Persecution

Law Not Upheld for Lawman Tony Miano

Jamie Francis Abortion, Evangelism, Persecution, Religious Freedom

Tony_Miano

Babies are murdered there. Yes, they are still being murdered there. In Iowa City at a Planned Parenthood. Murdered babies. Every. day. That doesn’t sit well with former deputy sheriff Tony Miano. More importantly, it doesn’t sit well with God Almighty. This place is not a clinic. Although they may erroneously refer to it as such. It is not a healthcare facility in any sense. It is a place of demonic activity of the worst kind. Bloodshed. Unsightly, wicked brutality. And………….insanely…………..<<GULP!>>………….legal. Unfathomable, isn’t it? Tony certainly can’t fathom it. He tried to stop some of the bloodshed. He went to the abortuary. He preached. He pleaded. He read the Scripture. And he did it for this reason: so that the blood of precious babies would not be shed. Boys and girls created in the image of Almighty God. And he got arrested for it.

Tony also went to warn evildoers of the coming judgment. He told them of the only hope they have of forgiveness: the cross of Jesus Christ. Yes, Tony went to plead for the lives of the unborn. But he also went to bring the gospel to would-be murderers and those who have already murdered. Mothers. Fathers. And even those who are actually paid big money to extinguish the lives of little babies. Yes, people are paid big money to do that right now in the United States. For some ungodly reason, I hear them occasionally referred to as ‘doctors’. They are not doctors. They don’t heal. They kill. They need the gospel. Tony went to tell those who shed innocent blood that they could be forgiven by the innocent One whose blood was shed. Talk about a great exchange. It doesn’t get more extreme than that.

The Unjust Judge

People mangling babies wasn’t that big of a deal to Edward J. Leff. He knew baby murder was happening daily in his city. But this didn’t seem to cause him too much distress. But guess what was a big deal to him? Causing ‘distress’ to people who mangle babies. Yes, this atrocity was apparently too much for him to handle. The idea that premeditated baby murderers would be made uncomfortable was just not going to happen in his town. Not while he is judge anyway. For baby murderers to feel ashamed was, in the eyes of Magistrate Leff, the worst thing that could have happened at that Planned Parenthood in Iowa City back in May 2017.

The Iowa City Magistrate has banned Christian evangelist, and a dear brother in Christ, Tony Miano from preaching at any Planned Parenthood anywhere. That’s right, you read that correctly. Unjust. Judge. His thought process? You want babies to be saved, Mr. Miano? You want people to turn to Jesus Christ and be saved? Well then, you better find something more worthwhile to spend your time at. Cuz we ain’t having it here! Causing baby murderers to feel uncomfortable pushed this judge to render a totally asinine penalty.

Miscarriage of Justice

Judge Leff’s support for the evils of Planned Parenthood was obvious. All you need to do is listen to this audio from the trial. In fact, when rendering Miano’s sentence, he simply pointed out that women go into abortion clinics for healthcare reasons. Human decency, where have you gone? Healthcare? Are you serious? Leff’s hatred for the gospel was even more clear. It was like every time he opened his mouth he was heaping up more judgment on himself. Ironic for a judge, isn’t it? I really can’t describe just how horrible his arguments were during sentencing. They were so bad that, if the subject matter were not so serious, you could almost bust a gut laughing. The whole thing is a complete miscarriage of justice. Common sense, where are you? Consistency, where are you? That is my only commentary. Just listen to it. You’ll know what I mean. Even if you are not a Christian, listen to it. From the charges to the trial, to the verdict, to the sentencing. Total injustice. Here are Tony’s own thoughts. Judge Leff made it very clear what causes him distress.

