Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

Westboro Baptist Church is famous for their protests and rants about the justice of God. Their message is that God hates fags, and hates the US government and military for "promoting" homosexuality.

As a result, they protest at the funerals of fallen soldiers. Lately, however, they have expanded their protests. They announced today that they will be protesting at the funeral of a 19 year old Arkansas Razorback football player who was found dead yesterday of natural causes.

The reason they are protesting his funeral is because football leads to pride.

Understand, these people scream things like "God hates you" and "burn in Hell" to the relatives of the deceased at the grave sites.. They tell the family that their loved one is in Hell.

I think most of us would consider this well beyond extreme, but it's really not that different from some preachers telling people that they are going to Hell because they wear jewelry and/or make up. They justify this "teaching" by saying that those things are rooted in pride.

I have seen the same mean spirited tripe preached from the pulpits of Oneness churches but we just chalked it up to "holiness" preaching.

I've been to many conferences and conventions that were eerily similar to a lynch mob rally.

Sermons that "skinned" people.

And I've watched as the crowd was whipped into the same wild-eyed, "get em" fervor for which Westboro is so famous.

People stomping their feet, pumping their fists, and screaming appreciation at "holiness or Hell" rants.

What disturbs me the most about Westboro, and holiness zealots, is their absolute glee at the thought that someone is wrong, or is going to get punished, or is headed for Hell.

There's no love in their message, only hate.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

Eew.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

Anything can lead to pride.

I don't have much use for that kind of preaching. I'd rather hear the word of God especially the gospel preached.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

Does God hate gays? The Westboro people are really short on tact, but are the right? Sometimes?

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They may be correct about sin (pride is sin) but their approach and attitude stinks!

They think "holiness(no makeup/jewelry)" IS the gospel.

God hates a proud look.
A lying tongue.
People that sow discord.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

I guess every denomination has pharisees.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

not hardly, you are broadbrushing and stirring the pot.

Ask Steve Epley if he believes holiness is part of the gospel. Ask any Oneness standards-keeping conservative if holiness is part of the gospel.

They will say yes. They will say that "without holiness no man will see God." They will say that you can't be saved without holiness, and that holiness includes no makeup or jewelry.

They believe wearing those things will send you to Hell.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

God loves the meek, the peacemakers, the righteous, those that help the poor and outcast, the merciful, etc.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

Does God hate gays?

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

There's something you and I agree on! :lol

God loves the world. That's why He sent His son. If He hated us He would have left us to die in our sin.

God hates sin. But while we were still sinning He died for us.

They remind me of Jonah, who was pleased at the thought of Nineveh being destroyed for its sin.

He was angry at God for even thinking of extending mercy to them.

So angry that he spent 3 days in a whale before he broke down and prayed to God.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

No. He does not hate "gays." God loves gay people.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

Then there is hope for those believers at Westboro baptist.

Yes, I suppose.

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Does God hate unrepentant gays?

God hates sin, but it's clear he loves unrepentant sinners, else no one could be saved - including you.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

:thumbsup

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To me the most grevious thing is what they have done to themselves..

What does the bible say about visiting widows an orphans in their affliction?
To me, that's the most greivious suicidal sin one can do...

Jesus talks about cutting off limbs and blotting out eyes and I believe the may well fall into that category ....
While the bible does talk about sever consequenses in Revelation 6:14-17 about men of war.... to knarl their grieving love one's innards, possibly for life is an unforgivable offense..How can you expect someone to turn loose the hatred they would feel for those people....

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

Does God love the unsaved, even after they die?

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

I've been to a lot of oneness churches in my life. Many of them were what you would call UC.
I have never heard it preached that wearing jewelry or make up sends you to hell.
I am sure that it happens, but it is not as common as some here seem to believe.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

yes, but it isn't going to change their sentence on judgement day.

