Should Baptist (in general) Shun Westboro???

[righteousdude2]

It may be just my own morals and standards, but as a born-again believer, and ordained Southern Baptist minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; I do not support or desire to recognize the Westboro Baptist Church as a kindred spirit!

They are practicing what they believe, but, like radical Muslims, they are not in line with Scripture that teaches we are supposed to Rejoice with those who have something to rejoice over. And to WEAP with those who something to weep over.

Their most recent plan to protest the funeral of the nine year child killed on Saturday, with five others, by Jared Lee Loughner, because she and her parents are Catholic, is nothing less than a sin, as well as an embarrassment to believers all around the world. (See: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-funeral-protest-20110112,0,7494257.story )

See: Romans 12:14-16, especially verse 15.

Shalom,

Pastor Paul :type:

 

[preachinjesus]

They are a false church that blasphemes the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are anathema and should be cast away.

 

[rbell]

They are not believers.

 

[Siberian]

They are certainly not about the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I would not treat them as brethren, but as unbelievers.

 

[blackbird]

What westboro does is a smear in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ!!

 

[JohnDeereFan]

It may be just my own morals and standards, but as a born-again believer, and ordained Southern Baptist minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; I do not support or desire to recognize the Westboro Baptist Church as a kindred spirit!

They are practicing what they believe, but, like radical Muslims, they are not in line with Scripture that teaches we are supposed to Rejoice with those who have something to rejoice over. And to WEAP with those who something to weep over.

Their most recent plan to protest the funeral of the nine year child killed on Saturday, with five others, by Jared Lee Loughner, because she and her parents are Catholic, is nothing less than a sin, as well as an embarrassment to believers all around the world. (See: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-funeral-protest-20110112,0,7494257.story )

See: Romans 12:14-16, especially verse 15.

Shalom,

Pastor Paul :type:

Westboro Church is neither Christian nor Baptist, so I don't see why the shunning should be limited to Baptists. I believe all people should shun them.

 

[Iconoclast]

As much harm as that church does we need to be somewhat careful. As wrong as there methods and theology are, not everything they say is wrong.

Sodomites in our day do have a wicked agenda that needs to be opposed as the scripture does.God did destroy Sodom for this wickedness.
However,many other sinners call for the judgement of God and need to be opposed, thieves, murderers , gossips,liars, unfaithful,and unholy.etc.
Presenting the gospel to them is the remedy.

God does sometimes bring national judgement for national sin. Isa 10.
But we do not have a direct word from anybody saying our soldiers are dying because of this particular national sin!

As much harm as this group does by their wrong methods..I find it troubling that we would not use this as an opportunity to speak gospel truth about the fact that God does oppose sin, and His given His Son for the saviour of sinners.
I just might ask Shirley Phelps to be the main spokes person:thumbs:

 

[freeatlast]

Paul I could not vote because there was not what I felt fit, but I do believe that every Christian, not Baptist, ministry should openly announce that those at Westboro are not engaged in Christian values. I personally would go as far as saying that they probably are not even Christians. As far a Baptists churches they may need to be even more vocal as the light is brighter on them because of the name.

 

[mets65]

They are pretty much a cult. They are using the name of Jesus to further their own agenda.

 

[glfredrick]

I listened to the daughter, Shirley, yesterday on a talk radio program. They are in this for their own glory and using God as a weapon.

They're a bunch of cultists in my opinion.

What should be done with Westboro is to bring their teachings and actions into the light. That is the biblical remedy. Instead, we're letting them operate under the cover of darkness -- exactly what the enemy needs to further his evil mission.

One of the terms I heard yesterday that exemplifies their heretical teaching is the term "godsmack" (I do not capitalize "god" in "godsmack" because they do not worship the God of the Bible, who is the only True God). They call the snow storms on the East coast a "godsmack" as in "God is smiting those people. They call the murder of our troops "godsmack" for the sins of homosexuality in the land. They were happy (relatively, because they think, wrongly, that they are furthering God's purposes) that the little girl was shot because it sent such a loud "godsmack" message to America.

Sick people, and a demonstration of just how far away from the One True God one church can get when they devise their own teaching apart from the orthodox teaching handed down through the ages.

 

[annsni]

I think it's time for someone to godsmack this family.

 

[CF1]

It seems, rather than being angry at them, we should pray for them that

a. if they are Christians they act sensibly and seek to be accountable to others that God can use to keep them balanced in their thoughts and actions.

b. if they are not Christians, that they would recognize they are lost, and possibly wrong about other interpretations of the Word as well, lacking sound teaching and wisdom.

Only God knows if they are Christians.

Titus 2:12 (New American Standard Bible)
12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

2 Corinthians 6:3 (New American Standard Bible)
3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

 

[menageriekeeper]

They are in this for their own glory and using God as a weapon.

They're a bunch of cultists in my opinion.

What should be done with Westboro is to bring their teachings and actions into the light. That is the biblical remedy. Instead, we're letting them operate under the cover of darkness -- exactly what the enemy needs to further his evil mission.

One of the terms I heard yesterday that exemplifies their heretical teaching is the term "godsmack" (I do not capitalize "god" in "godsmack" because they do not worship the God of the Bible, who is the only True God). They call the snow storms on the East coast a "godsmack" as in "God is smiting those people. They call the murder of our troops "godsmack" for the sins of homosexuality in the land. They were happy (relatively, because they think, wrongly, that they are furthering God's purposes) that the little girl was shot because it sent such a loud "godsmack" message to America.