The Gospel Won’t Be Stopped

You know what causes me distress? When a judge bans a brother in Christ from pleading for the lives of unborn children. The whole thing ought to make us sick to our stomach. But let’s just say that Leff’s attempt to throw down the gavel on the gospel will ultimately fail. God’s Word will never be thwarted by the evil decisions of men. Christians are never going to stop preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. This incident isn’t going to stop Tony, and it shouldn’t stop any of us either. In this recent episode of Apologia Radio, Tony made it clear what his prayer request was following this miscarriage of justice: to be bold in proclaiming the gospel, especially in the face of persecution. God’s Word always accomplishes the purpose it is sent for. (Isaiah 55:11) And most often this happens when it looks really bad for Christians. At least from a human standpoint. God receives the most glory when Christians are backed into a corner and cannot see a way out. So brothers and sisters, grab those tracts. Hit the streets. Knock on your neighbor’s door. Head out to an abortuary. Proclaim Jesus. Preach the cross always. Follow Tony’s example. Fear God alone. God. Not man. Hebrews 13:6 proclaims:

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

That should be good enough for all of us. Stand up and be heard.

Call It Persecution

What happened to Tony is persecution. This is not a fact that Tony will ever make a stink about. He doesn’t want personal glory. That is who he is. And praise God for that! Believe me though, the ruling in this case is persecution. Too extreme you say? I beg to differ. According to dictionary.com, persecution is defined as:

A program or campaign to exterminate, drive away, or subjugate people based on  their membership in a religious, ethnic, social, or racial group.

Judge Leff is trying to drive Tony away from Planned Parenthood. And by extension, he is trying to drive every other Christian from doing the same thing where they live. He wants to send a message. Try to save babies and you’ll be punished. You’ll be driven away. Plead for murderers to repent and believe the gospel and………you guessed it…………you’ll be driven away. Tyranny. Persecution. Unjust. Judge.

Let Us Pray

So let us pray for the Lawman. Let us pray for others who stand on the sidewalk at abortion mills. Pray that God would turn things around in this case. That true justice would ultimately prevail. Pray that Tony and other Christians could continue preaching the gospel at these killing places. Pray that God would cause the leaders of this country to legislate pro-life. Consistently. To hold their promises. Let us pray for judges to rule righteously. Whether that be at the county, state, or federal level. And don’t forget to pray for the Supreme Court. They need it. Do not neglect this valuable tool of prayer. If you think it is too far fetched for anything good to happen, remember the words of God:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20)

Anger From Heaven

The ruling in this case is no laughing matter for issues of freedom of speech either. Or the free exercise of religion, supposedly protected by the First Amendment. It is no laughing matter for Miano and his family. It is certainly no laughing matter for babies in the womb. And above all, it is no laughing matter in heaven. Proverbs 6:16-19 could not be more clear:

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

The Bible never says, “Thou shalt not cause distress to murderers.” It says, “Thou shalt not murder.” What is this world coming to when our court systems punish those who call out evil for what it is? What is going on when speaking up to defend and protect precious little babies turns a judge against you? Scripture gives further warning to such people in Isaiah 5:20:

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Message For Judge Leff

Judge Leff, if you ever read this, it ought to be a scary thing for you to see yourself in Bible prophecy. In the above verse, Isaiah is pronouncing judgment on those who call evil good, and good evil. That was you in the courtroom on January 9th, 2018. You called an establishment that has murdered millions of babies………….good. You called them good. Maybe you didn’t use those exact words, but it doesn’t matter. Your decision against Tony spoke volumes. And your comment about it being a place of “healthcare” made my stomach turn……again. You sounded like Planned Parenthood when they adamantly claim that they are all about healthcare………..since only 3% of their business is abortion. You took their bait. But Life Dynamics president Mark Crutcher would have this to say to you:

This is like defending the Ku Klux Klan by claiming that lynching is only 3 percent of what they do.

Try letting that quote marinate for just a while. It ought to bring chills down your spine.

Preach It, Brother Tony!