It's implied. ;)

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

Aegsm76,

It's no different than if you as a male grew facial hair. If you then attended these same UC churches, you'd be treated as a permanent "visitor".
So what is the difference between being implicitly condemned for outerwear or being verbally lambasted? Either way, it's still their idea of "holiness or hell".

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

A sentence of eternal torment? Because He's so holy? Well, thank goodness I'm not that holy -- I've never punished anyone I loved that severely. Evil earthly father that I am.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

I find it sad that people would make that comparison. I do agree with holiness standards and would possibly be considered even more strict personally (my personal convictions)than most. However, I will agree that not everyone has to line up to my line, but I do believe that there are principles in Scripture that are so specific as to not allow much if any compromise. Jewelry, cut or uncut hair (depending on male of female), types of clothing, and certain other activities are all in that category. In some of these cases, I have known pastors that met what could be called the 'baseline'.


My whole point is this, I have heard standards preached with enthusiasm, and I have heard them preached with wrong spirits. However, that has never had an affect on whether or not they were necessary. I have also never heard in my memory any of the preachers who held a strong line say anything about being glad that people who were not lined up were going to Hell. I have heard many of them say tha they would rather hear, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You did not have to take that high of a stand", rather than hear, "I am sorry, but you set your sights to low, and you missed the mark of my holiness, I never knew you."

It is to the breaking our hearts to see immorality and immodesty, and to our frustration to see others compromise on those issues. We hate no man, but our hearts break for all.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

Awwwww..you went and rained on his parade

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I agree with you here, but, must say I don't think I have ever heard it preached jewely sends you to hell...

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

Well, I think there is a difference (nevermind the fact that preaching against beards is a major major leap IMO). When I attend the Lutheran Church I cannot partake inthe Lords Supper. I could conclude they must believe I am outside the body of Christ - but that is not entirely true. They are simply trying to practice what they believe to be the teaching of scripture and their obligation to the same.

This can also be said about thosewho adhere to a hardline conservative dress code. While I don't always fully agree, I do understand why they teach it - and most do indeed have bat intentions.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

I am of the opinion that women who cut their hair are not morally or scripturally wrong. It should be their conviction and or their preference. Some women absolutely cannot deal with long long hair. Sometimes the weight of the hair gives neck and scalp pain. When i worked in the hospital, much of my work involved blood, guts and spit/sputum coughing people who had serious diseases like AiDS, Hepatitis, tuberculosis. I had to wash my hair everyday after I worked because much of body fluids were sprayed by coughing or busted vessels, bloody traffic accidents and the likewise. I could not go to bed knowing that most every time I had to work a bloody code blue, I got sprayed, or coughed on by a very sick patient who could not help themselves. Most pentecostal women know how long it takes to wash, dry and fix hair. And my workday was long...a 12 hour shift so between work, husband, home and kids, I had little time for preening.


But when one goes to the lengths of defining how long (dress)should be long, or how short (the dress) is short, how low (the blouse) is low, and holding women to it...or else... is another story.

I am also of the opinion that women who are sincere and receive the Holy Ghost are going to feel inwardly a conviction of how long their dress should be. They will not need a man to tell them any of the above. The Holy Spirit convicts and God writes His laws into our hearts.

Personally, I like my dresses mid calf and flowing, not tight to my hips. Ankle dresses trip me. LOL. I do not think short sleeves is immodest. I believe Holy Ghost filled women will button their blouses up to where there is not a hint of cleavage showing. That to me is modesty.

Which is more harmful...a woman wearing slacks or a woman who sees another wear slacks then runs to the church to gossip about what she has seen?

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

Back to the Westboro Weasels. People can put a stop to those goons nonsense if they want to. All they have to do is take a lesson from the Mississippi people who did not take kindly to their pathetic excuses to protest a beloved soldier.


Article below(and it did happen)

"As soon as we heard that Westboro was gonna’ be here, we didn't want that to happen," Zach Magee said. "I'm a firm believer in human rights, and I believe it should be a natural given human right to be able to bury your loved ones without negativity brought towards that,"
added McGee, who helped organize a counter protest via Facebook and other outlets.

