The nasty folks from Fred Phelps' group (mistakenly referred to as "Westboro Baptist Church", which is neither "Baptist" nor "Church") made the news again. They have assured the world that Heath Ledger died and went to Hell because of his role in Brokeback Mountain. Thanks for that, Fred. Your loud, rude misrepresentations of biblical truth are a constant embarrassment to real Christians everywhere.
Saying, "They're wrong", however, isn't an argument. We need to explain how and why they're wrong. Maybe you already know it, but the exercise is a good one. So, where do they stand and why is it not biblical?
First is the argument that Heath Ledger died because he did a movie on "that abomination, sodomy." Interesting, but questionable. It's questionable because there was an entire cast involved in that movie that is still living. It's questionable because people die every day who did not participate in such things. I would want to ask the pastor if anyone in his church has ever died, and, if so, what abomination they committed. And if death was defined as Divine Retribution, in what possible sense could Paul mean, "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21)? Unless Fred is suggesting that he has some special input from God that says that this person died as judgment and that person died as blessing, perhaps he ought to be far more cautious in the conclusions to which he leaps.
Second, Mr. Phelps assured the interviewer that his viewpoint was definitely the Christian viewpoint. The only way to come to any other conclusion, he assured her, was to ignore the Bible. Anyone who loved and read the Bible would clearly agree with him. The arrogance is astounding. What kind of conspiracy must there be that would cause all other Christians who read and love the Bible to disagree with this misguided pastor? If it is true that true Christians all agree on this, then there is not likely more than a few hundred true Christians on the face of the Earth. On the other hand we find an overwhelming agreement among Christians who share a love for the Word that Fred is horribly wrong. How is that possible? Well, it would seem likely that Fred is wrong.
One of the primary problems with Fred's view is this: "Bad things happen to bad people." We like that idea. It seems just. It seems right. But it also is absolutely wrong. Read through the Psalms to find a number of complaints about why it is that the wicked prosper. Too often it seems like the "bad" just get the breaks while the good do not. On the other hand, Scripture promises the people of God that they will suffer. It is even described as a gift (Phil. 1:29; James 1:2-4). And it is a common question, even in the world, to ask, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" because everyone knows that's the case. It seems, far from the Phelps Philosophy, that instead of there being a correlation between "bad things" and "bad people", we find that unpleasant events from the painful to the fatal happen to both bad people as well as God's people. Christ assured His disciples that we cannot assume, because someone has something unpleasant going on, that there is sin involved (John 9:1-3).
Rest assured. For these reasons and more, the views of Fred Phelps and his people are not the views of the Bible or Christianity. When someone complains about it, feel free to agree. They're wrong, directly opposing the Bible they claim to love.
3 comments:
I think when Mr. Phelps, who will be 79 this year, falls ill and goes to the hospital, it would be wise for Christians to picket outside his window with signs saying "God Hates Fred".
At least he is obviously abominable. I am more amazed at how a lineup on Christian TV networks works in pastors with clearly heretical views alongside authentic preachers. Here is a link to TBN's schedule. Most of the lineup is questionable at best. Creflo Dollar is aptly named, Rod Parsley has been sliding off on a tangent, Paula White had Donald Trump on her show and practically bowed before him, while others like Joyce Meyer sound more like self-help gurus.
I was also listening to a radio program where the moderator was lamenting the criticism the Kenneth Ham museum (Jesus rode a dinosaur) was receiving and had nothing but softball questions and encouragement for his guest.
If we don't do as the Bereans did and measure the preachers' claims to the Word, heresy will take over, not just boldly as in Phelps' case but subtly as we see on TBN.
I have to say - you are very moderate in selecting only a few areas of disagreement.
Mr. Phelps and his groupies bring the name of Jesus Christ into disrepute by advancing manifestly false doctrines - some of which you point out. This is patently evil.
Quite frankly, there are enough legitimate Christian doctrines that will be unpopular with people - not what people want to believe - without falsely adding hate speech to the mix. I can't help wondering - what possible good can this group think it is doing?
I would, however, not necessarily put faith in the views of the 'majority' or professing Christians about what Christianity entails. In different circumstances, very widely accepted views were clearly false - e.g. at direct odds with the Christian Bible. Phelps errs (whether intentionally or through incompetence) in that he claims certain teachings to be Christianity that are at odds with Scripture.
It is my belief that those things that are at odds with Scripture are NOT Christianity - even when they are the ones people want to believe. I suppose some hateful niche group wants to believe what Phelps offers for sale.
Yes, I was moderate. There was lots of room for explanation of errors. I try to keep this stuff short, however, because I'm told I talk over too many people's heads.
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