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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Consumers were stunned to see Target’s recent partnership with the U.K.-based brand Abprallen for the recently released LGBTQ Pride Month collection. Abprallen’s designer, Eric Carnell, is an open Satanist who believes Satan is “a symbol of passion, pride, and liberty.” Abprallen’s merchandise includes “tuck-friendly” bathing suits and pins that say phrases like “heteronormativity is a plague,” “burn down the cis-tem [sic],” and one that says “homophobe headrest” with an image of a guillotine.
Conservative Christians are appalled by Carnell’s casual interpretation of satanism, with many boycotting Target stores in protest of the partnership. Judge Phil Ginn, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary, joined the millions of outraged Americans at the unorthodox collaboration, yet noted that Christians should not only be boycotting the company but praying for the eternal salvation for Carnell and other leadership.
“Most of the world has heard by now of Target’s ‘Bud Light moment’ regarding the sordid display of their gay pride collection, much of which was directed at young children,” said Ginn. “But just when the large retailer thought that perhaps their stock had bottomed out, Fox News is reporting that in putting together their salute to lasciviousness, Target leadership had turned to an avowed satanist by the name of Eric Carnell. Working under the U.K. based brand Abprallen, Carnell, a transgender designer, produced not only their so called ‘tuck friendly’ swimsuits, but other apparel attacking critics of the lifestyle of which Target seems to be so proud. Not only that, but there are promises of additional, more defiant and provocative merchandise to come which is even more overtly satanic in its origins.
“Target has received their just dues even after scrambling to save face in a last-minute desperate attempt to placate their true customers. It now appears that Target stock has dropped 12.6% over the last few days, which in real numbers amounts to around a $9.3 million loss in stock value. And that’s not the end of the bad news that is to come for the giant retailer’s image and monetary losses. So, for now Target is suffering the same deserved fate that befell Bud Light. There is an old adage in retail that in order to be successful, you must know your customer base. Obviously, Target, along with Bud Light, failed miserably in this regard and will continue to feel the pain for some time. Couldn’t happen to a better group of folks!”
Ginn continued, “Nevertheless, to give the devil his due, I should give credit to Eric Carnell. He’s at least honest about his affiliation with the great deceiver. The problem for him is that he is honestly lost — lost not only in the world in which he now exists, but also in the eternity to come. While a great part of me wants to call this individual out for the disrespect and disparagement of Almighty God Himself, there is a more thoughtful side of me which longs to warn him about the grave danger in the thoughts and actions that have led to the malaise in which he is now found.
“Target is nothing more than an inanimate corporation that has brought economic calamity upon itself, and that is the extent to which it will suffer. However, the leadership of Target and Eric Carnell are real live human beings who are destined for the ravages of hell without the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Eric Carnell, like so many others, ‘swears there ain’t no heaven and prays there ain’t no hell!’ Sadly, they have totally missed the truth of the Gospel. They have thus fallen for any old claim that comes along that will support their sordid lifestyle and give them some short-lived comfort on their road to eternal separation from the God they are now intentionally choosing to despise. God have mercy on their souls in the days to come!
“We at Southern Evangelical Seminary believe that God has manifested Himself in the natural world and through the incarnation of His only Son, Jesus Christ, who not only lived, but died a substitutionary death on the cross for the sins of even someone like Eric Carnell. That same Christ then rose in bodily form from the grave on the third day in victory over death and hell itself. Because of the surety of our faith, we can, along with Peter, encourage our students, our friends, and even our enemies to ‘honor Christ the Lord as holy in your hearts, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…’ We have proclaimed this truth of the Gospel for over 30 years, and now this nation and world needs to hear it more than ever.”