Judge Leff, I know you heard the gospel in the courtroom on January 9th, 2018. I know that Tony’s voice is loud and clear. And I know his gospel presentation is rock solid. I heard it. And I was rejoicing inside like you wouldn’t believe. And I’m willing to bet that you never heard the gospel preached like that in the courtroom. And you probably never will again. But I am glad you got to hear it. It is a testimony of God’s grace that something like that could even happen in your courtroom. I don’t think you realize what a grand privilege and mercy God gave you that day back in early January.

And you know what, Tony would do it all over again. Just so you and everyone else there could hear the glorious gospel. Even if he had known ahead of time that you would find fault with him, he would still preach to you. Why? Because Tony knows that ultimately, and ironically for you, every lost person is on a suspended sentence. Unless they turn to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith, they are merely on a suspended sentence. And that sentence is eternity in hell. No appeal process. No lawyers. The title of “county judge” won’t matter when you’re standing before the Judge of the world.

Judge Leff, prosecutor Andrea Jensen, security worker Michael Bailey, and many others involved in this case: I have the same message for you as Tony does today. The very thing that you found so disdainful in the courtroom, the gospel, is the very thing you need to embrace. Christ died for baby murderers, liars, thieves, hypocrites, the sexually immoral, blasphemers, those who protect the evil and prosecute the good, and………..unjust judges. By God’s mercy, you all still have time. Trust in Jesus. Be forgiven. Your life is your trial. Christ is your only Advocate. Seek Him. The gavel has not come down on any of you just yet.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Your likes or comments are always appreciated! I will do my best to respond to each one. And if you enjoy my posts, I wouldn’t mind an extra subscriber either. (-:  God bless you, and thanks for stopping by!   — Jamie

 

Advertisement

A Most Disturbing Violation of a Grandmother’s Freedom of Religion

Jamie Francis LGBTQ, Persecution, Politics, Religious Freedom

 

They’re going hard after the home and personal savings of a kind, lovable, 72 year old grandmother. If that sentence doesn’t bother you, you may want to check the spiritual condition of your heart……..immediately. I would hate for you to pass from this life into the next with that kind of evidence against your soul. As a Christian, I am shaken to the core when I hear stories about my brothers and sisters being persecuted. And yes, I am going to use the word persecution here. The mental anguish being placed upon this woman, and her family, is contemptible. Even if you aren’t a Christian, just plain common decency should cause you to outrage against this. Personally, I didn’t think I would ever live to see the Constitution despised so badly as it is now. Let’s face it. Our nation can’t sink much lower than this. And apart from a miracle of God, it appears like things will only get worse. Michael Brown, host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program, says it is time for Christians to wake up, and stand against the tyranny of the age.

Counting the Cost

Back in 2013, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and the ACLU (along with 2 gay men) were the instigators of an ongoing injustice against Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of a small town shop called Arlene’s Flowers. And these people are relentless. They will not stop until this wonderful Christian grandmother is severely punished. And all of this because she loves Jesus, believes His Word, and desires to live her life according to His Word. Even when she is working. Even when it could cost her everything. Yes, I know. Sheds a different light on everything, doesn’t it? Not something you will hear from Hollywood or the liberal media. Don’t let them brainwash you about this case. Barronelle did absolutely nothing wrong.

The Court is Now Complicit

Just recently, in a highly anticipated ruling, the Washington Supreme Court is now an accomplice to Bob Ferguson’s diabolical schemes. They failed to uphold our precious First Amendment, which has been an important staple of the U.S. Constitution for centuries. An Amendment that much blood, sweat, and tears has been spilled over. And now, in the 21st century, everything has changed for the worst. An Attorney General can suddenly, and without warning, dictate his power to go after a 72 year old grandmother who did absolutely nothing wrong. Why? Well, it’s pretty simple. He disagrees with her conscience, and he believes he has the authority to dictate his own conscience upon others. And that is exactly what he, the ACLU, and now the Washington Supreme Court have all done. And worst of all, they are doing all of this to a 72 year old grandmother. Scripture has something to say about this:

“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” (1 Timothy 5:1-2…..emphasis mine)

Catch that? Treat older women as mothers. That is a direct command from God. I wonder if the individuals who are going after Barronelle’s assets would ever treat their own mother the same way? According to Scripture, that honor is to be shown to every woman who is older. To be sure, what the Washington State Supreme Court did is wrong, regardless of the fact Barronelle is a grandmother. But the fact that she is a grandmother just makes the whole thing even more heinous.