Sick people, and a demonstration of just how far away from the One True God one church can get when they devise their own teaching apart from the orthodox teaching handed down through the ages.

I agree entirely!

 

[mets65]

It seems, rather than being angry at them, we should pray for them that

a. if they are Christians they act sensibly and seek to be accountable to others that God can use to keep them balanced in their thoughts and actions.

b. if they are not Christians, that they would recognize they are lost, and possibly wrong about other interpretations of the Word as well, lacking sound teaching and wisdom.

Only God knows if they are Christians.

Titus 2:12 (New American Standard Bible)
12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

2 Corinthians 6:3 (New American Standard Bible)
3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

This is what we need to do but I must confess I'm going to have to pray for God to convict me to feel this way and act this way. It's tough not to get angry and I just have to constantly remember James 1:19,20

 

[righteousdude2]

Keep It Honest...

It seems, rather than being angry at them, we should pray for them that

a. if they are Christians they act sensibly and seek to be accountable to others that God can use to keep them balanced in their thoughts and actions.

b. if they are not Christians, that they would recognize they are lost, and possibly wrong about other interpretations of the Word as well, lacking sound teaching and wisdom.

Only God knows if they are Christians.

Titus 2:12 (New American Standard Bible)
12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

2 Corinthians 6:3 (New American Standard Bible)
3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

There are things that we need to pray about. There are people who we need to pray for. I have no problem with you praying for these folks. However, there comes a time to "dust off the sandals" and move on. (Luke 9:3-5 and Mark 6:7-12)

These folks do NOT honor the Christ of the Gospel. They do not reflect His commandment to love one another. They are not representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ, and to continue to allow them to call themselves "Baptist" only dims the light and views the world has toward other Christ loving, Christ following Baptists.

I say: "god-smack them across the back of the head" and leave them to Satan, as Paul told his followers to do with the young man sleeping with his step-mother.

SEE: http://jeffleake.typepad.com/the_launchpad/2010/08/when-is-it-.html Especially number(s) 3 and 5 [we will one day judge the angels, who have been given charge over us]

Sometimes, we are left with no other choice but to judge the situation and move on.

Shalom,

Pastor Paul :type:

 

[Amy.G]

Yes. We should shun them. We should have nothing whatsoever to do with them.

 

[CF1]

I didn't realize the extent of their behaviors until reading the Wikipedia Site on Westboro_Baptist_Church

I wonder what to think about the court case that they won

On September 24, 2009, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of Westboro Baptist Church and reversed the lower court's award. It found their picket near the funeral is protected speech because it involves "matters of public concern, including the issues of homosexuals in the military, the sex-abuse scandal within the Catholic Church, and the political and moral conduct of the United States and its citizens", and did not violate the privacy of the service member's family.

I wonder what will eventually stand in court to cause them to cease. It would not be a good precedent whatever it is.

 

[freeatlast]

I didn't realize the extent of their behaviors until reading the Wikipedia Site on Westboro_Baptist_Church

I wonder what to think about the court case that they won



I wonder what will eventually stand in court to cause them to cease. It would not be a good precedent whatever it is.

I strongly disagree. Our courts should not be involved with this. They are not doing physical harm. Once our courts get involved in our freedom of speech it is a slippery downhill slide. Today because of the courts stripping away freedom of speech there are places where we cannot speak to people about abortion and them not carrying through with abortion. Another court case just broadens the loss of free speech.
They certainly need prayer and even discipline and any number of believers can carry that out as long as there are two or three.

 

[drfuss]

The following is copied from the Westboro Baptist Church Website:

Established in 1955 by Pastor Fred Phelps, the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) of Topeka, Kansas still exists today as an Old School (or, Primitive) Baptist Church. We adhere to the teachings of the Bible, preach against all form of sin (e.g., fornication, adultery [including divorce and remarriage], sodomy), and insist that the sovereignty of God and the doctrines of grace be taught and expounded publicly to all men. These doctrines of grace were well summed up by John Calvin in his 5 points of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. Although these doctrines are almost universally hated today, they were once loved and believed. Even though the Arminian lies that "God loves everyone" and "Jesus died for everyone" are being taught from nearly every pulpit in this generation, this hasn't always been the case. If you are in a church that supposedly believes the Bible, and you are hearing these lies, then your church doesn't teach what the Bible teaches. If you care about your never-dying soul, you will carefully read every word of this web site, along with the entire Bible.​

 

[Amy.G]

The following is copied from the Westboro Baptist Church Website:

Established in 1955 by Pastor Fred Phelps, the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) of Topeka, Kansas still exists today as an Old School (or, Primitive) Baptist Church. We adhere to the teachings of the Bible, preach against all form of sin (e.g., fornication, adultery [including divorce and remarriage], sodomy), and insist that the sovereignty of God and the doctrines of grace be taught and expounded publicly to all men. These doctrines of grace were well summed up by John Calvin in his 5 points of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. Although these doctrines are almost universally hated today, they were once loved and believed. Even though the Arminian lies that "God loves everyone" and "Jesus died for everyone" are being taught from nearly every pulpit in this generation, this hasn't always been the case. If you are in a church that supposedly believes the Bible, and you are hearing these lies, then your church doesn't teach what the Bible teaches. If you care about your never-dying soul, you will carefully read every word of this web site, along with the entire Bible.​

Now that's Calvinism run amok.