Fred Phelps...God's anointed?

[sweetycakes]

I decided to visit the WBC website the other day, having heard bits about it here and there.

Personally, I feel they are rather too 'militant' in their preaching, and seem to be devoid of love.

I watched a few of their videos, and, although I tend to agree with them insofar as the world needs a wake-up call, I personally think they are going about it in the wrong way.

They constantly spout slogans such as 'God hates America....God hates fags....God hates dead soldiers, and is glad they are dead..."

This is ultra extreme in my opinion. "God hates...."

What about "God loves?..."

What about "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son?"

How can they expect to draw anyone to Christ with the 'God hates' message all the time? People need to know that God loves them, which is true. People are NOT drawn to hate messages, generally. People are needy. People are needy for the gospel of Christ.

While I agree that homosexuality is wrong, I believe that God hates homosexuality, not homosexuals.

Just the same way that God loves the adulterer, thief, child molester, liar, etc....but NOT the things they do. He loves them and wants them to change.

Where is the love in these people?

"Preach the truth in love"

[CaritateDei]

I decided to visit the WBC website the other day, having heard bits about it here and there.

Personally, I feel they are rather too 'militant' in their preaching, and seem to be devoid of love.

I watched a few of their videos, and, although I tend to agree with them insofar as the world needs a wake-up call, I personally think they are going about it in the wrong way.

They constantly spout slogans such as 'God hates America....God hates fags....God hates dead soldiers, and is glad they are dead..."

This is ultra extreme in my opinion. "God hates...."

What about "God loves?..."

What about "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son?"

How can they expect to draw anyone to Christ with the 'God hates' message all the time? People need to know that God loves them, which is true. People are NOT drawn to hate messages, generally. People are needy. People are needy for the gospel of Christ.

While I agree that homosexuality is wrong, I believe that God hates homosexuality, not homosexuals.

Just the same way that God loves the adulterer, thief, child molester, liar, etc....but NOT the things they do. He loves them and wants them to change.

Where is the love in these people?

"Preach the truth in love"

You said it, brother.

[sweetycakes]

Like most cults (and I believe WBC are a cult) There is some of truth in what they say (enough to draw people in). but it is wrapped in lies and falsehood.

Yes, I am inclined to agree, Ricky.

Without meaning to be offensive, I get the impression that they are a cult, and a bunch of 'inbreds'

At the very least, I believe they give Christians a bad name. I visit certain atheist forums, and they quite often tend to use such groups as the WBC as a further excuse to reject Christianity as a hate-filled and exclusive cult itself.

[Guest LadyC]

stephen, you were offensive, sorry.

yes, they're a cult. yes they're a bunch of wackos. but you don't have enough information (at least i don't) about their genealogy to start calling them inbred.

[sweetycakes]

stephen, you were offensive, sorry.

yes, they're a cult. yes they're a bunch of wackos. but you don't have enough information (at least i don't) about their genealogy to start calling them inbred.

Sorry if I was offensive, LadyC. I didn't mean to be. I said that because I have heard that they 'keep it all in the family' in that they seem to be all from one family.

I am reluctant anyway to judge, since they do seem to have a valid message in one sense of the word, only that they tend to go about it in the wrong way.....too militantly, in my opinion.

Basically, my problem is that things used to be so much simpler when I was younger. Things seemed to be so much more 'black and white' than they are now.

Anyway, I retract my statement about them being 'inbred'.

[Floatingaxe]

OK, now what is WBC?

[Guest Biblicist]

What Satan means for evil, God will use for good.

Genesis50:19 But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? 20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

[EricH]

Were these the same people who were on Hannity and Colmes after the killing in the Amish schoolhouse?

[Artemus Prime]

Well, I had the same couple questions as FA, but they've been answered, it would seem!...thanks for the Info...I've never heard of Phelps, but now knowing of this saddens me...

[CaritateDei]

stephen, you were offensive, sorry.

yes, they're a cult. yes they're a bunch of wackos. but you don't have enough information (at least i don't) about their genealogy to start calling them inbred.

Sorry if I was offensive, LadyC. I didn't mean to be. I said that because I have heard that they 'keep it all in the family' in that they seem to be all from one family.

I am reluctant anyway to judge, since they do seem to have a valid message in one sense of the word, only that they tend to go about it in the wrong way.....too militantly, in my opinion.

Basically, my problem is that things used to be so much simpler when I was younger. Things seemed to be so much more 'black and white' than they are now.

Anyway, I retract my statement about them being 'inbred'.

No need to retract, my friend. I had a friend who did a thesis on the evolution of the WBC. They do keep it all in the family.