I, admittedly, had planned on doing a blog post about St. Patrick's Day today. I don't really like to plan ahead these posts because I want to write about whatever God is moving through me in that moment. But, on St. Patrick's Day, how could I not plan on writing about good ol' Patty, right? But, alas, God had a different idea.
No, today I am moved to talk about a man some consider a leader, and others consider a hated monster. Fred Phelps, the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, is dying. His son announced yesterday that he is, in fact, "on the edge of death" (for more information, read full article here).
For those who don't know the significance of this, Fred Phelps started the Westboro Baptist Church on the foundation of "God Hates..." You may be familiar with them picketing soldiers' funerals with "God Hates Military" , picketing college campuses with "God Hates Fags," so on and so forth. They are known as the most hated family in America. That being said, they are no less grieving like any other family would.
In this interview with two of the leaders in The Westboro Baptist Church, they profess that they spread this word because they love us. It's like "I'm looking out for you" kind of love. And, although we tend to not understand how they can love us when they spread the word of God hating, it hit me. They genuinely love everyone, they just think God's love means to profess who they think is going to Hell. It's difficult to wrap my head around. However, I started thinking. If they do that out of love, does anyone do anything simply for malicious purposes? Perhaps a questions for another post.
Earlier in the school year, I came across a group on campus who came to tell all of our fate and that if we don't repent, we're all doomed for Hell. I went to my room, made a sign reading "LOVE is Bigger than the Boogie Man" (in reference to "God is Bigger than the Boogie Man" from Veggie Tales in an attempt to reach a wider range of people than those who respond to religion, for I believe that is the most important: Love). For about two hours, I stood by this group of about four people yelling to the passerby's "You will go to Hell if..." Some students took to yelling back saying "Do what you want!" It was a little chaotic. Nonetheless, at the end of my time (because class, or I would have been there all day. It was thrilling), I went up to the leader of this pack, shook his hand, and said "I understand you believe this is what is right. I want you to know, I love you." Preparing for this guy to say "You can't say that unless you love Jesus! REPENT!" I was floored when he took a deep breath, looked in my eyes and simply said "amen." I couldn't believe it. It was the most humbling, genuine moment of my entire life and something I will remember for the rest of my days.
My point? There are plenty of people out there who seem to be spreading the word of hate, but deep down, even with them, it's out of love. And in that, how do we respond? The Westboro Baptist Church has hurt a lot of people in a lot of ways. There are some people who want to picket Fred Phelps funeral with the message he spent his life spreading. To that I say that that is worse than them picketing ours. For we know and understand how that hurts, they don't understand it. They believe they are spreading truth, not hate. There are others who says we ought to picket the funeral with love. I suppose that is a little better. However, what if we were to send sincere condolences? What if, to show how their impact has been made into a positive (in teaching not to hate, but to love) we show them true compassion and love and sincere apologies for their loss.
Someone posted that they hope his death is treated silently and he fades away. To that, I say that is dangerous. We must be reminded that hate comes in many forms and that maybe this form of love is a little sour.
Although the Westboro Baptist Church seems quick to disown and judge and hate, they are no less human, mourning a great loss. I couldn't disagree more with their stance, however, I give my sincerest condolences in this time of heartache and hardship.
Most Sincerely,
Mary Taylor
No, today I am moved to talk about a man some consider a leader, and others consider a hated monster. Fred Phelps, the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, is dying. His son announced yesterday that he is, in fact, "on the edge of death" (for more information, read full article here).
For those who don't know the significance of this, Fred Phelps started the Westboro Baptist Church on the foundation of "God Hates..." You may be familiar with them picketing soldiers' funerals with "God Hates Military" , picketing college campuses with "God Hates Fags," so on and so forth. They are known as the most hated family in America. That being said, they are no less grieving like any other family would.
In this interview with two of the leaders in The Westboro Baptist Church, they profess that they spread this word because they love us. It's like "I'm looking out for you" kind of love. And, although we tend to not understand how they can love us when they spread the word of God hating, it hit me. They genuinely love everyone, they just think God's love means to profess who they think is going to Hell. It's difficult to wrap my head around. However, I started thinking. If they do that out of love, does anyone do anything simply for malicious purposes? Perhaps a questions for another post.
Earlier in the school year, I came across a group on campus who came to tell all of our fate and that if we don't repent, we're all doomed for Hell. I went to my room, made a sign reading "LOVE is Bigger than the Boogie Man" (in reference to "God is Bigger than the Boogie Man" from Veggie Tales in an attempt to reach a wider range of people than those who respond to religion, for I believe that is the most important: Love). For about two hours, I stood by this group of about four people yelling to the passerby's "You will go to Hell if..." Some students took to yelling back saying "Do what you want!" It was a little chaotic. Nonetheless, at the end of my time (because class, or I would have been there all day. It was thrilling), I went up to the leader of this pack, shook his hand, and said "I understand you believe this is what is right. I want you to know, I love you." Preparing for this guy to say "You can't say that unless you love Jesus! REPENT!" I was floored when he took a deep breath, looked in my eyes and simply said "amen." I couldn't believe it. It was the most humbling, genuine moment of my entire life and something I will remember for the rest of my days.
My point? There are plenty of people out there who seem to be spreading the word of hate, but deep down, even with them, it's out of love. And in that, how do we respond? The Westboro Baptist Church has hurt a lot of people in a lot of ways. There are some people who want to picket Fred Phelps funeral with the message he spent his life spreading. To that I say that that is worse than them picketing ours. For we know and understand how that hurts, they don't understand it. They believe they are spreading truth, not hate. There are others who says we ought to picket the funeral with love. I suppose that is a little better. However, what if we were to send sincere condolences? What if, to show how their impact has been made into a positive (in teaching not to hate, but to love) we show them true compassion and love and sincere apologies for their loss.
Someone posted that they hope his death is treated silently and he fades away. To that, I say that is dangerous. We must be reminded that hate comes in many forms and that maybe this form of love is a little sour.
Although the Westboro Baptist Church seems quick to disown and judge and hate, they are no less human, mourning a great loss. I couldn't disagree more with their stance, however, I give my sincerest condolences in this time of heartache and hardship.
Most Sincerely,
Mary Taylor
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