First, let me just say, that I know most of you who read this blog regularly totally agree with me. But I just have to write this for anyone who happens to stumble across my blog and is not a Christian!
I've been praying for someone this week. Someone pretty random, who I actually had never specifically heard of until last weekend. Her name is Shirley Phelps. I think she is the daughter of Fred Phelps. Almost all Kansans know that family. Somehow last weekend I stumbled across a video of an interview with her. I was in totally shock. The anger that came from this woman in the name of God! She actually got so flustered that she called the newswoman a bimbo. I couldn't believe it. I grew up in Kansas, about an hour away from Topeka. In high school the Phelps family actually came and protested at the church I was attending. So I was familiar with their message. I guess I just hadn't thought about it in a while. Because it's been really bothering me all week long. If you aren't familiar with them let me give you a little introduction. They would believe it is their duty as "God's messengers" to warn people of their sins. Which isn't necessarily bad. My problem is the way they choose to do this. They picket with signs that say "God hates fags" or "God hates you" and things of that nature. What?!?! I would just like to say that according to my Bible God never hates anyone. No where does it say God hates certain people. Now, there might be certain actions he hates and he certainly hates sin. But NOTHING we do can make God love us more or less. He loves us in spite of our sins because He is just that amazing. So does God hate gay people? No. He hates the sin not the people.
As I've been praying this week I've also had a little sympathy for the Shirley Phelps. Funny how God does that, huh? It's hard to hate someone when you pray for them. I watched a few interviews with her and I see the way people treat her. Granted, she has a pretty hard message to swallow, but instead of having a loving Christ-like attitude with her they call her a nut or the devil or something like that. Is that really going to get her to see her problem? Probably not. I just wonder if anyone has tried to minister to her. Also as I was praying about it this morning I was thinking about some of what they say. Terrible, terrible things. That I am sure have hurt people to the core. And it hit me. What absolute lies from the devil. You know, Satan is a pretty tricky guy. He will use anything to keep people away from God. So why not use people coming in God's own name? What does the Bible say about that?
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." ~ Matthew 7:14-16
"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." ~ Matthew 24:11
"For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." ~ Mark 13:22
And my personal favorite....
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." ~1 John 4:1
So, for those of you who aren't Christians, please don't believe this message that God hates people. It simply isn't Truth. The Truth:
" But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." ~ Romans 5:8
"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." ~Romans 8:39
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." ~ John 3:16
God loves you. And for those of you who are christians...let's be aware that there ARE false prophets out there. Some as obviously as the Phelps and some may be even more disguised. Also, while I know it's easy to be angry with the Phelps we need to try and ask ourselves what Jesus would have done. Not that I have this part figured out yet! Anyway, that's my ramblings for today! I hope that God is blessing you today and that you are giving Him all the praise. :)
Running the race,
~A
2 comments:
Their latest venture (I guess it's not really latest; they've been doing it for awhile) is figuring out where the funerals for Iraq/Afghanistan casualties are held and then they picket there. Really hateful. In fact, there's a group of motorcyclists called the Patriot Guard Riders, who circle around the funeral with giant American flags and protect the funeral goers from the Phelps clan. Have you ever seen their website (Phelps Family)? It's just awful!
Ha ha ha...I have memories of you sitting at your computer with that song playing. I know that verse is one of your all time favorite verses from the Bible (I have been crucified with Christ)...
Hey, like I said, it's about the music that makes us happy right? :)
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