Is God judging America?

[PreacherE]

Group Plans to Picket Va. Tech Funerals

The Westboro Baptist Church is at it once again. They have become notorious throughout the nation for there constant picketing at the funerals of soldiers who have died in combat. They sport posters with slogans such as "God hates fags" & "God hates your tears." They also vocalize their sentiments as well while within earshot families are attempting to grieve over their departed ones. Now they have turned their eyes on those slain this past week at Virginia Tech.

The people of Westboro Baptist Church are erroneously following their pastor, Fred Phelps. He believes that each death of an American in Iraq is God's judgment upon our nation because of its acceptance of homosexuality. They are claiming that those slain at Virginia Tech brought it upon themselves by not being true Christians. When it comes down to it it is those at Westboro Baptist Church who are showing themselves to not be true Christians. I don't know if those who died in the shootings were saved or not, but judging from the actions of Fred Phelps and his followers it wouldn't be that far of a jump to say that they are lost.

Westboro Baptist Church is correct in that God hates homosexuality. It is one of the few things listed in the Bible as an abomination to God. However, instead of preaching hate to them and others we should be presenting the Gospel to them and telling them about a God who loves them and wants to save them from their sin. This is not to say that God condones homosexuality in any way or form. The New Testament still upholds the Old Testament teaching of sodomy being a sin.

Whereas many churches and denominations have gone too far to the extreme of accepting not only the homosexual but also his sin, Phelps and his brood have gone too far the opposite way in condemning the homosexual and any who do not feel the same way they do. Instead we should find a middle ground somewhere. Yes, homosexuality is a detestable sin and we should never attempt to teach otherwise. But God has given us the responsibility of spreading the Gospel to the world. We should preach the Gospel to any and all including the homosexuals. They need the Gospel just as much as any other lost person.

Instead of spouting hatred at everyone who is not a member of their church they should be ministering to those who are hurting. This would allow them to possibly lead others to Christ. Instead, they are allowing Satan to work through them to send an untold number of people to Hell. Imagine how many lives they could have changed for the better if they had preached the Gospel instead of spouting their hatred.

In Christ,

PreacherE