Westboro Baptist Church

Before I begin this blog, let me apologize for all quotes and sign statements that I repeat. I do NOT in any way agree with the teachings of Westboro Baptist Church.


I was just watching 20/20 while drinking a milkshake with my mom (cute right?). They began talking about 13 year old boy who climbed Mount Everest, which was really cool, but that is not the subject of this blog. The subject is Westboro Baptist Church (WBC). After the neat story about a teenager doing the impossible, they moved to a radical group of "Christians" that spread hate around America. Seeing the story on 20/20 brought about two feelings in my heart: anger and sadness. I was brought almost to tears, first because I wanted to hurt many of their members, and second, sadness because of their ignorance and that a family would abandon a child because they believe differently.


The reporter was playing with the children of a young family from the church and the son told him, "I don't think you'll go to heaven, I think you'll go to hell." Prompting the reporter to ask, "why?" Obviously the 6 year old boy did not have the answers, but his dad went on to talk about why they think that "God hates fags...America...and soldiers." 


I almost punched our coffee table. 


Right now, I need to say that I am trying not to begin a raging condemnation of what these people are doing. I am not God. I do not choose what is right and what is wrong. Condemning WBC and the actions of it's members would make me no better than one of them.


However, I cannot for the life of me understand how these people could use scripture to say those things. It looks like blasphemy to me (again I'm not the True Judge). It is obvious from Scripture that our Savior loves sinners enough to spend time with them (Luke 15). Jesus said, "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent (Luke 15:7)." I don't think that any member of WBC could say that Jesus alienated a single sinner by condemning him (except maybe the Pharisees). God wants the lost to come to Him, but telling those people that they are going to hell is the dumbest form of "proselytizing" (yes, dumber than those brochures that people have hanging in the foyer of their church buildings) I have ever heard of.  


Their hatred is alienating to all the "sinners" that they talk about. They act like they have never done anything wrong. I wonder what they would do if a "sinner" actually repented and entered their church. Would they accept that person? I'm telling you that God's grace is enough for ALL sinners. I am a sinner. I struggle with porn. I battle everyday to become clean and honor God with my thoughts and actions. Is my sin any worse than that of a homosexual, kleptomaniac, rapist, or soldier? Is it any better? 


I'm not exactly sure what I am asking, I've done a series of posters contradicting the type of hatred these people are spreading. If you are not a Christian and are reading this blog, please know most Christians are NOT like WBC, we want to love people who are struggling with sin.


I know that most of you would be very uncomfortable if a homosexual, prostitute or ex-con walked into your church, but I know that God loves them, and our goal as Christians should be to love and nurture them, and help them grow closer to the Awesome God who saves. 


Going back to WBC, I find it very hard to believe that I worship the same God that they claim to worship, because I don't think He's the same. I know that the God I worship sends people to hell, it's the sad reality of sin--becoming separated from God. However, I also know that we are on this world to find God, and to worship Him, and that we all have a shot to get to know Him. 


This post has been quite scatterbrained, most likely unintelligent, but I hope I've put this in your mind. Love people, that is my simple request.