Mississippi governor: Christians would line up for crucifixion before abandoning faith

In a recent speech, the governor of Mississippi said that Christians would stand up against anything for their faith.

Gov. Phil Bryant was awarded the first Samuel Adams Religious Freedom Award last week at the Christian conference Watchmen on the Wall. The award was given by Tony Perkins, president of conservative lobbying group Family Research Council, who said that it was "in honor of the model of courage that he has offered to our nation." Perkins said that the governor had been unwavering in his stance in "defending religious liberty for the citizens of Mississippi" despite having been "targeted by those with radical social agenda."

At the beginning of his speech, Bryant likened Perkins to the biblical David for having been there when the legislation was being drafted, which he said was a difficult time. Narrating how, in Sunday school, one of his favorite stories was about "a bad giant" who came into a valley and taunted the Israelites to send their champion that he may vanquish him, Bryant said, "We were in that valley, but Tony Perkins was there with us. He was there as surely as our Lord and Savior, as surely as our God of all gods had stood there with us."

He said that as soon as the bill was passed, reporters were asking about his move, thinking if he would sign it immediately.

"I will tell you, and probably shouldn't admit to this, but there is some joy in letting them know we are not afraid," he said. "We will not be intimidated, that we will not go quietly into the night, because the fate of the nation rests in the actions of men and women who stand on those 'Walls.'"

Bryant later talked about how "all of the secular progressive world had decided that they were going to pour their anger" on him because he pledged to sign the bill, apparently thinking that by putting pressure on him, he would back down.

But he said that Christians have been persecuted throughout history and they -- referring to the critics of the new law -- are not aware that Christians would rather be crucified than turn their backs on their faith.

"They don't know that if it takes crucifixion, we will stand in line before abandoning our faith and our belief in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," he said. "So if we are going to stand, now is the time and this is the place."

Mississippi's House Bill 1523 titled "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act," signed by Bryant into law in April, states that businesses can deny LGBT people services based on their "sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions." These include beliefs that marriage is between a man and a woman, that sex is between husband and wife, and that gender refers to biological sex at birth.

Bryant had been highly criticized by the supporters of anti-transgender discrimination for signing the bill, which will become law on July 1. Lawsuits have been filed to block it.