Faithful Servant or Camera-light Commando?

Steen talks good now, but abandoned the fort in 2023 as DAS Head!

As Iowans choose their next Governor, the most important qualification is almost too obvious to state: We don’t need “Summer Soldiers”, Prodded Patriots, or Camera-light Commandos who are fighting only when doing right is popular. We need a leader who stands strong for righteousness in the midst of the storm - even when the most ardent warriors are wavering and the cheerleading team is on vacation.

We don’t need “Sunshine Soldiers”, nor Prodded Patriots!

Adam Steen, candidate for Iowa Governor and head of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) from 2021-2025, has made a big deal out of opposing an event that Satanists wanted to hold at the Iowa Capitol this Christmas season. However, Iowans remember that it was only 2 years ago that he, as DAS head, allowed the same group to put up a evil, unholy, disgusting, un-American, and un-Iowan idol in the Iowa Capitol.

This idol had to be demolished by Michael Cassidy, a brave veteran from Mississippi, who was then charged with a felony “hate crime” and ended up paying a fine for his bold action.

Steen, while justifying his decision to approve that idol in an interview with the Iowa Standard, stated that “in that arena, I chose not to fight a free speech issue”.

“in that arena, I chose not to fight a free speech issue” - Adam Steen

After all, he says that was a “static display” and this event would be “ritual”, as Iowa Public Radio reports. He told that outlet that he “did that because it was not a matter of whether or not it was harmful to minors.” As if minors weren’t affected by the open display of Satanism in our State Capitol Building?! Why the desperate attempt at distinction between platforming evil and platforming evil?

“Static” or “Ritual”? How about applying “Static” Truth instead?

I can make no distinction between the erection of idols and ceremonies celebrating them. Instead, I oppose all forms of this madness in our state Capitol Building, by standing on the “static” truth of God’s Word.

Thankfully, I am far from alone in my opinion. In addition to thousands of everyday Iowans and some principled Legislators, Representative Brad Sherman publicly lead the charge against that that idol’s display and demanded that it be removed. Interestingly, he did so when many Republicans “leaders”, including the generally respected Conservative Representative Steve Holt, were dismissing the idol as legally protected religious speech that couldn’t be stopped.

Brad skillfully pointed out that the Iowa State Constitution begins with the words: “WE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF IOWA, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of those blessings…”. He concluded that this state was literally started on the principle that the Lord reigns and that we cannot continue to enjoy His blessings without also depending on Him. As such, he stated that the idol should be immediately removed because it directly opposes our State Constitution.

Brad even challenged his fellow lawmakers directly:

If we claim to believe in the One Supreme Being, the God of all creation, we cannot claim an exemption from obedience to Him in things relating to civil government. In fact, if we claim Him as our God, then we as legislators and government officials are His ministers. As such we must submit to Him in government as much as any other area of life. Either He is God or He is not. - Brad Sherman (emphasis mine).

As Brad put it, “to allow satanic expression in the State Capitol and other public property is to surrender to Satan’s demands for equality with God which was his original sin: “I will be like the Most High” (see Isaiah 14:14).”

“…to allow satanic expression in the State Capitol…is to surrender to Satan’s demands for equality with God…” - Brad Sherman

And Rep. Sherman wasn’t afraid to make his stand crystal clear by directly calling for: “our governor to have this blasphemous display removed immediately based on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and offends God upon whom the State of Iowa depends for blessings.” As he recently pointed out, “…any acceptance of openly proclaimed satanism is dangerous and must be rejected lest we allow the normalization of evil.”

What a contrast with someone choosing to hide behind the ethereal distinction between an idol and its worship ceremony!

“…any acceptance of openly proclaimed satanism is dangerous and must be rejected lest we allow the normalization of evil” - Brad Sherman

Adam Steen, who now seeks to be our next Governor, was unwilling to take even the first steps towards protecting Iowan’s Capitol Building. Even if he did not have the courage to pitch Sherman’s bold arguments to the world, he could have denied all displays or take a myriad of other routes to defeat it rather than playing dead.

When a candidate comes seeking my vote, the foremost question is not what they say today or have done for show in the last 6 months. It’s whether they’ve been “faithful in that which is least” (Luke 16:10) when no one was applauding. If they haven’t faithfully defended the ground they were already entrusted with, it is unwise to enlarge their territory.

Respectfully Submitted,

Isaiah G. Lary

Irreconcilable Iowa Statesman