How might the Westboro Baptist Church answer this: If God is punishing America with dead soldiers and school shootings because it "enables" homosexuality, why did he allow tragedies and war in the past when American society was much more homophobic?
I think they'd probably answer with something like "Who are you to judge God you fag-enabling disbeliever. You think you're wiser than God? you wait until you're screaming in hell!"But what they might be assuming is that the world, and the USA, are getting worse, which is a common but mistaken assumption. By pretty much every metric (including death and war) the USA, and almost the whole world, is much better than it used to be.But they might not admit that. They'd probably say that in those days God was punishing the country for other sins. For those of us who aren't total nutcase gay-sex-facinated theists, it's worth noting that Fred Phelps back in the 1950s was a leading Christian opponent of segregation. He believed that black people were (potentially) God's people too, so racial segregation was the overwhelming sin of that day. He became a lawyer mainly so he could fight against it. In the 1990s he was still fighting the good fight against society, but by then, because segregation was largely over, he saw homosexuality as the prevailing sin of the age. His character and beliefs hadn't changed, but society had.
How does Westboro Baptist Church justify...?
They literally spread hate because they believe God is a God of hate. Their mantra is "God is not a God of love" which I believe we both know is furthest from the truth. What they've done is they've taken anytime the Bible speaks of God's judgement and made it a relevant message of hate. They ignore the words and teaching of Jesus completely. You can see for yourself at their website: www.godhatesfags.com as they post a bunch of verses out of context as though those messages are God's word for all of us today. You can also see their lack of verses from the gospels. Also, I reported Othelzer as well, definitely out of line.
Is Westboro Baptist Church right?
They have valid points. However, I find it hard to believe that God can hate creatures that he made himself. One of the members of that church said that before God made us he already determined if we're going to heaven or hell because he's God and he can do whatever he wants to do. It sounds so sad to me though and I don't want to believe that but they have all this proof. What do you think?
POLL: Would you burn down the Westboro Baptist Church?
No, don't respond to hatred with violence.
How do members of other Baptist churches view the Westboro Baptist Church?
As a lifelong Baptist, I view them as anti-Christ.Christ said, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”Matthew 7:21-23 ESVThat is the passage that comes to mind when I see Westboro in the news.
What would John Calvin think of the Westboro Baptist Church?
Since you already clarify that the Westboro Baptist Church is hyper-calvanist in their beliefs you pretty much answered your own question. I would be considered Reformed (Calvanistic) in my beliefs. I can tell you right now that they Westboro Baptist church is not in line with sound biblical teaching. I believe that the Westboro Baptist takes a specific teaching of Election to an extreme known as the doctrine of Reprobate (John Calvins Institutes of the Christian Religion. Chap XXI.). Since they are not loving and spread hate by being confrontational I believe Calvin would be strongly against them. Calvin would most likely see the acts of protesting at a Soldiers Funeral as being unloving and unacceptable. Granted there are things done during his time that we would see as being outrageous, but times have changed since then (e.g. seeking the execution of a heretic). Overall I believe he would see their tactics as being extreme and unnecessary and would most likely rebuke them.
How do other Christians view the Westboro Baptist Church? As extremists or shining beacons of good faith?
"Extremists" is too positive a term for them.Desert hermits are extremists.People who go on hunger strikes chained to the doors of abortion clinics are extremists.Westboro Baptists are stark, raving nutjobs, and counterfeit Christians.I am a faithful and orthodox Catholic, who believes that homosexual acts are sinful, and same-sex attractions are intrinsically dis-ordered.But God does not hate gays (and neither should we) any more than He "hates" any other sinner (i.e. not at all). God calls sinners to repentance precisely because He loves us. Not "them" - "us" - we are all sinners, and we all have dis-ordered desires (one of mine, for instance, is an inordinate love of food).And God does not kill U.S. soldiers as some perverse "punishment" for homosexuality in the U.S.And God certainly does not call any of His people to deluge a grieving family with hatred in order to preach this false gospel of self-righteous condemnation.I don't live in an area where the WBC is active, but if I did, I'd rather stand with the counterprotesters (no matter that we may disagree on ultimate conclusions of morality) than let that brood of vipers go unchecked.
What is your opinion on the Westboro Baptist Church's website?
Given the link above, supposedly to Westboro Baptist Church’s website, my opinion is that the Westboro Baptist Church should be given as little attention as possible. When it does get attention, it should be all negative. It is difficult to commit to a Christian mode of expression when considering a group of people so definitively preaching hate against any group.If WBC stuck to the principle that God hates the homosexual act, I would have no gripe — except to say that God also hates the act of masturbation, sex outside of wedlock, etc.God does not hate people. Christians are exhorted to love even our enemies and persecutors.Westboro Baptist Church needs the prayers of all Christians to repent of their evil messaging, as a community and as individuals.
Regarding the Westboro Baptist Church and Fred Phelps?
I stumbled on this awesome link: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church_ordered_to_pay_US$11_million_to_family_of_fallen_US_soldier Even if you don't do links, just read the headline. Any religious or spiritual thoughts about this? (legally I have to ask).