giving christians a bad name

[GrubbTheFragger]

Ok so i just watched a video for something that i thought was absolutly insane. It was a so-called christian women who led protestors to a military funeral and they held signs that said "Thank God For Dead Soilders" i was thinking hey maybe they mean that they get to go to God. Buuuut nope they meant it the worst way possible. Whats worse it what other signs read "God Hates Gays" while yes homsexuals are disobeying God. GOD DOES NOT HATE ANYONE EVER!!!! Thats the plan and simple truth. Also other signs read "Thank God for 9/11" "God is your enemy" and "Thank God for toe tags". These people in my oppion are just dumb if they really beleave all this stuff.

[bigsleepj]

Ugh, these are people who are affiliated to Fred Phelps, a man of staggering hate-mongering. Despite being a 'Christian' (by his own narrow definition) he was a supporter of Saddam Hussain because Saddam persecuted homosexuals. Because he believes 'God hates gays' Phelps believes that making war against Iraq (that is fighting there regardless of your personal beliefs as a Christian or atheist) is basis for God to send to you to hell. Also if you're a Lutheran, then you'll be going there too. And if your a Swede. In short, Fred Phelps is a very, very bad man.

Here's a thread in which Phelps is discussed earlier and in more detail.

http://www.christiananime.net/showthread.php?t=11312

[GrubbTheFragger]

Yea Bigsleep thats the guy but it was some girl(she is assciated with the4 same church tho) this time. I try to get teh link to the video soon so every one will understand what this crap is that they are putting out to i guess "try" to turn people to God.

[bigsleepj]

Don't post the link. We shouldn't even try and go to their websites. Its sickening and ungodly. We can't ignore them, but we must not support their websites or post those links.

[GrubbTheFragger]

Yea thats diffently a good point. And it actually wasn't on there site(ithink it was found on youtube) but i am still not gonna post the link because i don't want to promot them

[Zarn Ishtare]

While I'm afraid this thread will soon be closed due to the vile nature of the topic, here are a few points:

1. John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall have Eternal Life. For God did not send his Son to condemn the World, but to save it." While this is usually used to confirm the basis of our faith, it also shows the example of Christ. He came to save the world, not condemn it.

2. On the matter of love as it relates to faith and service to God: 1 Corithians 13:1-7: If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, then I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move the mointains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I posess to the poor and surredner my body to the falmes, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.


And finally, a warning:

Revelation 22:18-19: I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues in this book. And If Anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God shall take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.


The Fred Phelps of the world would do well to remember that.

[uc pseudonym]

I don't think it necessarily has to be closed now, though I would suggest it is unnecessary to discuss Fred Phelps too much. What he really wants is attention, after all. Though I have sadly seen him used against Christianity, most people including non-Christians understand that he represents only a handful of radicals.

Interestingly, I've had first-hand experience with Phelps. He protested in my home town because a group of churchs made an anti-homosexuality statement that said they still loved homosexuals.

[holysoldier5000]

it is unnecessary to discuss Fred Phelps too much. What he really wants is attention, after all.

What? Who? I've done forgot about him allready.

[Arnobius]

Fred Phelps... is he the guy who shows up at the funerals of people who died of AIDS with signs reading "(Name of deceased) is in Hell"?

I was always repulsed by that, as it seemed so unchristian in it's judgementalism

[Slater]

I know exactly what video you're talking about... She made me so mad as nothing she said was Christian... She even went so far as to say that the person who was interviewing her wasn't a Christian.. just... argh...

Here is the video for those who haven't seen it (I don't recall there being any cusswords or anything thrown around by anyone and youtube.com has been posted several times on this site so I assume that it's perfectly safe to post). The political agendas of both sides aside, I think it's easy to see where this woman's idea of what a Christian is fails.

[That Dude]

I find it sad that the so called christians who get the most publicity are the ones who are totally off track with God. The world loves to point out when christians fall away from God or someone does something sickening in the name of the Lord.

[Syreth]

Indeed. It seems like the media in general is constantly on the lookout for people who might stir up anti-religious sentiment. Of course, it probably makes our blood boil enough to keep the cash flow going too, since publicity seems to increase in accord with controversy.

[Lynx]

did anyone else notice one of the signs said "God hates you"

[mechana2015]

We've had a few cases of people on campus with huge signs proclaming christian type massages on one side and hateful statements on the other side confronting students forcefully and agressively. It saddens me greatly because it makes our witnessing that much harder (they seem to show up about a day before our usual witnessing time). These "christians" even made it into the school paper once... which was (sic) fantastic (sic) PR for on campus movements with the name christian in their title.

[Nate]

All I have to say is,

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. - 1 John 3:14.

[Doubleshadow]

We had a self-proclaimed preacher yelling stuff like that on I think, Wednesday and Thursday at the Student Center. He actually had a large sign up on a pole that read "God hates and Jesus rejects:" and had a list of people including homosexuals (using VERY improper alternative words), women who have had abortions, and Roman Catholics among others. I refused to give him any attention and avoided the plaza, but it might have been better to go with some of the other Christians and do damage control since he was the talk of the campus. There were many people I know to be non-believers who were discussing what he said and many of them sounded genuinely hurt and confused by what he was saying, wondering if all Christians/churchgoers actually thought that way and if that was what the Bible really said.

