Riley Gaines Barker, a former University of Kentucky swimmer described the campaign [of threats and violence against her] as “personal attacks” because “they don’t have any science or reason or logic or common sense on their side to debate my argument.”
“So they would rather silence me with verbal and physical abuse,” she added.
Still, Gaines is undeterred.
She wrote in a tweet the day after the ambush, “When they want you silent, speak louder.” (Bold mine)
Riley Gaines Barker is a hero.
She embodies truth and bravery.
Those against her and her message (i.e., women’s sports should be for biological women) attacked her violently. Their goal was to silence her and her message. The forces of evil* use the same methods they always have – intimidation and violence – to try and silence. The forces of evil think Riley is like themselves – cowards – and that she will cave to their pressure. But she is not going to cower and fear. She is going to speak louder.
If we ask Him, there is Someone who goes with us when we stand up to evil. He stands for the Truth, and for what is Right, and for what is Fair, and for what is Honorable. Just like He was with our Founding Fathers when they birthed this country.
We will not fight with physical violence. We will not fight at all. We will pray. We will speak. We will inform. We will vote. We will love. We will love those for us, but we will also love those against us.
Because of the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places,* we may lose our possessions, we may lose our freedom, we may lose our lives. But the people of this nation are worth it. Freedom, Justice, and Truth are worth it. And the Love of Jesus compels us to show His love, forgiveness, and hope to those who know Him and to those who do not know Him – yet.
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*Ephesians 6:12 (NASB95)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [i.e., people], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Bold italics mine, brackets mine)
I AM for You! 