Pastor Mark Boykin, above, senior pastor at the Church of All Nations in Boca Raton, has a sledgehammer. And he told media this week that he plans to use it to knock down a display due to be set up in a local park to honour Satan.
Boykin said in this report:
In essence they’re putting out a welcome mat for Satan.
He is astounded that Boca Raton authorities have given permission to teacher Preston Smith put up a 6-foot-tall pentagram, painted blood red, with a wooden image of Satan in the middle of it during the holiday season.
Jeremy Rodgers, Boca Raton’s Deputy Mayor explained why the display is being allowed:
We can’t say no to this, as offensive as it is. Our lawyers said whatever you do, don’t do that. Because it will be an expensive lawsuit.
But Boykin insists:
I think this is reprehensible. I think it’s an insult to our city.
Smith’s giant metal pentagram, weighing 300 pounds, will be accompanied by the slogans “In Satan We Trust”, “One Nation under Antichrist” and “May the Children Hail Satan”.
Smith refers to himself as an Atheistic Satanist in the application he submitted to the city.
Susan Haynie, Boca Rato’s Mayor said:
I find this extremely offensive. But you know, again, we’ve chosen as the council to honour free speech.
Scott Singer, a Boca Raton city council member added:
This is not consistent with my particular values, but free speech means people have an opportunity to express themselves, whether government likes it or not or whether individuals like it or not.
Along with the pentagram Smith also intends to put up a “Freedom from Religion Nativity Scene” that stresses there can be no religious freedom without the freedom to dissent.
Last December, the same teacher erected a metal pentagram in the same park where churches set up a traditional nativity scene with the Baby Jesus in a manger and the Virgin Mary.
Brandishing a sledgehammer during a TV interview, Boykin huffed:
It’s evil, it’s the essence of evil. I will take the responsibility for taking the sledgehammer and knocking it down.
The pentagram and Freedom from Religion Nativity Scene will be on display at Sanborn Square on Federal Highway in Boca Raton from December 1 through January 6, 2018.
Smith says he’s never experienced this level of hatred from supposedly religious folks who preach love, tolerance and acceptance.