Westboro Baptist Church

You've probably heard of this church, and it's Pastor, Fred Phelps. They've been at it longer than I've been alive. Actually, they've been at it longer than my parents have been alive. If you haven't heard of them, allow me to introduce you.

Westboro is probably best known as the God Hates Fags church. They picket at soldiers' funerals, VFW posts, other churches, and just about anything else that makes absolutely no sense. Why do they do it? Well...didn't you read? God Hates Fags. If you visit their website, you will see that God apparently hates lots of things, like Mexico, Ireland, America, Sweden, and Canada. I was unaware of all the hatred that God had, but apparently it's hidden in Leviticus and 2nd Chronicles.

First let me be the first to say that I hate the F-word. What can be accomplished by hating people or telling them that God hates them? Are they trying to gain converts here? Let me see if this works... "John, I hear that you like people with the *ahem* same equipment. That means you are damned to hell for all eternity and no one likes you. But if you want to start liking people with *ahem* different equipment, well, then God will love you for all eternity and will give you extra rooms in your super-fly pad in Heaven."

What John probably hears is "I hate you John, I despise you with every fiber of my being. I am sickened by the fact that I have to talk to you on a daily basis. But if you would just change your ways, well, then you could be a great big Horse's rear end like me."

That's probably not very attractive to John. And it wasn't the way Jesus carried out His life, either. Fred Phelps should be ashamed of himself, but I'm sure he's quite proud. Jesus went to the people He came to save. He met them where they were. He didn't stand across the Sea of Galilee and shout Obscenities at them. He loved them. Jesus, God-in-the-flesh, loved the sinners. That's how we should act as well.

In the first place, we're not supposed to be pointing out the specks in others' eyes until we pull the planks from our own. But we shuld never approach anyone with hate, only love.

Remind me of that if you ever see me out with my "God Hates Fred Phelps" sign.