According to various reports, the trouble started a day or two before the funeral when one Westboro zealot stopped at a Brandon gas station, starting “running his mouth” and – whammo - promptly got a sound Southern thumpin’.

I mean, the earlier protester got splashed with a liberal dose of ratta-tat-tat and was whipped pretty badly. Yet when the police arrived, nobody had seen a thing and all discounted such an incident had ever occurred.

In the meanwhile, patriots for many miles around arrived in droves to wave flags and cross their hearts as the funeral process made its way to the cemetery. Thousands lined the route. They were there, in part, to drown out any protesters’ cries but – wait – the people of Westboro and their gaudy signs never did show up.

Oh, there were signs aplenty, like “God loves Jason,” “Thank You” and “Semper Fi” but the taunts of the Westboro hatred were strangely missing.

To Marlee Merritt, 17, of Richland, the idea that Westboro would come so close to home was infuriating. "It really just (angers) me that they would put the family through that," Merritt said. "They don't need that stuff right now — they're dealing with enough."

So what must have happened? According to Merritt, “This is the Dirty South. We don’t play.”

A popular rumor is that when the news got out where the Westboro crowd was staying and, this some time shortly before the funeral, the strangest thing occurred. A vacant Rankin County car or pickup truck was mysteriously parked directly behind every car with a Kansas tag in the parking lot. I mean, they hemmed the visitors’ cars in, bumper-to-bumper.

Since all the wrecker companies around were “too busy” to lend a hand until after the funeral, the protesters were stranded. Further, according to the tales now being told, the few Westboro members that did get to the funeral were promptly hustled off to be asked what they knew about a crime they might have been involved in.

Yes, after thorough questioning, they were released but it was not – mind you – until the funeral had ended.

Jon Negri, a student at Southern Mississippi, said, "In a round about and direct sort of way, (Westboro) really just boosted the number of people here and support that the family got. Westboro Baptist Church was pretty positive today."

Zack McGee felt the same way. “I really think that was kind of the sole purpose … to keep them away."
"Mission accomplished," he added, nodding.

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_199461.asp

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

And while you're at it.

Ask Bro. Epley if he believes in Faith.
Ask Bro. Epley if he believes in Love.
Ask Bro. Epley if he believes in Deliverance.
Ask Bro. Epley if he believes in Miracles.
Ask Bro. Epley if he believes in One God.
Ask Bro. Epley if he believes in Mercy.
Ask Bro. Epley if he believes in Baptism in Jesus Name.
Ask Bro. Epley if he believes in Restoration.
Ask Bro. Epley if he believes in Prayer.
Ask Bro. Epley if he preaches against lying.
Ask Bro. Epley if he preaches against stealing.
Ask Bro. Epley if he preaches against having a bad attitude.
Ask Bro. Epley if he preaches against cheating.

I am sure he would answer yes to all the above.

Quit acting like the Holiness preachers are just one-trick ponies.

Just because you found a few idiots along the way does not mean that Holiness preachers don't have a right to preach Holiness with Love and Conviction.

It takes the whole package to be saved.
You will not be saved without inward and outward holiness.

Just because somebody has more lines than you do, does not make them a pharisee.

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

I had to laugh out loud on that one. You ought to hear some of them preach here. Wagging fingers, long bony noses, and beat-red faces, sweating all over the podium and platform just to get "the message" across.

And, the fact that they have "more lines" makes them just like the Catholics (and her offspring), some of the very people they are so well-known to bash and preach against. So much ritual, so little relationship.

I just shake my head sometimes...

Re: Westboro Baptist Church Similarities
 

Ritual doesn't disqualify relationship. There are MANY rituals we all take part in because we have relationships. Look at your marriage. How many things are done out of a ritual because you love your spouse?

They may be unnecessary, but they aren't out of a lack of relationship. Rather they typically are done because one does love their spouse and wishes to please them...even if they don't have to do siad things to please them.