Have you heard about Barronelle Stutzman, the florist in Washington state who politely, but firmly, declined to provide flowers for a wedding between two homosexual men?
Her refusal to betray her Lord and her biblical beliefs didn't come without consequences.
The Washington state attorney general filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Mrs. Stutzman. The ACLU filed a lawsuit seeking financial remedies for the "injured" parties. And Judge Alex Ekstrom ordered Barronelle to violate her personal religious beliefs and provide flowers for a ceremony that violates her faith. The judge also told the state AG and the homosexuals who filed the lawsuits that they could collect damages and attorney's fees not only from Stutzman's business – Arlene's Flowers and Gifts – but from Stutzman personally!
That means they can take everything she owns – her business, home, savings … everything. But here's the redeeming part of the whole story. When the state AG approached the 70-year-old grandmother with a plea deal – pay a $2,000 penalty, a $1 payment for court costs and fees, and agree not to discriminate in the future – Mrs. Stutzman said: "NO!"
Learn more about what this means for Barronelle and for Christians in America.
We must storm heaven with our prayers, asking for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to descend upon the nine men and women who will decide this vital issue. Like Mrs. Stutzman, we must pray for humble courage to stand firm. We must pray, "Thy will be done," here in America in 2015.
I am not shy to say that one of the best ways you can put feet to your prayers is to continue to support AFA as we sound the alarm and rally our brothers and sisters in Christ to fight back and defend our God-given right to express and practice our religious beliefs without fear of government reprisals.
As a standing member of the AFA family through Action Alerts, you know we've been preparing for this day for many years now. And we will continue to aid churches and individual Christians as we struggle to navigate through the muck and mire that will follow a ruling in favor of same sex marriage.
Learn more about how each of us must pray to be made a willing instrument to accomplish His will.
Sincerely,
Tim Wildmon, President
American Family Association
P.S. In addition to praying for the justices on the Supreme Court, please pray for Mrs. Stutzman. We will be delivering a petition of support to her soon signed by over 60,000 of AFA's online supporters.
