Many churches put signs outside of their buildings, for example, signs which carry some message or offer information about the church and its services. But the sign outside Remnant Fellowship Church in Auburn, Indiana, drew attention around the northern Indiana city because of its direct discriminatory message. “LGBTQ is a hate crime against God. Repent,” the sign said. This offensive sign resulted in a church being forced out of their building by a landlord and now the congregation needs to find a new building to hold services.
Auburn area residents were disturbed with the controversial sign and its offensive message, and some of them even rearranged the sign to read “Remnant Fellowship Church Stay Open Minded.” According to Inquisitr.com, area resident Tiffany Johnston, who snapped a photo of the sign and shared it with local media, was not amused. “It makes me upset. I’m outraged and disgusted by it. It’s judging people. I felt judged and I’m not even in that community. But I have family members that are. So it really really upset me. I don’t think it should be up here. I think it should be taken down because all it’s doing is spreading hate.
On the other hand, church elder Robert Sturges, refused to apologize for the sign, saying that people are being told in our culture that LGBTQ is okay, but the Bible clearly says that LGBTQ people will be lost and sent to hell forever. “We’re trying to reach a certain group of people,” Sturges told WANE-TV, according to Fox News. “They’re being told in our culture that homosexuality, transvestites, lesbianism and sexual immorality is ok. But the Bible clearly says that those who practice these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. In fact, it warns them that the wrath of God will abide upon them. And in the judgment, they will be lost and they will be sent to hell forever.”
While there were different opinions about the sign among residents and church officials, the landlord of the building where the congregation worshiped was fully against the sign’s offensive message and took drastic measures. The building’s management evicted the congregation from the building and now they are looking for another place to rent. This is one positive example of how you should act when faced with discrimination and hate speech. The sign is discriminatory and it also criminalizes LGBTQ people making them feel unwanted and guilty for their choices and behavior. The building’s management made the right move in order to protect basic human rights.
Photo Credits: Staticflickr
