Yesterday afternoon I was standing in front of our booth at Ichthus Festival with duct tape on my mouth with the words “Silenced 4000 a day” on it. I was also holding a homemade sign that read “During your 4 days at Ichthus Festival almost 16,000 babies will be killed by surgical abortion”. We do this, and it brings a lot of people to our booth to get literature and find out how to take a stand. We also get a lot of people who laugh at us and walk by without caring. The apathy is thick at many of these Christian Festivals.
After an hour of standing there I was approached by festival staff who told me that I was offending people; she told me 5 parents of older kids complained about being offended. I was asked to stop holding the sign and to remove the duct tape. I VERY politely asked what part of what I was doing was offensive. I was told that because I was sending a negative message rather than positive that it is offensive.
Even though I disagreed with their position I asked if I could just put away the sign and continue with the duct tape that said “silenced”. I was told no that that was still offensive. I asked if I could talk to the festival director and then explained to him how God has used the duct tape and how it has been so effective in pro-life projects. I explained how it is actually very non confrontational because I am not even speaking as I have duct tape on my mouth.
I was told that they don’t want anything that says abortion is wrong, but only come at the issue from a positive perspective. I showed them the several signs on our booth that say “Jesus Heals and Forgives” and showed them our post abortive healing literature. I then asked if the booths that are speaking against porn and human trafficking are offensive and I was told that that was different.
While they were very polite and cordial to me, I was told again that the term “silenced” was offensive because women who have had abortions will then think they silenced their babies. I was told to stop playing our slide show that had pictures from the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity and that I could not have anything with the word “silenced” and on duct tape. We have two shirts, stickers and buttons with the word “silenced” on them that had to be taken down.
Just to put a little perspective on what else is being allowed to be sold at the festival there are shirts that say:
Repent or Perish
Would it bother us more if they used a gun (referring to abortion and with a picture of a gun)
Live Offensively
There are several booths that have what we call rip off shirts where they just change a companies logo into a christian shirt including parodies of Vodka and Beer logos.
I am truly saddened by what happened at Ichthus and the irony our “Silenced” shirt being silenced.
I am also encouraged by two of the bands that found out what happened to us and will being wearing that shirt on stage today. Men as Trees Walking and The Wedding. Please visit their sites and show them love for standing up for Stand True and the babies.
We are also asking people to contact Ichthus Festival and let them know in a very polite way how you feel about them silencing this shirt and message. Please do not be mean, but be firm about the importance of taking a stand against abortion without compromising.
http://www.ichthusfestival.org/
For Christ I stand,
Bryan Kemper
This is outrageous. A Christian Festival?!?!? I might understand if u were holding up signs and wearing t-shirts with aborted babies on them… but duct tape?!? Come on!!!!! God bless you, Bryan and all those who were with you who can keep their cool and talk to these crazy people with kindness.
That’s pathetic. But a great response from the bands! Have you talked to Abort73 about this? Their “negative” shirts (Would it bother us more if they used guns?) are probably the next target…
that shirt is the least offensive prolife shirt i own. i mean, what about red duct tape is offensive? or is it the word “silenced” that they don’t like? and, how is abortion not to be a negative thing? what do these people think happens in a baby mill? a birthday party? good grief. i swear, some of the most naive and just clueless people are christians. (i’m a christian too, but my eyes have been opened.)
i’m praying for you. (and for those closeminded individuals.)
for Christ i stand,
kate
This is what I sent in:
I am very concerned about your festival’s policies on abortion. It is very worrisome to me that a Christian Music Festival is fearful of offending people by taking a strong stand against abortion by saying that abortion is wrong. Sometimes the truth hurts, and yet we MUST still speak the truth. I am sure that some Muslims, Mormons, Wiccans, and Jehovah’s Witnesses will be offended if I say “Jesus is the only way to heaven”. But I must, as the apostle Paul says in Ephesians, “speak the truth in love”.
The Nazi holocaust killed 6 million Jewish people, plus another 6 million political prisoners, Poles, gypsies, and others. Every day 4,000 babies are killed by surgical abortion. This adds up to 1.2 million children a year. More than 1/3 of my generation has been murdered. The Church and Christian organizations cannot remain silent on this issue.
I have to say I’m not surprised, only saddened. Welcome to the church in America Bryan. We wear our cool Jesus is my home boy t-shirt, go to church every Sunday, party on Saturday, and in brace what we should be set apart from all the while saying we don’t want to offend anyone. Excuse me, but I’ll pretty sure Jesus was offending quiet a lot of people and it cost him his life.
