A local U.S. pastor has been told that his "Jesus is Lord" ads will no longer be permitted after a complaint was received by authorities.
Lawson Perdue, pastor of the Charis Christian Center in Colorado Springs, was informed by local transit authorities that if the name "Jesus" was allowed, hate messages would have to be allowed, too.
"I asked the city person, 'Why are you not allowing me to advertise the name of Jesus?'" Perdue recalled. "She said, 'Because if you use name of Jesus in ads, then we must allow hate messaging.'
The church has been advertising on transit benches in the city for years. Previous ads include "Celebrate Jesus" and "Experience Jesus."
Franklin Graham expressed his support of the pastor, calling the decision an act of discrimination.
"It seems it's okay for everyone else to have freedom of speech except Christians. What would you do if this happened in your town?" the renowned evangelist said in a Facebook post. "Pray for Christians enduring discrimination right here in the United States."
Perdue has decided he will not back down without a fight, and has already enlisted the help of the mayor and local city council.
"I told a city council member when I talked to them, 'Listen I can produce 50,000 signatures in Colorado Springs,'" Perdue said. "We are not going to stand for that. It's just not right."