Also, I seem to remember Jesus condemning men who devour widow’s houses (Mark 12). Barronelle Stutzman is not a widow. But I sure wouldn’t want to stand before God having devoured the home of a dear, sweet, elderly, married woman. Jesus doesn’t give you a free pass if the woman is not a widow. In fact, now you would be devouring the home of both a wife and her husband. You’re putting two people on the streets instead of one. It isn’t safe to play games with Holy Scripture. You’ve been warned. 

How Did Things Come to This?

Attorney General Ferguson got the ball rolling when he went after Barronelle, a woman who has a history of both serving and hiring gay people. Do not let that last sentence pass through your brain without locking it in. Barronelle has a long history of both serving and hiring gay people. But when Ferguson found out through Facebook that she would not arrange flowers for the wedding of two gay men, he stepped way over the line and abused his power. No formal complaint had even been registered at this point. But because Ferguson didn’t like what he heard, he took it upon himself to make sure that everyone agrees with him. And if you don’t, you’re in deep trouble. He will come after you! This ought to deeply trouble anyone who loves freedom, and believes in our First Amendment rights.

Discrimination Properly Defined

According to the Oxford Dictionary, discrimination can be defined as “the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.” For purposes of this article, you can go ahead and throw “sexual orientation” into that definition. Because that is the accusation, isn’t it? That Barronelle discriminated against two men because of their sexual orientation? Ummm…………..no. She didn’t. In fact, she had a great relationship with them, and served them for around 9 years or so. Birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Special Occasions, you name it. As much as Barronelle loves flowers, she loves people more. For her, it is always about the people- first and foremost. That is the very reason Robert Ingersoll and his partner Curt Freed decided to go to her in the first place. They claimed it was their favorite flower shop. Why? Because again, for Barronelle, it is about the people. And they know it. She runs her flower shop with love for God, and love for others. The two always go hand in hand.

In the Bible, we are taught to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). But sometimes, even when you do this, people get frustrated with you. They attack you. They seek to destroy you. Not necessarily physically (as in the present case), but emotionally and financially. That is what is happening to this small town flower shop owner. I don’t need to spill much ink on this one. It has been explained over and over again. But just in case you need a refresher, or you’re new to this story, here it is: Barronelle did not discriminate against two gay men. But she could not, in good conscience and in obedience to the Word of God, use her God-given time and creative abilities to arrange flowers for a ceremony that Jesus Christ clearly condemns. Look at the italicized words again: men and ceremony. Or should I say men, as opposed to, ceremony. Not hard to understand. Really, it isn’t. And yet, how many times have I heard the liberal media continue to say that she “discriminated against them because they were gay.” Despicable lies told against this sweet woman should make people ashamed of themselves.

An Unthinkable Ruling

Even as notoriously liberal as Washington State is, this ruling is still unthinkable. In fact, there are three words that come to mind when I think about this recent decision: disturbing, deplorable, and terrifying. But you could also throw in despicable, vile, hateful, ignorant, sinister, and just plain nasty. Make no mistake about it. Of all the ways Christians have suffered under the ever-rising leftist agenda of this country, Barronelle Stutzman has, in my view, endured the worst of the ugliness. It is hard to imagine that anyone who values freedom could be happy with this decision.  Between the lawsuits from the Attorney General and the ACLU, she stands to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. And possibly even her home. The Attorney General isn’t just going after her business, he is going after her. Denny Burk, Professor of Biblical Studies at Boyce College, had this to say:

Barronelle Stutzman’s case is nothing less than an egregious violation of our first freedom. It is Caesar saying, “Conscience be damned. Submit to the new sexual orthodoxy or risk losing everything.”
This is not tolerance. This is injustice that flies in the face of this nation’s laws and traditions. And if this kind of thing can be done to a 70-year-old grandmother running a small flower shop in rural Washington State, then it can be done to you. No one’s conscience is safe if this precedent becomes the norm.

