A video has gone viral showing security guards at the Mall of America telling a man wearing a shirt that says, “Jesus is the only way” to remove his t-shirt or leave the mall.
According to ChurchLeaders.com, in the video, a security guard at the Minnesota mall tells the man that people are offended by his shirt and he must remove it or leave.
“Jesus is associated with religion, and it’s offending people,” the male security guard says at the beginning of one of the videos.
“It’s not religion. It’s about eternal life,” the man wearing the shirt says.
“Ok, but it’s the same thing,” says the guard. “People have been offended.”
The man says he didn’t “say anything,” but the guard again tells him that removing the shirt or leaving “are your only options right now.”
“Why don’t you just take it off and shop, man?” the security guard says in another posted video of the incident. “That’s all we want.”
“I’m just wearing my t-shirt,” the man later tells a police officer. “I’m not preaching … I came here to shop.”
The Mall of America’s website page about security says that “inappropriate attire” includes “apparel that has obscene language, obscene gestures or racial/religious/ethnic slurs that are likely to create a disturbance.”
Oliver Wood of Kingdom Bizness Global said his organization works to bring awareness to conflicts over faith and provide support and prayer.
He says his group is planning a flash mob at the Mall of America for February, where attendees will wear “Jesus Saves” shirts, sing worship songs, and pray.
Meanwhile, social media users have begun debating the video, questioning whether the man in the video needed to “turn the other cheek” and leave or stand his ground.
“I’d want to see the events leading up to this, but I don’t like what is seen here,” says Twitter user Bernard Pike. “What is the correct biblical response here: Take off the shirt and turn the other cheek? Or stand firm with the shirt on and push those security guards to action?”
I'd want to see the events leading up to this, but I don't like what is seen here.
— Bernard Pike (@BernardthePike) January 12, 2023
What is the correct biblical response here:
Take off the shirt and turn the other cheek?
Or stand firm with the shirt on and push those security guards to action?
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Owen Franken
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