Our women dress inappropriately (more so than the world because they know better or should) and say “it’s cute” and expect men to just not look. We use Jesus preaching love as our excuse not to get our hands dirty and do any real work for the kingdom. All the while talking about our suffering with Christ. If the church in America thinks she knows persecution she’s slapping the real persecuted church all over the world where believes are living and dying for their faith across the face.
I don’t know maybe it’s because I’ve grown up in the bible belt and am continually confronted with Religion. Everyone wants to say they’re Pro-Life, but never do a thing with the movement. Everyone says they are Christian, but I don’t see a thing resembling Jesus in them. Like I said it’s just not surprising.
Beautifully written Lynn! Most Christians are definitely too worried now-a-days about hurting the feeling of others. They would rather spend their time sugar coating the gospel. The truth offends people because we as humans seek our own selfish desires. Abortion is wrong and instead of preaching it, Christians downplay it enough to drown it out.
Well…I know what shirt I will be wearing if I ever go to one of those festivals.
It is a sad day whenever a message of truth is silenced at a Christian Festival. I find the SILENCED shirt very offensive – and thats why I like it. The church is meant to be an offensive force that transforms people. It takes an offense to win a war or a game. The festival tour seems to become more warm and fuzzy every summer. My company has had many shirts censored simply because they might make someone feel uncomfortable. Throughout history Christians have been persecuted and even killed for speaking messages from God to the different pagan cultures. No christian has ever been killed for simply being nice. Christianity is offensive! We should not argue that the SILENCED shirt is not offensive but rather it’s offensiveness is what makes it holy. I support this movement and will let the festival know my thoughts on the matter. Please pray for Stand True’s spirits and also for the ministry of the American Christian Church, for passivity in times of great injustice is seen by God as an appalling act of wickedness.
I got on the phone with the staff and asked to talk to the executives. I was told I was not allowed to talk to them. So I stressed my concern. Justin, a facilities director if I am not mistaken, was handed my call. He said that there was nothing they could do per Doug who is the one who runs the festival. I heard Doug say on the radio that there was nothing they could do. So I asked Justin to ask Doug if I should see what their sponsors would say to his lack of desire to answer a very simple question, “Where is this Biblicaly based? How is what Stand True Ministries doing not positive? Aren’t they saving lives of the sons and daughters of Christ our Father?” Doug then decided to answer my questions through Justin which I am awaiting on now. Please pray that God would talk to Doug
keep us posted, Chris!
Wow! I’m stunned that a Christian festival would have not only this attitude, but would hold these beliefs!
As for some of the other vendors, well…that’s another story!
this makes me very sad..i will pray for there eyes and hearts to open.
My email was bounced back because their folder was full! They must be getting a lot of email, I’ll try resending again later.
How is that offensive? That’s educational, it’s not like you were showing pictures of aborted babies and screamin in peoples faces “baby killers” although I wish I could……….. I’m glad the band decided to wear the shirts!!! I am just so happy *sarcasm* that abortion shouldn’t be noted as negative….. God Bless their poor souls.
Email Sent:
I am deeply disappointed to find out that you have banned Stand True’s “Silenced” Shirt, regarding abortion and told them to remove videos showing peaceful pro-life demonstrations, yet you allow other vendors to sale beer and alcohol bottle T shirts with Christian sayings on them.
As a ‘Christian’ woman that made the decision to have an abortion and has walked through the process of healing, now educated at how many infant killings are taking place daily by ‘Christians’, I value the importance Stand True’s message is to a watered down ‘church’ drowning in compromise & ‘feel good’ messages.
Those T Shirts with alcohol bottles are more offensive to me than the truth about abortion.
Christians need to know the truth today. Awareness leads to intervention and prevention = ACTION. Apathy only contributes to modern day social injustices and in this case, 4000 child murders a day.
If their booth and message saves one girl or woman from making the choice to end her pregnancy, then it’s worth it. One life saved is worth the complaints of others. Last I knew we, the Church, were supposed to be in the life saving business. Even Christ was offensive. He warned us people would be offended by the message we deliver and we’d be rejected. People murmuring and complaining all through time did not stop God from accomplishing their objective in reconciling mankind to them. All that murmuring and complaining was treated pretty harshly though & people reaped the consequences for years and years.
