A brave Christian veteran, Michael Cassidy, took a bold stand against the forces of evil on Thursday when he vandalized a Satanic display at the Iowa state Capitol. Despite facing criminal charges for his actions, Cassidy insists he was simply obeying the laws of God, which he believes supersede the laws of man. In a statement to The Sentinel, Cassidy explained, “My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted.”
Cassidy’s courageous act of defiance against the Satanic display was not just a random act of vandalism. He saw it as an opportunity to wake up his fellow Christians to the rampant anti-Christian sentiment that is increasingly becoming mainstream in our society. As he stated, “Anti-Christian values have steadily been mainstreamed more and more in recent decades, and Christians have largely acted like the proverbial frog in the boiling pot of water.”
For Cassidy, the Satanic display was not a legitimate exercise of free speech. He argued that the founding fathers would have never considered government-sanctioned altars to Satan as protected under the First Amendment. His attorney, Davis Younts, echoed this sentiment, saying, “My client was motivated by his faith to peacefully protest a display that is a direct affront to God. It is my hope that the citation will be dismissed when my client’s actions are understood and that he will not face prosecution because of his faith.”
"The world may tell Christians to submissively accept the legitimization of Satan, but none of the founders would have considered government sanction of Satanic altars inside Capitol buildings as protected by the First Amendment," Cassidy told @RepubSentinel. pic.twitter.com/2GBonqAbIs
— The Sentinel (@RepubSentinel) December 14, 2023
The controversial display has caused quite a stir in the state of Iowa, with many lawmakers and citizens calling for its removal. Republican state Rep. Brad Sherman went as far as to say that the display is not protected under the law and should be taken down. He stated, “It is a tortured and twisted interpretation of law that affords Satan, who is universally understood to be the enemy of God, religious expression equal to God in an institution of government that depends upon God for continued blessings.”
However, not all lawmakers share Sherman’s views. Republican state Rep. Jon Dunwell believes that the display should remain as it is protected under the First Amendment. In a post on X, he stated, “As a follower of Christ, I certainly find a display from the Satanic Temple objectionable. It stands in direct opposition to my faith and would be classified as evil. As an Iowan and a State Representative, I don’t want the state evaluating and making determinations about religions. I am guided by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.”
Despite the backlash and controversy surrounding the Satanic display, Governor Kim Reynolds has taken a more diplomatic approach. While denouncing the display as “absolutely objectionable,” she also stated that in a free society, the best response to objectionable speech is more speech. As Christians, we must not shy away from voicing our opposition to such displays, but we must also do so in a peaceful and respectful manner.
As many of you have become aware, last week a display was erected at the Iowa Capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa. As I have responded to concerns from Iowans about the display, I wanted to share with you how the display came to be and my response.
How did it happen?
• The… pic.twitter.com/8ODJXCxu9Y— Rep. Jon Dunwell (@jdunwell) December 8, 2023
Cassidy’s act of defiance against the Satanic display in the Iowa state Capitol serves as a powerful reminder that as Christians, our ultimate allegiance is to God and His laws. We must not be afraid to stand up for our beliefs and values, even if it means going against the laws of man. Let us continue to pray for our nation and for God’s protection against the forces of evil that seek to undermine our faith.