Well, Caesar, I got news for you. Barronelle Stutzman’s conscience won’t be damned for you, or anyone else! Just like Martin Luther, she knows that “to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.”

A New Level of Hatred

So what exactly is going on here? Is this just extreme fearmongering? Are Christians exaggerating the severity of this problem? Rod Dreher, blogger at The American Conservative, doesn’t think so. Here is a direct quote of his from a recent article about the dangerous consequences of the Stutzman ruling.

When the might of the State of Washington and the American Civil Liberties Union comes down on the head of a gentle, grandmotherly, small-town florist, and seeks her ruin for declining to arrange flowers for a gay wedding, you know that we are dealing with a bottomless well of hatred.

I couldn’t agree more with Dreher. The word “gentle” really catches my eye more than anything. Barronelle clearly loved Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed, the two men who asked her to arrange flowers for their wedding. If you have any doubt about Barronelle’s sweet, gentle demeanor, and the love she has for these men, then I suggest you listen to her own words. After seeing that video, and how kind and tenderhearted she really is, you will see even more clearly how deep the hatred is. And here’s the really scary part: It is not hatred primarily against Barronelle, conservatives, or even Christians in general. It is hatred against the Lord of glory. It is hatred expressed against Jesus Christ and His glorious, infallible Word. Ultimately, Washington State and the ACLU will answer to Him.

Where is the Outrage?

I thought the progressive left was all about standing up for the marginalized. So then I ask, where are you? A grandmother could possibly lose her home and all of her savings, and yet you have nothing to say. No protest for Barronelle? Oh, wait, I forgot. Unless the person agrees with you on all of your worldview and political ideologies, then they are not worth protesting for I guess. Wow. Talk about insanity. It’s really interesting how the left portray themselves as being so loving and so compassionate, especially to those who are marginalized or persecuted. But yet they are out for blood when it comes to a 72 year old Christian grandmother who is simply trying to make a living, doing what she loves to do. A woman who is simply operating her own private business to the best of her ability, and according to what God has declared in His Word.

Then again, the left has never had much respect for the truly marginalized. For the last 44 years since Roe v Wade, they have supported the murder of the most vulnerable and marginalized of all human beings. Why should Barronelle Stutzman, or anyone else, get any better treatment? And that makes me wonder about something………. In fact, a question to all you progressive, left leaning individuals out there……….

What about all those immigrants you claim to love? What if they tried to enter this country holding signs that said “MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN”? Would you still be protesting for them? Would you let them in??? 

Conclusion

This case may go to the Supreme Court. I don’t know how promising that is considering the landmark ruling two years ago which legalized gay marriage. But I do hope they at least take her case. It’s something we ought to be praying fervently for. Not only for our dear sister in Christ and her family, but for the future of our First Amendment right to exercise our freedom of religion. Also be praying for the wonderful group who are taking up her cause, the Alliance Defending Freedom.

Barronelle is suffering from a great deal of anxiety over all of this. And understandably so. And if our dear sister ever happened to read this, I would remind her of what Jesus said about the lilies of the field.

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Matthew 6:27-29)

Something tells me she gets more out of that verse than most people do.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Barronelle here.

_________________________________________________________________

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! If you enjoy my articles, you can subscribe to this blog by email. It’s free!  And no spam at all! Simply find the box that says “Stay In Touch!!” and enter your email address. The box will be on your upper right (computer), or bottom part of your screen (phone). I appreciate your support!  (-: