Posted on 03/20/2014 8:07:33 PM PDT by Former Fetus
Death is always a tragedy. Hate makes it more so.
Today, a man known for hate died. CNN concluded that his infamy was worth a breaking news alert.
But how do we respond? How does this breaking news relate to the gospel's good news?
I've had some run-ins with Westboro, though I don't like to use the words "Baptist" and "Church" when referring to it. (My apologies to the city of Westboro, but your sacrifice is appreciated to rescue the words "Baptist" and "Church.")
I actually have a reminder of the Phelps family that I see every day. If you visit my office, you'd see a nameplate. They called me a "Lying Whore, False Prophet" for believing the crazy idea that God loves people—even sinners. As a result, one of my enterprising team members (Lizette Beard) made a nameplate. Every day I can ponder about Fred Phelps—and how he turned the love of God into hate.
The Phelps family (a better description than a "Baptist church," though even that is filled with tragic irony as they self destruct), protested at my former church.
You can read how we responded here and part of that answer may be helpful here.
We were determined to show and share the love of Jesus in the midst of their distortion of the gospel, explaining:
Our answer to offensive signs was to show and share the love of Christ with anyone in need. Whether speaking to the protestors, counter protestors, or the media, we were prepared to speak about what God is doing in our community... The last thing we have time to do is shut down because five people show up with offensive signs.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...
dude was a twisted evil bassturd. Used to beat wife and kids silly.
I agree with you. And if he did not find The Lord then it was his choice and he must deal with it.
All I am going to say is that I hope he repented before he had passed.
His descendants might view that as some form of victory...claiming that even in death he was a man to be reckoned with...
let our Ignoring him be our eulogy
Other than saying God hated “fags” he told the truth about homosexuality and could have cared less what people thought about him, especially left-wing homo-loving democrats. Of course God hates the sin not the sinner. Protesting at funeral was stupid, but he was right about homosexuality and all the evils that come with it.
What did he do that was so bad? A lot of people say a lot of things.
Protesting at soldiers funerals and disrupting family unity was practiced by that Westboro Baptist Church. However, the less attention this nutcase receives the better, forget him and let him die from history, he deserves no attention.
In fact, we would have less focus on horrific crime if the serial and mass murderers were kept out of the news and no attention paid to them, and the cameras kept out of the courtroom....no 15 minutes of fame. Total anonymous coverage would take the glamour out of it. That may not keep them from being the sociopaths they are, but it certainly would make them suffer in silence.
Many of the terrorists are after maximum coverage...send them to Gitmo without any notoriety at all...everything kept secret and cover their heads with a bag so no pictures are taken, that will prevent some of their popularity. When giving the NEWS about an event give the coverage to the victims and no fame to the terrorist or criminal.
“Does God Hate Demons”
God is not capable of hate, for God is love. However, demons are fallen Angels whom God created. The followers of Lucifer were cast down from heaven when Lucifer was banned from heaven for his ‘desire to be God’ and be worshipped....sound familiar?
Anyway, as we destroy the terrorists in war/execution, and evil people through capital punishment, those demons leave their bodies and seek refuge in other haters, thereby increasing our problem.
None of what is happening is God’s fault, because all have free will, including Angels...to choose to serve God or not, it’s one of the universal laws. The consequences of allowing choice is simple, since Lucifer (Satan, Devil,Belzebulb or whatever one wants to call him)can never repent and be saved, as he saw heaven and was the most powerful Angel of Worship, the evil in him wants to take as many to hell with him as he can.
No, God does not hate demons, only their behavior.
I make the effort to love unconditionally every moment, every day.
Protesting solders funerals that was what was wrong.
I agree it was in very poor taste and probably “wrong” but seems magnitudes less important than what abortionists., etc., do on a daily basis. For that matter, also seems a far less significant transgression than homosexual propagandizing of youth, which is one of the things he campaigned against.
Though you had to admit that the protests at military funerals really hurt those efforts that he campaign against.
Hitler’s family was “grieving” too no doubt. Mr. Phelps was astray, led his family’s flock astray (they made up his church/cult since 1955) and his efforts demonized Christians in the view of the popular media (perhaps deliberately so as homosexualists now acknowledge he did wonders to turn those critical of homosexuality into “G*d hates fags” boogeymen).
I can be critical of Phelps’ church just as I’d hope that so-called moderate muslims would be critical of Islamonazi terrorists. There is no rational defense of Fred Phelps and criticizing him actually defends the faith of other Christians (from foul interlopers trafficking in the name of Jesus). I’m not a defender of the televangelists either (often religion’s “professional wrestlers”).
I may not rejoice in his death but I am glad that his asshat actions are now put to an end. His family members may continue their protests in his name, but then that just goes to show it IS a different faith than Christianity...
His death was not tragic in any way. And the proper response is to pay a visit to his gravesite with very, very full bladde.
Just think of the headlines if he’d issued a final public decree “My actions were wrong” from his deathbed. That might have been memorable.
His motives do not appear to match his actions (either in protesting homosexuality or in professing Christianity).
Anytime an unsaved person dies (and his actions did not suggest that he was saved) it is tragic! “The Lord is [...] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
God may consider it tragic. I, however, do not.
I hope you don’t take offense, but I will go with God’s opinion.
I take no offense. I hope you take none at mine.
God bless.
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