Fred Phelps Dies

[SparkleEyes]

Yes, sex with the same gender is wrong and continuing to sin is wrong. We all get that. That is not the point of this posting and partly the reason I did not post this in the Bible Discussion area of this website.

My question is if the actions (picketing the funerals of war veterans, for example)of Westboro Baptist church members are what God wants Christians to do (as Fred Phelps maintained), why are there so few members of his church and why aren't more churches so outspoken in their actions?

My answer: because, IMO there are more productive and less hurtful ways to communicate God's desires; people know that these kinds of actions mostly serve to alienate and further drive people away from the Christian church; few people what to be associated with those kinds of actions; most people know better than to behave like that.

I am not sure God is 100% happy with the kinds of things the members of Westboro church do to express their beliefs. Yes, he wants us to stand for our beliefs and communicate to the world when things are going wrong, but to do what these people do and say what they say?

 

[christiangamer]

All churchgoers are not Christians. Westboro I fail to see as more than a cult. Granted I only see what is visible from afar. That said, prayers are with the Phelps family and I sincerely hope the man was able to give his life to God before it was too late.

 

[notuptome]

The bible does warn against becoming bitter. Terrible thing to have bitterness in the soul.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[J-Kay-2]

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[TD][h=2]Cult Leader And Hate Preacher Fred Phelps Dead At 84[/h]by NTEB News Desk [/TD]
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[FONT=&quot]Hate preacher Fred Phelps had his dispensations wrong. He was preaching like an Old Testament prophet while forgetting that we currently live in the Age of Grace because of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection from the grave. Make no mistake, God indeed does hate the sin of homosexuality, as well as the sin of fornication, drunkenness, gluttony, gossip and all the others mentioned in the bible. But Mr. Phelps forgot to preach what Jesus died and shed His Blood for, and that is simply this:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]If YOU are a lost sinner, run to Jesus with open arms and ask Him to save you in His Shed Blood. The bible says He absolutely will save all those who come to God through Him.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Shame on you, Fred Phelps. You were not a Christian.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](CNN) -- Fred Phelps. the founding pastor of a Kansas church known for its virulently anti-gay protests at public events, including military funerals -- has died, the church said Thursday. The 84-year-old died of natural causes at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to church spokesman Steve Drain.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]God does hate homosexuality, He calls it an abomination in the bible. But Jesus Christ died to set the homosexual free from Hell. Click image to see how to not go to Hell.
[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Phelps founded Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, in 1955 and molded it in his fire-and-brimstone image. Many members of the small congregation are related to Phelps through blood or marriage.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]According to Westboro, the church has picketed more than 53,000 events, ranging from Lady Gaga concerts to funerals for slain U.S. soldiers. Typically, a dozen or so church members -- including small children -- will brandish signs that say "God Hates Fags" and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers."
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Phelps was often called "the most hated man in America," a label he seemed to relish. "If I had nobody mad at me," he told the Wichita Eagle in 2006, "what right would I have to claim that I was preaching the gospel?"
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Under Phelps' leadership, Westboro members have preached that every calamity, from natural disasters to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, is God's punishment for the country's acceptance of homosexuality. Phelps had advocated for gays and lesbians to be put to death. source - CNN
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[J-Kay-2]

One has to wonder what makes someone turn into this. Is it mental
illness ? Demon Possession ? I have not read up on his life growing
up. So it will be interesting to know just what happened.

Often times people become bitter when they are raised in Christian
homes. Especially strict homes. I know some well known names of
people who were Christians or fathers were Pastors and they have
turned away from Jesus.

May this break up his following ..... May their eyes be opened to the
truth of Christ and not carry on the hatred. Oh, gosh... where the
spirit of hate is.... Let there be love. ~

 

[maxwel]

When Fred Phelps was young, he was a pretty amazing guy.
He was a good guy.
He was very active in the civil rights movement, and he put his reputation, career, and safety on the line to help people that nobody else would help.

Something happened to him... something changed him... I've never figured out what it was.

Very strange and very sad story.

 

[skipp]

He was indeed a strange man.
I've often wondered if the whole church was a money racket. They've made a ton of money out of suing people who disrupt their protests, not to mention the fact that so many people in that family are attorneys.

 

[SparkleEyes]

Nice posts, friends. I am so glad this hasn't (yet...) turned into an unproductive negative dialog.

 

[Elizabeth619]

Phelps actually suggested the WBC take a kinder approach and was excommunicated.

This man is dead, and I do hope he really did come to the truth before his passing. Yes, he spread alot of evil, but I am not about to rejoice in his passing.

 

[SonInMe]

The conservative radio talk show I listen to suggested that the group whp will miss Fred Phelps the most was homosexual advocacy groups.

Without Phelp's hatreds, they had no enemy to fight.

 

[Drett]

I am worried his funeral will become an avenue for payback.

 

[gb9]

well, I pray for his Church and family and friends who lost a loved one. we should comfort all those in grief. now that being said, this group is a poster for how to drive people away from the faith in droves. yes, they speak the truth, but telling the truth with such hate and no compassion is flat out wrong.

 

[danalee]

Yes, sex with the same gender is wrong and continuing to sin is wrong. We all get that. That is not the point of this posting and partly the reason I did not post this in the Bible Discussion area of this website.

My question is if the actions (picketing the funerals of war veterans, for example)of Westboro Baptist church members are what God wants Christians to do (as Fred Phelps maintained), why are there so few members of his church and why aren't more churches so outspoken in their actions?

My answer: because, IMO there are more productive and less hurtful ways to communicate God's desires; people know that these kinds of actions mostly serve to alienate and further drive people away from the Christian church; few people what to be associated with those kinds of actions; most people know better than to behave like that.

I am not sure God is 100% happy with the kinds of things the members of Westboro church do to express their beliefs. Yes, he wants us to stand for our beliefs and communicate to the world when things are going wrong, but to do what these people do and say what they say?

Phelps was also a human rights activist and made waves in civil rights in the South at a time it wasn't accepted. I used to think he was wrong, now I'm not so sure. Does God punish the sinner? Yes I believe so. Is it nice to not tell anyone they are putting their eternal souls in jeopardy? Just let them burn away? Maybe he was trying to speak loud, I listened anyway. Maybe God IS punishing the world for its perverted sins...I'm pretty sure that's a real possibility.