Westboro Independent Baptist Church and Reverend Phelps Are Bugging Me
I'm Going to Rant Now
On Fox News and other sources, I keep seeing the news about the Supreme Court hearing the case involving the funeral of slain Marine Matthew Snyder and the members of Westboro Independent Baptist Church picketing. Of course, the sign-toters are screaming First Amendment Rights, First Amendment Rights! So what? Just because a person has the privilege to do something doesn't necessarily mean it's right.
A funeral is not the place or time for protesting. These are people who have lost someone they love and care about, and all they ask is the opportunity to bury their dead in a peaceful environment. It seems to me these protestors have forgotten the meaning of the word "respect".
After seeing it on the news, I checked out some websites on the Reverend Phelps and the Westboro Church. I even listened to some of his "preaching" broadcast on YouTube. Anyone interested can find it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e647x8xFKTs. I'm not sure what Bible the Reverend is reading, but I think he may need to consult a dictionary sometimes, too, because it's my opinion he's sometimes confused. His definition of loving his neighbor consisted of warning him in the form of ranting and hate signs, and he said that by not condemning my neighbor, I don't really love him at all. I think it might do him some good to go back and read a little of I Corinthians Chapter 13 which describes the characteristics of love.
Christianity takes enough of a beating today as it is, and it angers me to think that some home-grown family-member church can give the impression they speak for all Christians. But even worse is when I listen to young people sit and talk about how God decides who He is going to love and hate while we're still in the womb. If that were the case, free will must be a figment of someone's imagination.
I'll be the first to admit that organized religion has its faults. After all, anytime we humans are involved, there's going to be prejudices and problems, but Christianity is different from organized religion. Some of the best advice I ever received in a church came from the pulpit. The pastor looked straight at the congregation and said, "If I say something you think is wrong while preaching, look it up in the Bible and come tell me because I want to know." He was a smart man because I kept checking him out and read the whole book, several times as a matter of fact. I wish some of Reverend Phelps' followers would do the same.
Sources:
Fox News Channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e647x8xFKTs
Published by Pattie Byrd
Pattie Byrd is a freelance writer specializing in humor commentary, reviews and news articles. She has been published in magazines and several internet sites. Growing up in the South, she maintains her lov... View profile
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28 Comments
Post a CommentHi Patti, trying to catch up on some people here...Phelps is an idiot. You're right - he's got his own version of the Bible and is giving all of us a bad name.
It sounds as though this is not a true church and I can't imagine how the family of a slain soldier feels when this happens.
Westboro is a scam. Their intent is to get someone (hopefully with deep pockets) angry enough to "violate their rights", so that they can sue. Best to just ignore the idiots.
His group is the epitomie of pure selfishness and insensivity.
I've seen these people, they epitomize the word "wacko." BTW, Rev. Phelps is a clever fellow. :)
Amen. People like this minister cite "freedom of speech" to excuse bad behavior. If Phelps wants to "redress Government" he needs to do it at the White House. I have been an activist for peace, but also think protesting at military recruiting offices is wrong. Rather than wasting tax dollars taking this case to the Supreme Court, some local law enforcement agents should have had the group arrested for distrubig the peace and harrassment. The Amendment says that "government shall make no law" regarding free speech; but we do have laws against hate crimes.
I often wonder how much "love" he would feel if the tables were turned, and he had lost a loved one.
You are wonderful, well said!
Isn't it the truth, just because you have the privilege to do something doesn't mean it's right!
I totally agree Pattie. The verse comes to mind, "Many will come in my name...."