I hope that you will reconsider your decision and allow Stand True to display the truth about abortions. Abortions not only kill babies, they potentially destroy the lives of women who get them & ONLY the forgiving grace of Christ can help them recover. People need to know and as the Church we shouldn’t allow a few complainers stop that message from going forth. God didn’t, nor should we. Lives and freedom are at stake.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Shematz
Beauty From Ashes Ministries
http://www.BeautyFromAshes.org
I am deeply disappointed to find out that you have banned Stand True’s “Silenced” Shirt, regarding abortion and told them to remove videos showing peaceful pro-life demonstrations, yet you allow other vendors to sale beer and alcohol bottle T shirts with Christian sayings on them.
As a ‘Christian’ woman that made the decision to have an abortion and has walked through the process of healing, now educated at how many infant killings are taking place daily by ‘Christians’, I value the importance Stand True’s message is to a watered down ‘church’ drowning in compromise & ‘feel good’ messages.
Those T Shirts with alcohol bottles are more offensive to me than the truth about abortion.
Christians need to know the truth today. Awareness leads to intervention and prevention = ACTION. Apathy only contributes to modern day social injustices and in this case, 4000 child murders a day.
If their booth and message saves one girl or woman from making the choice to end her pregnancy, then it’s worth it. One life saved is worth the complaints of others. Last I knew we, the Church, were supposed to be in the life saving business. Even Christ was offensive. He warned us people would be offended by the message we deliver and we’d be rejected. People murmuring and complaining all through time did not stop God from accomplishing their objective in reconciling mankind to them. All that murmuring and complaining was treated pretty harshly though & people reaped the consequences for years and years.
I hope that you will reconsider your decision and allow Stand True to display the truth about abortions. Abortions not only kill babies, they potentially destroy the lives of women who get them & ONLY the forgiving grace of Christ can help them recover. People need to know and as the Church we shouldn’t allow a few complainers stop that message from going forth. God didn’t, nor should we. Lives and freedom are at stake.
Respectfully Submitted,
Julie Shematz
Beauty From Ashes Ministries
http://www.BeautyFromAshes.org
Unfortunately I am not surprised by what happened but that still doesn’t make it okay. I’ve always hated the “rip-off” shirts that I have seen at different Christian festivals. It saddens me that people are offended by a message such as “silenced” while at the same time allowing cheesy shirts that in my opinion are simply ridiculous. I’d much rather have people be offended and have ministries such as Stand True then not being there at all.
[...] Update: On the banning of a Stand True shirt at Ichthus Festival. 19 06 2010 If you are not familiar with the situation please read the previous post. [...]
I myself have worked at least 2 Ichthus conferences. We have training and a kick off prayer and worship time before the conference weekend. We have dozens of trained students and community members leading counseling, prayer and evangelistic outreach to the many non-Christians who come. There are numerous evangelistic speakers and worship times with fantastic and humble worship leaders. At least some dozens if not hundreds are usually saved each year, for there are the counselors, a prayer tent, etc. The Ichthus official may have been in the wrong here (depending on the facts), but Ichthus is a great Christian festival where many lives are saved each year. I say depending on the facts because I know many well intentioned, good hearted Christians who push pro-life at inappropriate times and places, ultimately being counter productive to the cause. I say this as a law school graduate who is on the board of one of the few pro-life law student organizations. It is a very unpopular law school organization and we’ve been heckled. There are many non-Christians who come to Ichthus and while I do not agree with the officials’ treatment (if truthfully depicted), I’ve known too many who leave out little but important facts, ignore they may not have chosen the right time or place, or ignore the larger issue. Ichthus is a more of a worship conference as you might now, and has been focused on music. As a passionate Christian social activist and lawyer, I question the wisdom of some placements of this message because of the damage some pro-lifers have done pushing people away from the church before they get in, where if they focused on showing them Christ’s love for them first and foremost, the pro-life message will follow. You don’t save a prostituted woman by criticizing her immodesty, you show her Christ’s love, offer her Christ’s healing, and let the immodesty issue be worked on later.
The only thing I have to say is, you put too much in “man’s” ability to turn people away. If a message like abortion can “turn them away” I would venture to guess they weren’t exactly firm to begin with in their faith. Plus Christians understand that it isn’t by our strength and our words that bring people or turn them away but it is the Grace of God.
Icthus’s email contact from their website does not work or they have disabled it.
God bless you Cris for putting actions to your convictions and contacting these people and standing up for the unborn and Bryan’s ministry.
