingdom of God. He didn’t get caught up in the politics or trends of the time. His battle wasn’t against Rome—it was against sin, darkness, and false religion.

Jesus Did Protest—But Not Who You Think

Now hear me out—Jesus did protest. But not in the way you’d expect.

When He saw injustice and corruption in the temple, He didn’t stay quiet.

“He made a whip…overturned the tables… and said, ‘Don’t turn my Father’s house into a marketplace!’” — John 2:15-16 (paraphrased)

Jesus flipped tables—but not in a pagan temple. It was in the house of God. The temple was supposed to be holy, set apart. Instead, it had become a money-making machine.

So Jesus protested. Loudly. Publicly. With a whip.

But He wasn’t angry at the world for being worldly. He was heartbroken and zealous because the people of God were acting like the world.

Paul Didn’t Protest Idol Worship—He Preached in the Middle of It

Let’s look at Paul for a second.

In Acts 17, Paul walks into Athens—a city full of idols. The Bible says his spirit was “provoked” when he saw all the false gods. He was stirred. Bothered. Upset.

But instead of flipping over altars or staging a boycott, he got up and preached.

He found common ground. He even referenced one of their altars—“To the Unknown God”—and used it as an entry point to talk about Jesus.

Paul wasn’t afraid to speak the truth. But he didn’t go in there torching their culture. He met their darkness with wisdom and light.

“Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” — Matthew 10:16

So, Should Christians Boycott?

Here’s the deal: if you want to boycott a company because of your personal conviction, go for it. That’s between you and God.

But don’t confuse your conviction with a commandment.

Romans 14 is clear:

“Let each person be fully convinced in their own mind.” — Romans 14:5

“Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God.” — Romans 14:22

If you feel led not to shop somewhere, don’t. But if someone else still goes to that store, or streams that movie, that doesn’t mean they’re “compromising.”

Let’s not become the Christian version of the cancel mob.

The Real Problem with Boycotting the World

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:9–10 that if we were to avoid every immoral, greedy, or ungodly person, we’d have to “leave this world” altogether.

That’s the only way to completely cut off contact with sin.

So if your goal is to avoid any company that does something unbiblical, good luck. You might as well move to a deserted island. Because you’ll find some form of compromise in nearly every company, brand, or entertainment platform in the world.

Why? Because they’re secular. They’re not trying to please Jesus. They’re not reading the Bible in their board meetings. They’ve made no commitment to godly values.

What If the Boycott Works?

Let’s say your boycott does succeed. You rally enough people. The company takes a hit. They start laying people off.

Here’s a question:

What happens to the believers who work there?

I personally know Christians who work at places like Disney, Starbucks, and Target. God called them there. Not to compromise, but to be salt and light.

“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven… hidden in dough until it spreads.” — Matthew 13:33

We don’t pull away from the world—we invade it with grace and truth. We’re not scared of the darkness. We shine in it.

But If VeggieTales…

Now, this is where the line gets clear for me.

If VeggieTales—a show that openly claims to teach the Bible—started introducing characters or storylines that go against Scripture? I’d be the first one to speak out.

If a Christian ministry or church started changing the message of salvation or preaching a different gospel, that’s protest-worthy.

Why? Because they’ve claimed to represent God.

1 Peter 4:17 says:

“Judgment begins in the house of God.”

We’re not called to police the world—we’re called to keep the church holy, humble, and rooted in truth.

So if VeggieTales added content that clearly violates God’s Word, yeah—sign me up for that boycott. Because they’ve tied their identity to Christ. And that means they’re held to a higher standard.

What Really Marks Us as Believers?

Jesus never said, “The world will know you’re My disciples by your protests.”

He said:

“They’ll know you’re My disciples by your love for one another.” — John 13:35

Not our hashtags.Not our outrage.Not our moral superiority. Our love.

So let’s be known for what we’re for, not just what we’re against.

Final Thoughts

I’m not saying boycotts are always wrong. Sometimes they’re needed. But the key is asking, what’s the source of my protest? My flesh or the Holy Spirit? My anger or God’s love?

Don’t let hype, headlines, or peer pressure decide for you.

Let God lead you. Be fully convinced in your own heart. And whatever you do—do it with love, wisdom, and truth.