Normally this is not a religious blog, even though some of the posts and discussions occasionally cross over that line, when the issue warrants it. But for those of you that come here to read political commentary, forgive me for a moment while I address this.
This church claims they have a divine right to demonstrate to promote open hatred against homosexuals and they claim they do it, with God's approval. They also cite a scripture from Hebrews 10:30, 31, which states the following (emphasis is mine):
30. For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people. 31. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Now let's look at this passage shall we? It says that GOD will judge, GOD will repay, not the Westboro Baptist Church. Does it not?
Not only that, let's examine it from a different angle. I am sure that the members of this church would say explicitly that THEY are God's people. If that be the case, according to the scripture, GOD will be judging them. It says that God will judge his people, does it not?
Let's look at another scripture, found in Titus 1:16 (emphasis is mine).
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
How are they abominable? They are attempting to get at the Governor of Pennsylvania by using the pain and grief of innocent people, adding sorrow upon sorrow to that which is already there. If they want to air their grievances against him, they should take it to the statehouse, like every other citizen.
How are they disobedient? Let's look at 1 John 4: 7, 8 and see what it says:
7. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
But from their own admission they say God hates gays and that in turn, gives them the right to hate them. But from Luke 10:27, we see from Christ's own words, this is not true:
27. And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Not thy heterosexual neighbor, not thy neighbor that agrees with you, but thy neighbor. "Thy neighbor" does not make stipulations. Note that it does not say that I should approve of everything my neighbor says and does. But it does say that I should love him/her, and not hate.
How are they reprobate? Let's look at 1 Timothy 4: 1, 2 for the answer:
1. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
If we sear our skin with a hot iron, after the pain of the burn goes away, the nerve endings are numb. They are burnt and damaged and they may never completely heal. It is apparent from the behavior of this twisted group of individuals that they have either no conscience, or it has been seared with a hot iron and the ability to sense what is right and what is wrong, has been numbed greatly. This makes them reprobate.
Now, you may ask why the Bible speaks of God hating this or that and to this question I have an answer for you.
In Psalms 139: 21, 22 we see that God, speaking through David, speaks of a specific kind of hatred:
21. Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22. I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
A perfect hatred is much different than a hatred intitiated by man. God hates evil and defines it according to His specific criteria. The evil that man interprets as evil is not always the same kind of evil, as what God may determine it to be. My point is, if man is an imperfect being, how can he hate with a perfect hatred? Answer: He can't. So this is why God says that He will recompense evil-doers, and does not require us as individuals to do it for him.
So to sum this whole thing up, I would say this. From the time that the Apostles were dying off and going off the scene, there have been people that have sought to pervert the Gospel of Christ for their own perverted agendas. Today is not different and these people are but a handful of those grievous wolves that crept into the early church and still exist today. And I firmly believe that God hates them, with a perfect hatred.
11 comments:
ME,
//These same nutcases came and demonstrated at the funeral of my friend and neighbor who was killed in Iraq recently. The police in our town removed them from the scene.//
Some states have passed laws that prohinit this kind of thing. I am not a big fan of laws, just for the hell of it. But it seems to me that this law is needed to prevent these idiots from compounding more grief and sorrow on those that have lost someone.
My prayer: Lord, deliver us from the zealots, who bring with them the worst attrocities and the most unforgiveable behaviors.
I just don't understand why they are "protesting" at the funeral of children. Would Jesus do something like that? No, He would not. Perhaps THAT should be their guide, eh?
Mustang,
Jesus would raise them from the dead, should he choose to do so. At very least he'd comfort the grieving and preach the funeral.
heartless idiots - yes.
good christians - no.
lawbreakers - nope.
i agree with you for being against "just for the hell of it" laws. but it's not a lawmakers job to minimize grief and sorrow, much as it would make things like this more simple.
what these people need are relatives and friends (preferably marine buddies) of the deceased soldiers to beat the everlovin' s**t out of them. that'd learn 'em not to be stupid radical pricks.
unfortunately, the amish are a peaceful folk...that's a tough one. hopefully members of the community there will pitch in to "protect" the mourners.
Mark,
//but it's not a lawmakers job to minimize grief and sorrow, much as it would make things like this more simple.//
You are right. It's not. But it is their responsibility to make sure that other people to not maliciously invade the space of those that grieve. They too are entitled to their privacy free from agitation for others.
I believe you can do anything you want, as long as you do not infringe on the rights of others. The grieving families have a right to grieve and not have these idiots interfere. If they have grievances (real or perceived) they should take them to the statehouse. The families are not state personnel.
I agree that they are idiots. Not a great way to bolster support for your cause.
ehhh...i'll concede on this one. too much sympathy for those folks to make myself an a-hole right now.
i'd be a horrible activist if i were one...
Mark,
//i'd be a horrible activist if i were one...//
No, if you felt extreme passion about what you were lobbying for, you'd do just fine.
I have read your comments on AICS's site. You'd be surprised how often I agree with you. Both of us have a libertarian streak in us.
I am more of a Neal Boortz type libertarian. I believe in the rule of law, first and foremost. I do not believe the Constitution is a living documment, but there are times that the founding fathers could not have foreseen many of the things we face today. And subsequently, the rulings must take that into consideration. But overall, you cannot change the very core principles that it contains.
My rights end where yours begin. If everyone would take that attitude, there would be a lot less conflict and strife in the world.
i'll give that a righteous amen! (strictly in a soul brother sense)
i've got a little more than a streak in me, though not a card carrying bowtie wearer.
i think you're right, with changing times things need to be addressed - but i reckon they can be addressed with the constitution in mind and we'd be much better off. rulings and passages of laws these days are written and signed without so much as a sneeze. my favorite (in that it's complete b.s.) recent case of this is Bill Frist throwing in an online gambling ban at the last minute as an add on to a port security bill. so a) there's no time to debate it, b) the president will surely sign a port security bill therefore signing into illegality a victimless pasttime, and c) who would risk opposing this bill? And incur the wrath of the national security sirens? No one.
This isn't about pro/con of gambling. the problem is Frist and every other politicial jerk adding and throwing in crap whether it's pork or a real bill that will affect americans where govt absolutely shouldn't affect them.
But i'll rant about gambling too..
Add ons/tack ons are always a sneaky way to get things through. I hate them. But honestly, I do not know how things would get done if they didn't have them. Sometimes they work out for the good, when they get something through that we need. But mostly, you are right, it's BS.
Hi LASunsett !
(grin)
/*/My rights end where yours begin/*/
The French say the same thing:
La liberté des uns s'arrête là où commence celle des autres.
Best,
L'Amerloque
Hi Amerloque and welcome back.
It's a pretty good code to live by, in my estimation.
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