I cant for the life of me fathom a “true” Christian laughing and mocking a statement defending God’s beautiful, innocent and defenseless children that He intended to be an expression, and a bearer of His Image!
So called Christians who behave in this way bear witness to Pauls prediction: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers. They will turn away their ears from the truth, and will be turned aside unto fables. BUT YOU be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4;3-5
These “Christians?” are “turning away their ears from the truth!” No doubt, as Paul said Jesus and God’s word are to them only fables.
Bryan, if you were not enraging the devil you would not be persecuted. Simple as that. Jesus said “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:26
Jesus also said ‘Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt. 5:12
papakevin11@gmail.com
This is becoming all too commonplace in america.Christians and their beliefs are being subjected to all kinds of offensive things and no one cares about that.But let us say or defend one good thing and we are trouble makers or offending someone.WEll it offend’s me that the blood of million’s of babie’s ,one being a grandchild of mine,blood is screaming up from the dust of american soil to my God above!!!!!!!! Who is going to stop that ????who is going to defend that? Only the one’s of us who truely feel this is wrong.Only those of us who know it is worth fighting for…..thank you for being one of those..the babies will run up and say hello to you one day in heaven and say thank you…..may God bless you and lead you on the path’s you must go down, the path you were called to follow!
I’m not surprised… everyone, including Christians, are so concerned with being “politically correct” and not offending people now-a-days. Personally I feel it’s fine to not offend people but not fine to compromise your beliefs to make someone else happy… and it sure sounds like that’s happened.
We are not supposed to be thin-skinned and easily offended. If there is anything to be offended about it’s that 4,000 people are being silenced… every day… and so few are willing to do anything about it.
Oh and not to sound completely horrible or anything… but would it be wrong for women who had abortions to think they silenced their babies? That is what they did. I’m not saying they deserve to be treated badly for it or anything but you can’t deny the truth just because it makes you feel bad.
A gal from the local Pregnancy Resourse Center gave a talk at our church and said that the statistics for Professing Christians and non Christians having abortions are exactly the same! I was appalled and stunned.
Can anybody tell me if that is accurate?
papakevin11@gmail.com
thank you Brian for letting us know. My NICE letter of concern has been sent.
to understand the intent of ichthus fully, most people need to realize that the festival itself isn’t as wholesome as it may seem. it’s basically just another bonnaroo or coachella with a better image. any and every drug is available there. kids hook up and drink. it’s truth. if you disagree, then you haven’t seen the real ichthus.
as for me, i am pro choice, with limits. but i’m incredibly disappointed in the promoters of this festival for what they’re doing. it should never be okay to censor a non-violent demonstration, especially if it projects a viewpoint that is in line with the whole point of the festival.
ichthus used to be about god and love and communing with other christians to spend time in positive worship, discussing contemporary issues, etc. but that’s not the point anymore. this is why i’m not shocked, but i’m pretty upset that a very reasonable demonstration was shut down. i saw nothing offensive with the shirts and the promoters are just looking for a way to make the whole thing more secular and contemporary.
I’m sorry to hear this Bryan. Such an upsetting experience.
Women who have aborted their babies HAVE silenced them and until they acknowledge their error they cannot heal, they cannot repent – they must be pushed out of their comfort zone to come to healing and salvation. It is through the mooting of the truth that is delaying the healing and the change in moral concience! We CANNOT be silenced and will not be silenced as we are their only voice! These preborn human beings have not voice…
We were at a meeting for “pro life” yesterday and were told to stop being so passionate and loud about pro life because we are offending and turning people off… I DONT CARE! we have been silent for 40 years, it’s time to scream from the rooftops! Human beings are being murdered!! HELP!!
Women who hired an abortionist to kill their babies must be protected from being offended. They must not ever be made to confront their sin. Wwe must also not offend the abortionists. this shirt might mke them consider their sin/ We just cannot have that.
if there is any chance that anyone might feel bad about their sin, we must not mention that sin!
“In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” John 16:33
This comment is a response to Joe in Missouri – and not a response to what Brian did. The truth of abortion must be shared in a manner that highlights the facts and not in a condemnatory way – which is not what Brian was doing. If we speak the truth in love then it is not our fault if it causes offence as it is not the message that gives the offence but their own conscience.
Joe,
While it is true that it is a sin to kill a child many women are in a position where they are lied to and/or forced into a position.
