Fred Phelps Speaks For Himself And A Few

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Fred Phelps Speaks For Himself And A Few

By Skip Toomaloo
Feb. 22, 2006

I was sent an email the other day asking my opinion of the church group that has been picketing the funerals of America’s soldiers who have been killed defending the country in the war against terrorism. I had to do a “Google” search of the name Fred Phelps because I really don’t pay much attention to fringe preachers who are stuck in a message that is basically wrong. I’m sure if Preacher Phelps was preaching faithfully then his message would resonate with more than 75 or so people. It seem to me, that as Jim Jones was able to seduce several hundred souls to drink poison filled “Kool-Aid”, that Mr. Phelps had his small cult prepared to follow him into whatever pit is designated for silly preachers and their flocks.

I went to the Wikipedia site and found a short biographic sketch on Mr. Phelps: “Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr. (born November 13, 1929) is the highly controversial leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, a cult based out of his home in Topeka, Kansas. Phelps is best known for preaching that God hates homosexuals and will punish both them and "fag enablers" (which his church defines as anyone whom they find to be insufficiently anti-gay). He claims events such as the September 11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina are caused by God because of this hatred. He and his followers frequently picket various events, especially gay pride and funerals of gay men, feeling it is their sacred duty to share their views with others.”

If I had to comment on Mr. Phelps I would say that Wikipedia is pretty on target describing his following as a “cult”. Simply – God does not “hate homosexuals”. God may despise homosexual activity, but He would never “hate” the individual. He calls upon such individuals to turn from their sexual immorality and turn to faith in Jesus. Mr. Phelps seems to overlook that. Also, for Mr. Phelps to use a derogatory term like “fag enabler” places him in the same room with people who claim President George Bush is a serial liar. Further, Mr Phelps is showing a personal idiocy if he truly believes Hurricanes and Terrorist Attacks are “caused by God because of this hatred”. Such thoughts are ridiculous since God “hates” no individual. He “hates” only sin. Hurricanes are natural events and terrorist actions are conducted because of the cultic ideals of men who forsake the true God.

This is from Wikipedia too: “Phelps is a self-described "fire and brimstone" preacher who believes that homosexuality and its acceptance have sentenced most of the world to eternal damnation. His group, which has roughly 100 members (90 of whom are related to him through blood or marriage), is built around an anti-homosexual core theology, with many of their activities stemming from a mantra that homosexuality is the lowest sin one can commit. He also refuses to use any word other than "fag" to describe homosexuals. Gay rights activists, as well as Christians of virtually every affiliation, have denounced him as a producer of anti-gay propaganda and violence-inspiring hate speech.”

And that would be the right attitude. This kind of personal hatred toward anything is wrong and stinking of antichrist. It is also anti-scriptural to believe any one sin greater than any other. James tells us that if you are guilty of the least you are guilty of the whole. Mr. Phelps apparently does not believe that Christ died for the homosexual too. He seems to see homosexuality as something that cannot be repented of. That is wrong thinking. That is anti-scriptural. I feel Mr. Phelps may be headed for “fire and brimstone”. (But that judgment is best left to God.)

The third paragraph from Wikipedia said: “Phelps rose to national prominence in 1998 when he and congregants from Westboro picketed the funeral of gay murder victim Matthew Shephard, delivering an obscenity laden sermon (with focus given to graphic descriptions of homosexual sex acts) informing the mourners that Shephard had gone to hell and that everyone in attendance would join him there. Ever since, Phelps and Westboro have remained in the national limelight for their regular pickets of events ranging from gay pride parades to the funerals of soldiers killed in the Iraq War.”

This action comes directly from a heart that has been overcome with evil. It is that which comes out of the heart of a man that explains the man. The exterior of a man can be clean but the fruits and works and words of the man show the inside of the man and many times that will be dark and disgusting. This is Mr. Phelps and it is sad that he clothes himself in a self-righteousness that others misunderstand as an example of Christian thought.

Mr. Phelps speaks only for himself and the few that follow his silliness. I am not permitted to judge and that is probably a good thing because I would see this man locked up on whatever lawful rule could keep him from disturbing mourners at funerals and publishing his despicable brand of hatred against individuals.

I understand wrath against sin. Mr. Phelps and his silly few carry their wrath against people. This is wrong. This is anti-Biblical. This is anti-God. That was my answer to the person who emailed me. I believe True Christians understand such idiocy and that is why Mr. Phelps can only claim a following consisting mostly of his own relations.

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Email Skip: skiptoomaloo@hotmail.com

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