A Baptist pastor clashed with protestors outside a Hobby Lobby store in Burbank, California on Friday, then tweeted about the experience.
Nick Reed of Victory Baptist Church told The Burbank Leader that he had difficulty finding a parking space because of the amount of traffic at the store, and criticized the protestors for demonstrating on the 4<sup>th of July.
Hobby Lobby is an arts and crafts store owned by a Pentecostal Christian family. The retail chain was at the center of a Supreme Court decision last week that allowed closely-held companies to deny morning-after pill and IUD health insurance coverage to their employees, based on religious grounds.
On Friday, over two dozen protestors showed up outside the Burbank Hobby Lobby on Victory Boulevard and confronted patrons entering the store. They also carried signs that read "Hobby Lobby Hates Women" and "Go Away, Hobby Lobby."
Pastor Reed tweeted his disdain for the protestors.
"One protesters [sic] sign says 'no bigotry in burbank' aren't they being a bigot by protesting a company that is exercising their belief!?" he asked.
He also wrote, "I find it funny how liberals try and marginalize themselves with lies and exaggerated statistics!" and tweeted a picture of his wife, Rachel, shopping inside Hobby Lobby.
On Monday, Reed shared Bible verses in support of the store.
"The liberals [sic] response to Hobby Lobby is a reminder of 2 Cor. 4:4! Pray for an Awakening! #truth."
The scripture reads: <sup> "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (New International Version).
Pastor Reed also posted a photo of protestors juxtaposed with a picture of Hobby Lobby employees praying inside the store. "LK 6:28 'Bless them that curse you...' Quite the difference! Honored to have this company in our city!" he wrote in the caption.
