By L.A. Williams
Christian Action League
November 3, 2021
At Friday’s Stand up for America Rally on Halifax Mall in Raleigh, an estimated 5,000 people clapped, cheered and even let out a “holy roar” to back Biblical values and support leaders who hold them dear, not the least of whom is Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, one of the main speakers at the event.
Recently called on to resign from his post for calling sexually explicit materials used in public schools “filth,” Robinson made it clear that he would not be intimidated.
“They want me to resign. I am going to resign myself to … keep delivering the message of truth to the people of North Carolina, to continue to keep standing up for the constitutional rights of every citizen of this state, regardless of how they identify, and I am going to resign myself to continue to follow the wisdom and teaching of Jesus Christ and preach that message every time I get a chance,” he declared to loud cheers and chants of “USA.”
As is his custom, Robinson began his speech by giving thanks to the Lord for His blessings on the nation.
“There are a lot of people out there who don’t like to hear that,” he insisted. “I reiterate my statement from before. If you don’t like it, nobody is holding you here. You can leave God’s country, and we will not miss you.”
Robinson said he is standing for the people against intrusive government because of his love for the flag, the nation and our way of life.
“That is what inspires courage,” he said. “What we currently see in this nation inspires fear and sadness.”
The lieutenant governor said it is time for Christian people to take back the nation.
“Tell our enemies on the other side of the aisle that would drag this nation down into a socialist hellhole that you will only do it as you run past me, lying on the ground, choking on my blood,” he cried. “Because I will not give up this nation to you. It isn’t yours. You didn’t build it. You didn’t defend it, and you will not own it. We will, the Christian patriots of this nation. Stand strong, stand proud. Let’s save this state and nation. Let’s be the people to preserve freedom for the future.”
Ron Baity, president of Return America, which sponsored the rally, said Robinson has distinguished himself “as a spiritual John the Baptist, thundering out truth without apology and exposing the chaff of hypocrisy.” He made it clear that even as some Tar Heel residents are distraught over Robinson’s outspoken beliefs, many are delighted by them.
“We want to go on the record right now that there are multitudes of churches and pastors, several thousand represented today, … we welcome the possibility that he might be the next governor of the state of North Carolina,” Baity said, reminding the crowd that Robinson has said there is 95 percent chance he will seek the state’s highest office.
In presenting Robinson with Return America’s Patriot Award, Baity called the lieutenant governor a “true Christian statesman” who exhibits the highest degree of leadership and lifts up his voice for God and righteousness.
More than a political rally, Friday’s event called on attendees to celebrate and stand up for “fundamental facts,” including the first and second amendments to the Constitution, true American history, the flag, the biblically defined family and the unborn.
David Gibbs, founder of the Christian Law Association, challenged the crowd to embrace the fiery trials our nation is facing as an opportunity to live out their faith.
“This is the time when God’s people can make an unbelievable and distinctive difference,” Gibbs said, urging the crowd to commit to prayer, to witnessing and to standing firm against evil.
“When God says something is evil, it is evil for all eternity,” Gibbs said. “His word tells us to abhor evil and cling to that which is good.”
Chiding people who can watch Fox News for hours on end, but have never in their lives prayed for a solid hour, Gibbs told the crowd that the nation’s founding fathers both prayed and fasted before meeting together to consider declaring their fledgling nation’s independence from Great Britain. Using the very scripture shared at the First Continental Congress, Gibbs asked the crowd to do as the writer of Psalm 35 instructs in verse 27 and “shout for joy and be glad.”
He called the resulting outburst a “holy roar” signifying the crowd’s commitment to stand fast even when they are tired of fighting for righteousness.
Rev. Baity, who pastors Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, thanked Gibbs for his work defending the rights of Christians. The Christian Law Association represented Berean and People’s Baptist Church in Greenville in their suit against Gov. Roy Cooper’s bans on church services during the pandemic.
Richard Callahan, pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist in Archdale, described the case and how the judge ruled in favor of the churches based on the freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment. Joe Haas, representing the North Carolina Christian School Association, offered his words of gratitude to God as he reminded the crowd that parents have the right to decide how their children will be educated.
Moving on to the Second Amendment, Allen Barker, an evangelist from Amazing Grace Baptist in Mt. Airy, took to the podium to point out the false logic inherent in many gun control efforts.
“If you are going to solve the problem, you have to deal with the problem, and guns are not the problem,” Barker said. “A gun by itself has never harmed anyone. The problem is people. The problem is the heart of man.”
Paul Deal, pastor of Winkler’s Grove Baptist in Hickory, and Tim Cruise, pastor of Shining Light Baptist in Monroe, addressed the need to teach the truth regarding our nation’s history and its founding on Christian principles.
“Our founding fathers recognized that tyranny is inherent in the heart of sinful man. That’s why they restrained and limited the government,” Cruise said.
He said America did not create religious liberty, but that religious liberty created America. Addressing the recent push for the teaching of critical race theory, Cruise said no child should be taught that he is a perpetual victim.
“We are more than conquerers… We must reject modern day victimhood and segregation,” Cruise demanded. “The awful past of slavery has been corrected and addressed. … We must reject every attempt to rewrite our history. Let’s tell the bad and the ugly, but let’s also tell the good.”
Charged with inspiring the rally crowd to stand up for the family, Matt Morrison, pastor of Gospel Light Baptist in Walkertown, read from Genesis 2 about God’s creation of marriage. Morrison offered thanks to lawmakers who stand up for marriage as the union of one biological male and one biological female. And for those who do not, he issued a warning: Keep your hands off the home.
“As goes the homes of the nation, so goes the nation,” Morrison said.
His speech was followed by Kevin Broyhill’s appeal for sanctity of life. The pastor of Calvary Baptist in King, Broyhill said that since life begins at conception, “taking a human life inside the womb is no different than taking it outside the womb; it is murder.”
“When a society devalues God, the giver of life, it will devalue the life that is given,” Broyhill said.
Former Congressman and Senate candidate Mark Walker echoed the sanctity of life message describing the discouragement he felt when Congress voted that babies who survive a botched abortion are not worthy of medical care. Quoting Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn,” Walker said that was a day of mourning.
“When we teach our children that gender no longer matters, there is mourning in America,” Walker added, calling on pastors and politicians to be willing to speak out for what is right.
Also during the rally, Pastor Donnie Oates of Vandalia Baptist in Greensboro defended the importance of the U.S. flag and shared a moving story of how a hand-sewn flag inside the shirt of a Vietnam soldier helped prisoners of war keep their faith in their mission. He ended his speech by reading a poem by Howard Schnauber called “I am the Flag.”
Other speakers at the event included Colorado activist Joe Oltmann who talked about election fraud; N.C. Sen. Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson), who recognized fellow lawmakers and state officials in attendance at the rally. Tim Butler, pastor of People’s Baptist Church in Greenville, who offered an opening prayer; Tim Rabon, pastor of Beacon Baptist Church in Raleigh, who helped introduce Mark Robinson; and Major Vic Allen, who recognized veterans in attendance at the rally.
