Protesting the New IFB In Fort Worth

This Sunday, June 23, 2019, a group of activists will be protesting the Stedfast Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX. Stedfast Baptist Church is led by Pastor Jonathan Shelley, who earlier this year, encouraged child abuse in one of his sermons.

Because God said so. Not because of what your parents think, not because of what the government thinks, not because of what man thinks. God says that children obey their parents. When you resist your parents you’re not just resisting your parents, you’re resisting God.

Pastor Jonathan Shelley

Pastor Jonathan Shelley also claimed that if you don’t beat your children, then you don’t love them. In the same breath he advocated for the use of “rods” to discipline children, basically beating them with the love of God, using a hard instrument. Pastor Shelley promotes beating children to keep them from going to hell by “scourging” them into submission.

WATCH:

Tips for Peaceful Protest

Remember, if you’re going to be protesting we have a few suggestions on how to stay safe:

  • Know what you are walking into. Make sure you check out the group that is protesting to ensure they have a history of non-violent protesting or contact the organizers to verify their intent.
  • Do not trespass or vandalize property. Also, cooperate with all instructions from the police.
  • Don’t physically or verbally provoke people. Chants and other demonstrations are common at protests, but engaging others aggressively can put you and those around you in danger. Maintain a safe buffer distance from those you are protesting for the safety of everyone involved.
  • Don’t throw things at people. Nothing good comes from doing this. Even if you were to throw something totally innocuous at someone, it leads back to the second tip: don’t provoke people.
  • Remain calm. Protests and counter-protests can be highly charged and emotional environments. Remind yourself why you are there, what your goals are, and how what you do at the protest will impact them.
  • Know when to leave. If things start getting violent, leave. Do not engage in violence. It’s better to live to fight the good fight another day.