(RNS) — One could argue that the first time Christians protested was the early church’s refusal to worship Roman gods and its subsequent persecution. In a story that has captured the imagination of generations of Christians, St. Lawrence, a third-century deacon, was asked to surrender the treasures of the church to imperial authorities. Three days later, he turned up with the sick, marginalized, poor, elderly and widows and boldly proclaimed, “These are the true treasures of the church.” For his insolence, he was roasted alive.  St. Lawrence’s story is a touchstone for us today of what a theology of protest might look like. Religious leaders across the country are using the symbols, prayers, language and rituals of our traditions to resist government authority. While much of this work has been ad hoc, as individual religious leaders respond to their conscience as events unfold, we now need personal and communal theologies of protest to buttress this work. First, protest is rooted in our deepest theological convictions. Lawrence was crystal clear that what God most values is …