A congregation at a church in Appomattox, Virginia walked out of the service Sunday in response to a sign that said, “America: Love it or leave it.”
Pastor E.W. Lucas posted the sign outside Friendship Baptist Church in defense of similar comments President Trump directed at four congresswomen of color who have been critical of his administration’s policies.
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Lucas told ABC 13 News that some members of his church led the congregation out of the service in a stance against the sign. He said members were unhappy with the national attention the church had received for the message.
“I’ve tried to be honest,” Lucas said. “I’ve tried to do what’s right. But I believe in my country. I love my country. And I don’t mind standing up for the country.”
Last week, before his congregation walked out, Lucas said he decided he would keep the sign posted because he had received “favorable comments on it.”
“People that feel hard about our president and want to down the president and down the country and everything, they ought to go over there and live in these other countries for a little while,” Lucas said. “Preachers, by and large, today, are afraid they’re gonna hurt somebody’s feelings, and when I get in the pulpit, I’m afraid I won’t hurt somebody’s feelings.”