[frwl]

as I once read concerning this video... It's no wonder that people like this get so much attention. The media isn't too interested in morally upright people.

[Mithrandir]

While we don't want to go off on this tangent too much, the bottom line there is that the media will air whatever makes people watch. People WANT to believe Christians are idiots - it makes them feel more comfortable with how they live. Besides, this stuff is contraversial. No matter which side of the contraversy you are on, you'll watch - and that sells advertisements. If you really want to do something about it, start a campaign to write to the broadcasting corporations with millions of letters saying, "If you continue to air this and give them validity, we will all stop watching your channel."

If nothing else, it'll make you feel better.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I know exactly what video you're talking about... She made me so mad as nothing she said was Christian... She even went so far as to say that the person who was interviewing her wasn't a Christian.. just... argh...

Here is the video for those who haven't seen it (I don't recall there being any cusswords or anything thrown around by anyone and youtube.com has been posted several times on this site so I assume that it's perfectly safe to post). The political agendas of both sides aside, I think it's easy to see where this woman's idea of what a Christian is fails.

A few years back at my school. (Like in the 70's) They brought in two guest speakers. A member of the nazi party, and a black panther. And frankly to say, the speech from the guest speaker was incredibly one sided. They would actually avoid the student's questions, and just keep on talking and talking. Shirley Phelps Roper is doing the same thing! I think she knows that she can be refuted, so she avoids any possible confrontation. Or that's one possibility atleast. When she was asked "what are your sins" she simply avoided it! Because she knows she's a sinner and thus being a hypocrite by protesting against homosexuals, America, and soldiers. It was pretty repulsive of her to tell the anchor "No you're not a Christian"

[soul alive]

This makes me really, really sad.

The University of Wyoming gets a lot of bad attention, especially from Phelps and his "church" since Laramie (the town UW is in) is where Matthew Shepherd was killed. Phelps brings a huge amout of followers every year on the anniversary of Shepherd's death and they spread all over the campus, holding up signs with extremely crude and hateful messages and shouting with megaphones. I don't go to college there, but I have family and friends there and have heard their stories.

[Syreth]

I'm just glad that there are people who there who are put on the air sometimes that do give Christians a good name. Like when Larry King (or any anchor) asks those point blank questions and they give a really insightful answer. I know I would be stumbling over my words -- I would probably never be able to do that.

[Artist4Jesus89]

i have seen that too i think it is rediculous but im not going to say anything other than im praying for those people thats what they really need so that is what im going to do

[Uriah]

*Wishes Jesus gave permission to break the limbs of such people...*

[Yumie]

*Wishes Jesus gave permission to break the limbs of such people...*

Yeah, I can see that now-- "WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LOVE PEOPLE?!?!" *Breaks protesters leg.*

[Puritan]

It's really sad to see this type of thing. This group has come to Wisconsin and protested a number of soldier's funerals, which actually prompted our legislature to ban protests within 500 feet of funeral locations from an hour before the funeral to an hour after the funeral. Fortunately, general consensus in the state has been that these people are fringe extremists and the impact on the Church hasn't been big, but it is disheartening to see people acting like this.

I mean, even if you agreed with the stance these people take, why would it be a thing to celebrate? And why homosexuals or soldiers, is homosexuality any worse than any of the other sins we see in society, especially the sin of pride so obvious here? These people don't appear to have read Proverbs "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Prov 16:18)

[Slater]

dunno, breaking a limb sounds a lot less harsh than using a double-edged sword...

[Uriah]

Well, It would, But I would start with their fingers and toes, then their elbows and knees, then shoulders, and whatnot.... Please pray for me

[MPX42]

Man,that woman got hit hard by the anchors in that video.How can she say she's a Christian when she clearly hates America as a whole?Dosen't the Bible say to love your neighbors as much as you love yourself and not hate?Even if your neighbor is gay?The woman needs to learn one thing:Don't hate people just because their gay,because there is much more to people than being gay.

[uc pseudonym]

My earlier post was made before I had seen the YouTube video in full. Having now done that and reflected, I have something else to say. The attitudes of the anchors was far from impressive. Though I understand how difficult (or impossible) it is to dialogue with such people and how much they may disagree with them, but that kind of mindless attack doesn't show anything. I wanted to close the window because of the babble from both sides.

dunno, breaking a limb sounds a lot less harsh than using a double-edged sword...

A Revelation 1 reference, I assume? Though I admit a side of me would like to see Phelps confronted by the God he believes is raging, I don't think scripture ever places that sword in our hands. Of course, if I took you entirely wrong I apologize.

[rocklobster]

Here's my response to those "God Hates You" signs.
"No, God hates you, signholder! You don't speak for him. You've got too many problems of your own. Deal with yours, and I'll deal with mine."