What about the theological position of the Westboro Baptist Church?

Question

I agree with probably almost everyone else that their actions are despicable. Yet, I have to admit that their logic seems compelling, at least at first glance.

If I understand it correctly, the logic goes as follows:

a) God clearly outlines in the bible what is ok to do and what is not ok to do. The stuff that is not ok to do pisses God off.
b) People do the stuff that is not ok all the time.
c) The bad stuff that is happening (disasters, etc.) is a manifestation of God being unhappy and a sign that people need to stop doing what is not ok.

In other words, what gives other Christian denominations the right to pick and choose from the bible?

So - what gives? Is this sound reasoning?

Care to elaborate why not?

Thanks for elaborating.

Answer 1

Westboro is just one of several reasons why Christianity is evil and must be stopped.

Answer 2

Yes you must be right. The Westboro Baptist Church obviously uses sound reasoning. Take for example the fact that they claim to do God's will by protesting the funerals of US soldiers, yet they clearly disregard the scripture that warns against humans judging others. Funny how they, like so many other Christians, like to pick and chose what parts of the Bible they think apply to them.

To put it mildly, the members of the WBC are all psycopaths and every one of them have reserved their places in the hell they damn everyone else to.

Answer 3

Westboro takes a view of Christianity that is 'rules based' compare them to the Pharisees of Jesus' time. There's a big difference between "Friend, I think you are behaving in an incorrect manner and need to look at your life" and "F*****s burn in hell!"
Christians are supposed to be Christ-like. Christ had compassion for sinners. The only people he railed against without compassion were the pharisees. They're predominant attitude was "God will bless us if YOU behave more correctly." Compare that to Jesus who technically broke the rules (healed on the Sabbath, drove the moneylenders from the temple, ate with Gentiles, did not stone the adulteress, hung out with prostitutes, etc) but did so to show his love and to demonstrate how we should behave towards each other. Christianity is not about rules, it is about relationships with other people and with God.

In addition to which, I have a problem with you "C" argument. Blame the laws of physics and chaos for the weather. Blame mankind's nature for man's inherent violence towards man. We suffer enough with the consequences to our sins without God going "Aha! you screwed up so I'm gonna smite you now!" God does not want to punish us. He doesn't even want us to suffer the consequences of out actions (would you want your child to suffer the consequence of touching the hot stove, even after you told him not to? Would you take the pain away if you could?). That's the entire point of the New Testament.

The WBC holds that anything less than violent homophobia is a hell-worthy trespass. They represent everything bad about Christianity. The small-mindedness, the attitude of judgment, the hatred, the xenophobia, and the lack of compassion and mercy. They honestly believe that they are the only people righteous enough to get to heaven. But it isn't following the rules that gets us into heaven. It's the relationship we have with God that gets us in.

Answer 4

On the surface, their logic seems reasonable by Bible standards. Even Christ said, "Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." (John 5:14b)

But they are focused on one section of Scripture and ignoring the rest of it, and that's where their error lies. You can't pick and choose the parts of the Bible that you want to obey, and they are definitely ignoring a bunch of other verses:

1John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

1John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

When the church pickets and disrupts a military funeral, they are hating their brothers, so how can they claim to love God? The fact that they're ignoring other verses of the Bible is what's wrong with their views -- not the premise about how God feels about sin.

Answer 5

I do not know anything about the Westboro Baptist Church or it's theology.

However, I do know that God is just. He wants all of us to spend eternity with Him. Unfortunately we are not deserving of this destiny because we have all broken God's law (the Ten Commandments).

Take the test below to see this explained in a simple fashion:

http://wayofthemaster.com/goodperson.shtml

~Neeva

Answer 6

That is not sound reasoning.

a) The god in the Bible changes his position on many issues. You can read whatever you want into it.

b) No matter what you do, it won't be ok to many people.

c) There is no evidence of God being involved in anything, let alone disasters.

But than again, Christianity, itself, doesn't have sound reasoning. That's what you get when you have so many people believing in superstitions.

Answer 7

Eastboro Rules!

Answer 8

I wouldn’t even know where to begin with all that is wrong with those statements.

How about this? If you call yourself a Christian church your focus should be the teachings of Christ.

Answer 9

A and B are correct.

C is a combination of human fault and fulfillment of prophecy.

No one should pick and choose from the Bible. This is seriously dangerous business.

Answer 10

It is "sound" reasoning, and that is why belief in god is so dangerous. If you believe in god, you have to believe that they may be right. It's that simple. If you don't believe in god, then you can say they are a bunch of lunatics.

I say they are a bunch of lunatics.

If you believe in god, and you think they're lunatics, then you don't really believe in god.

Answer 11

well when i had the possibility of meeting them at a funeral here was what i armed myself with.... (besides a few flags of course)

Matthew 6
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:
for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners
of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you,
They have their reward.

Matthew 7:12 12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Luke 6:31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
(Galatians 5:14)"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
Matthew 22.36-40) "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."
(Luke 10:25-28) he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live."
(Romans 13:8-10) namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

thankfully they never showed up - the patriot gaurd did though along with hunders of others to stand along the church entrance for the family.