I just get a little disturbed when a lot of people are quick to refer to the sin of “Women who hired an abortionist to kill their babies”.
I’ll explain where I’m coming from using an analogy:
A young girl goes somewhere with her new boyfriend to ‘be a bit naughty’. Things go further than she expected and he starts going a too far, because he’s being rough she clams up in fear and so doesn’t tell him to stop and ends up being raped by him.
In that situation, how would you deal with the girl? Would you go up to her and tell her that she sinned by going to commit sexual acts with her boyfriend which led to her rape? Because she DID sin.
I would deal with it this way: I would tell her that Jesus loves her. I would tell her that she has been lied to. I would tell her that Jesus can forgive anything, heal her pain and help her become a better person. Just like I would do with the majority of women who have gone through abortion.
Women who have gone through abortions already suffer guilt (no matter how suppressed it is) for allowing their baby to be killed. They often carry guilt for decisions which they were forced, coerced or lied into making. They also carry all the trauma of having a miscarriage and witnessing a murder. Most women who have had abortions don’t need to be told that they are sinners – because that is something that they already know. What they NEED to know is that Jesus forgives them. He forgave first. We repent in response and accept his free gift to us and the power to turn our lives around through him.
There are a minimum of three victims in an abortion: The child who has had their life cut short before it is even born, the mother who is emotionally scarred for life and often physically damaged as well and the abortionist who, with each ‘operation’ commit spiritual self-abuse by ripping apart their own conscience and morality for the sake of money. May God forgive them. I know when it comes to the abortionists themselves I struggle to. I have to pray for the Lord’s strength to forgive them even as I pray against their vile trade.
Amid the dust and the crowds and the scurrying of people, one man who stood still with his message raised in silence and his voice stopped by a slash of red pierced someone’s heart. And that heart that was pierced did not respond to God’s prompting with repentance, but instead ran in fear and shame and anger. And that anger became a rallying cry for others living in shame and fear until their loud voices drowned out the pressing of the Holy Spirit and became a movement demanding that the silent man be silenced even more. As Jesus wept over Jerusalem, a city blinded to the murder in her streets, so should we weep over the nation who has become comfortable with the murder of her children.
Didn’t they prove your point by “Silencing You” Seems to me their message was loud and clear: SHUT UP ABOUT ABORTION. Whimpy WHimpy WHimpy – no courage, no stomach, no belief ! Shame on them !
If Christians had not already compromised their principles, abortion could not have grown to the size of industry it is. Of those 4k a day statisically most are performed on women who see themselves as Christians. Gorls whose parents may have told them it was OK (parents of older children?).
What ‘offends’ folks nowawdays isn’t just the notion of sin itself. The vague “Repent or Perish’ doesn’t call people out on the specific sin committed so they have the comfort of pretending it doesn’t apply to them. When you start naming sins they lose that comfort. They are forced to see themselves as sinners and that offends some folks.
This is what happens when you tamper with the Truth of God’s word. This is what we American Christians have done since the 60′s sexual revolution. We started compromising Truth to fit the desired social pattern. In doing so we compromised the Truth.
Here’s the problem with that. Truth is immutable. It cannot change. So when we compromise Truth, it isn’t not 90% Truth and 10% Lies, it is just no longer Truth. What is not 100% Truth is Lies. Lies lead to sin.
Just sent them this email: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&&suggest¬e_id=405706494719
~Josh Brahm
[...] True Director Bryan Kemper reported recently that one of the pro-life T-shirts his group sells was banned at a Christian music festival [...]
[...] True Director Bryan Kemper reported recently that one of his group’s pro-life T-shirts was banned at a Christian music festival [...]
Approach it from a “positive perspective?” Seriously?? Ichthus FAIL
Forget Icthus. Go to Cornerstone. Vote with your feet, people.
So sorry this happened. Keep the faith, brother!
We vended next to Stand True last week at Creation NE, and they were the nicest, and least offensive vendors I’ve ever met. They were nothing but helpful and courteous to everyone that came to their table, and they constantly gave the people at my table food, coffee, and encouragement!
I hope I’m blessed enough to be set up next to Stand True again!
God bless em!
Wow Brian,
I can not believe this is going on. We’ve played plenty of festivals and shows that were not Christian. A few where Planned Parenthood had booths and we’ve never been told to remove our Stand True gear. This is just a microcosm of how the church is operating today. There are a few out there that take a stand for what is right, but more times than not the American church is more interested in their bottom line than defending truth and purity.