Unrest Among the Victorious

Post number 80! Two things before you begin. First, this is one of those posts where I begin talking about one thing, and then apply my observations of that thing in a broader and more general sense. I never mean to write this much, or to go off on tangents, it just happens. Secondly, I wrote all of this on my iPod Touch with my own two thumbs. I didn't actually realise how much I'd written until I put it on the blog. Anyways, the post proper begins below.

I recently watched a documentary about the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, produced by the BBC, called "The Most Hated Family in America." The Westboro Baptist Church is famous for their slur-filled pickets, where they employ signs that declare, "God Hates Fags," and give voice to other forms of venom, including vehement criticism of U.S. troops for participating in the war. Now, obviously, I'd have certain qualms about saying that this group is certifiably Christian, but that judgement is not mine to make. I will, however, explain why I have this hesitation.

To begin, I'd like to point out just how gratingly these people are deliverng their message in the name of the Gospel. For Westboro Baptist parishoners, the word "fag" has become a sort of catch-all term for everything that is apparently wrong with world. Our military are "fag-troops," there are "fag-enablers," a term that basically describes anyone who disagrees with them, and a lot of other rhetoric that would offend just about anyone. Indeed, at their pickets, they are cursed by Christians and unbelievers alike. This is partially because their rhetoric is so blantantly offensive. I don't agree with the supporters of the homosexual lifestyle. I think that way of living is sinful. But in my efforts to speak the truth, I do not think it is wise to use such a vulgar term to describe our fellow sinners! Let us not forget that in his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul exhorted Christians to "be at peace with everyone." Christians being cursed in the streets? May it never be! Yes, Christ told us that we will be persecuted for his sake, but that persecution comes from being faithful witnesses, not purveyors of vulgarity. The parishioners of WBC seem to be gluttons for punishment. That's not exactly the way Christ taught us.

Also, based on the things I saw in the documentary, as well as what is published on the church's website, one can observe that as far as the ministry of WBC goes, the Spirit does not seem to be fully present. I am reluctant to completely discount the church as unorthodox, but there are many aspects of WBC's work which cast heavy shadows of doubt across the whole affair. For one thing, according to Fred Phelps, WBC's pastor, his is the only congregation which has salvation. Somehow, this ideology concerning America's evil deeds has given Phelps a monopoly on the salvation market, as it were. There is no concept of the Church Universal, in all of her splendor and diversity. All other believers would probably fall into the category of "fag-enablers," and would thus be considered out of fellowship with the WBC. This is utter foolishness. The entire body of the elect is contained in one group of Baptists living in Kansas? Come now.

In addition to this, the BBC reporter who was conducting the documentary attempted to ask Phelps some honest, sincere questions about the doctrine behind Phelps' teaching. Phelps flat out refused to comply because his interviewer did not have enough knowledge concerning the Bible to understand what he was talking about. This is more a personal fault of Phelps', to be sure, but his attitudes are part and parcel with the beliefs of the rest of the church, given the fact that the parishioners who were featured in the documentary backed him wholeheartedly.

Personally, I think Phelps genuinely has something wrong with him. But even so, he has a good number of people following him, claiming to be followers of Christ, driven by a psuedo-religious political ideology and moral agenda. Their message has no place for forgiveness or mercy. They WANT to be hated. The informational videos on the WBC website are supposed to "dull your ears and blind your eyes." That's parable language! God closed the hearts of an erring Israel to the truth by speaking in parables through his prophets. The verses that are used on the site to back this up lead me to believe that they view their message as something that no one will understand. And is it any wonder? They call their slur-ridden pickets "Love Crusades," after all! Now, maybe the Westboro Baptists are easy targets because of all the radical things that they do. But this is an example, albeit exaggerated, of a problem with modern American evangelism. Spitting the truth into the face of the mob will not speak to the souls of unbelievers, nor will it glorify our savior. You can distribute all the tracts you can print and shout scripture at strangers in the streets until Christ returns. But the reality is that the Spirit works through personal connections. not confrontation. Personal relationships, kind words, the quiet display of Christ's love and the results of his work on the cross. That is how the Gospel advances. We are not the riot in the streets, we are not the revolutionaries. We are to be the meek ones. And yet, despite our seeming weakness when compared to the power of secularism, we have already conquered this world through Christ! There's no need for any sort of "Christian revolution," because the Gospel, at its core, is not a revolutionary concept. Death and sin have already been taken as prisoners of war, because they embody the revolution of Man. Why do the restless heathen madly rage, what haughty schemes are they in vain contriving? Yahweh, who sits enthroned on high laughs them to scorn, he holds them in derision! We are the children of this same Yahweh, Christ is our brother! Who shall then stand against us? Therefore, let us go forth, and make good the victory of Christ.