C.H. Spurgeon

Sinners, let me address you with words of life; Jesus wants nothing from you, nothing whatsoever, nothing done, nothing felt; he gives both work and feeling. Ragged, penniless, just as you are, lost, forsaken, desolate, with no good feelings, and no good hopes, still Jesus comes to you, and in these words of pity he addresses you, "Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out."

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Tuesday, April 24, 2007

VTech Got What They Deserved?

In an article reference at an atheist blog, here, speaks of a man (I refuse to call pastor) named Fred Phelps. Granted, I have never heard of this Phelps, but if half of what this article says about his “group” is correct he should remove the name Baptist from his “church” name. I don’t think he could even be considered an Independent Baptist.

Apparently this guy planned to protest the funerals of the teachers and students that were slain by the killer. Christ may have said, “Let the dead bury their dead” [Luke 9:60], but the context was calling someone to duty whom was looking for a way to keep from service to God. I don’t remember him commissioning Christians (his people) to protest and hold uprisings at funerals.

Assumingly they have been offered more air time to reframe from actually visiting the funerals themselves, see here, by Mike Gallagher.

The articles claims, an apparently so by this Phelps’ website name is http://www.godhatesfags.com/, that:

Fred Phelps, believes the United States has condemned itself to destruction by accepting homosexuality and other “sins of the flesh.” Phelps’ daughter, Shirley Phelps-Roper, said the Virginia Tech teachers and students who died on Monday brought their fate upon themselves by not being true Christians.

The group goes so far as to say:

“The evidence is they were not Christian. God does not do that to his servants,” Phelps-Roper said. “You don’t need to look any further for evidence those people are in hell.”

My question is how can one say all the victims that perished that day were either homosexual, pro-gay rights, fulfilling sins of the flesh, are not true Christians or being true Christians, and are all in hell?

Does this mean that all those which survived at VTech or that were not involved are true Christians, not homosexuals, anti-gay rights, and do not fulfill sins of the flesh?

This group is a poor wanna-be so-called Christian group that appears to show no sign of Christ-like traits is what the news media and the world sees as Christianity.

What do you, as a Christian, plan to do about it with your own life?

8 comments:

Lazarus Resources said...

I read the original article on the CBS News website. It is sad that so many who use the Christian label feel the

need to take such extreme views. They seem to want to fight for a cause rather than model Christ to the world.

If we want the world to hear our message, we need to get better at earning the right to be heard. Perhaps we can

learn to season our speech with salt and grace, (Col 4:6) and served on a bed of humility.

http://lazarus-resources.blogspot.com

Splinters of Silver said...

I agree and I appreciate your visit and comments.

Neva said...

When we lived in Lubbock last summer, this same group protested a soldier's funeral. They held up signs saying "God hates fags" "God hates soldiers" "God hates government" etc and picketed. My friend's son who is 13 said "I didnt know God hated so many people."---it was a powerful teaching opportunity.
I am ashamed that these people have so blatantly besmirched, muddied, trampled whatever---the name Christian---thats my name, too!
Thanks for this post.
Peace
neva

Bobby Cohoon said...

And y'all think I am lost simply because I don;t accept Calvinism!
Great post Tim. It is sad that people like this call themselves Christians.

Bobby

Anonymous said...

When I met these type of guys at my own campus they flat-out told us that our participation in the college system was enough to make us sinners of highest sort. At least they have standards....

Splinters of Silver said...

Thanks for the visit and Bobby I don't think you're lost. :)

leslie said...

this phelps group is becoming notorious. i think their extreme behavior will be its own downfall. and if people think they (phelps) are actually messengers of the word, this is a good conversation opener to explain who God really is. perhaps this our opportunity to be seen in a more sympathetic and compassionate light with those that have previously seen us as unloving and harsh judgments.

and i like what lazarus resources said about fighting a cause rather than modeling Jesus... i worry that we get on those tracks with a good intention to start and then it overtakes us.

BEAST FCD said...

Well. At least Phelps is adhering to the vitriol and vermin in the bible.

You can't fault him for taking the bible literally. After all, the bible was written to create this kind of morons, instead of pussified moderates.

John Bunyan

To be saved is to be preserved in the faith to the end. 'He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.' (Mt. 24:13) Not that perseverance is an accident in Christianity, or a thing performed by human industry; they that are saved 'are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation.' (1 Pet. 1: 3-6) But perseverance is absolutely necessary to the complete saving of the soul…. He that goeth to sea with a purpose to arrive at Spain, cannot arrive there if he be drowned by the way; wherefore perseverance is absolutely necessary to the saving of the soul.