I cannot believe this came though my New York Times RSS Feed

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/us/09westboro.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

New York Times wrote:: MONTCOAL W.V. — Protesters from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., headed to the Upper Big Branch mine Thursday morning to convey the message that the explosion there that left 25 miners dead was a result of e-mail messages allegedly sent from West Virginia threatening the Church and its publisher, according to a statement from the Church.

The church, which is led by Fred Phelps, has attracted attention in recent years by showing up at funerals for soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. At those funerals they carry signs that say that God hates homosexuality and that the death of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan is God’s way of punishing the United States for its tolerance of it.

“This whole nation is awash in rebellious sin and defiance of God, His standard, and His servant’s faithful words,” a news release on the church’s Web site said Thursday morning.

The statement said the church had received threats about a trip to West Virginia and Virginia scheduled to begin Thursday.

“So God reached down and smacked one of those mines, killing 25 (and likely four more are dead),” it said. “Now you moan and wallow in self-pity, and pour over the details of the dead rebels’ lives, pretending they’re heroes.”

According to its Web site, the church is scheduled to protest at several locations in Virginia and West Virginia, Thursday through Sunday, including at the West Virginia state capitol and the Hillel on the Virginia Tech campus.

Last month the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether the father of a Marine killed in Iraq may sue protesters from the church who picketed his son’s funeral with signs that read “God Hates You” and “Thank God for Dead Soldiers.”

Man, I don't wanna be in Phelps shorts when he gets in front of God.
Just thinking about it frightens me.
He, and his followers, will get what they deserve for spreading their filth and staining God's name.

What arrogance!

Hero wrote:: Man, I don't wanna be in Phelps shorts when he gets in front of God.
Just thinking about it frightens me.
He, and his followers, will get what they deserve for spreading their filth and staining God's name.

They seem to strangely elevate homosexuality - which is a sin (even if you disagree) - above all other sins.

That is to say, that despite there being a lot of 'straight' sexual sin, murder, paganism and cults, blasphemy, coveteousness and so on... homosexuality is the straw that breaks the camel's back.

This is silly. God is not a camel, nor capricious and he is hellishly offended by other sin as well. There would always be earthquakes or disasters on those grounds. Besides, those things aren't punishments - hell is.

Luke 13:1-5

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he [Jesus] answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

Perish here is talking about DAMNATION. That's why John 3:16 talks about how if we believe in Jesus we will not perish but have eternal life, despite the fact we will physically die.

I suppose though, many will read that article and think "bloody Christians".

I drove past Shirley Phelps and some of her crew earlier when they were out at the University of Charleston. People have been organizing "counter-protests" and such including "flash-mob" type performances to distract people. I can understand the desire, but the best thing to do with Phelps and his cult is to pretend they don't even exist. They live for media attention and they hope someone will try to attack them.. then they get to sue and fund themselves even more. A family full of lawyers... knew there was something evil going on there Razz

Not surprising.

Number of posts : 2576 Age : 32 Registration date : 2009-04-07 Points : 8972

wiremu.white wrote:

Hero wrote:: Man, I don't wanna be in Phelps shorts when he gets in front of God.
Just thinking about it frightens me.
He, and his followers, will get what they deserve for spreading their filth and staining God's name.

They seem to strangely elevate homosexuality - which is a sin (even if you disagree) - above all other sins.

That is to say, that despite there being a lot of 'straight' sexual sin, murder, paganism and cults, blasphemy, coveteousness and so on... homosexuality is the straw that breaks the camel's back.

This is silly. God is not a camel, nor capricious and he is hellishly offended by other sin as well. There would always be earthquakes or disasters on those grounds. Besides, those things aren't punishments - hell is.

Luke 13:1-5

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he [Jesus] answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

Perish here is talking about DAMNATION. That's why John 3:16 talks about how if we believe in Jesus we will not perish but have eternal life, despite the fact we will physically die.

I suppose though, many will read that article and think "bloody Christians".

lol

So THAT'S what brings people to God!

Protesting!

....I've been doing it wrong this whole time!

You know, let me play devil's advocate here for just a second...
I know what we all know about God's grace and all, and what we all believe as evangelical/protestant Christians and all... but did it ever occur to anyone that perhaps at times God DOES kill people due to punishing them for their rebellious sins such as homosexuality? Were the people who died in that tragic mine accident not sinners? And perhaps some maybe had it coming? Does God all of a sudden LIKE homosexuality? Did God not at many times KILL people in the OT due to their sins? We don't know those people in that coal mining accident or many of those who died in Iraq, we don't know what sins they may have committed in their lives.

Did it ever occur to anyone that perhaps the Westboro Baptist Church, despite their sheer shameless guts to come out and say what they're saying despite being hated by everyone for it, may be... right?

On a side note, I honestly don't think the secular world looks at the Westboro Church to encompass ALL Christians. As much as we may think they're all lost, we have to give them more credit than that, they know better, they know not ALL of us are like that. So I really don't worry too much about the Westboro Church giving us a bad name, they just give themselves a bad name.

I hate Westboro Church.
Just how they view their gospel.
Its so arrogant.
God Hates Us?
No. God loves us.
End of story.

God. Is. Love.