on hate

Perhaps you've seen them, or pictures of them, protesting at the funerals -- of military people, people in the news, gays and more -- and other events, holding up signs emblazoned with sayings such as "You're going to hell," "God hates you," "God is your enemy," and one of the worst of them, "God hates fags." They're representatives of that wonderful bastion of family values, the Westboro Baptist Church. The church, founded by Fred Phelps, takes it upon itself to intrude on mourners with their dire messages of hate and warning, thinking they are serving up the word of God as it should be interpreted.

Last week the Winnipeg Free Press, of Winnipeg, Canada, reported Canadian border officials stopped members of Westboro at the US/Canada border, on the way to protest at the funeral of Tim McLean. The Westboro members were determined to protest at McLean's funeral to let the Canadian people know he was murdered on a Greyhound bus as God's response to the hateful Canadian policies enabling abortion, adultery and homosexuality.

Readers will know I'm not Christian. They may not know, though, that I fully support the teachings of Jesus. In my opinion, the greatest of Christ's teachings is that of love and I interpret that teaching to mean loving everyone, without question, even those we may consider enemies.

I have to wonder what will happen to Fred Phelps and his followers when they get to heaven, as after all the Bible teaches: "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. "But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. (NAS, Matthew 6:14-15)

The Bible does teach the only way to heaven is through the acceptance of Christ into your life and through the following of Christian teachings, and I'm certainly not expecting a warm welcome at the pearly gates. Really, that's ok with me -- I like to think I'll be reincarnated, anyway. But what about the Westboro folks? Can hate of someone different than you -- who chooses _not_ to have an unwanted child, who suffers through a young life attracted to the same sex, knowing they are different and wondering if they will ever find acceptance, or who strays from their marriage bed -- be that strong that you feel compelled to hold up signs exhibiting that hate at their funeral, causing all those who are mourning even more pain? Apparently so; the Westboro faithful believe they are following the five points of Calvinism. They firmly believe anyone preaching other than these Calvinist beliefs is a "Hell-bound false prophet."

I don't pretend to know the truth. It may well be that the Christian faith is the only right faith, though I don't really think so. I like to think that Jesus really did teach that you should love your neighbor, and I hope that most of his followers feel the same way.

What's your take?