Will noone stand up against....?

Question

In matters of faith, I am no expert. Nor am I 'pure' by any means. My question and plea is to those who are more devout than I. Not because I lack the faith, but more I lack the knowledge.

Will noone stand against Shirley Phelps-Roper? Spreading hatred and pain cannot be in the best 'spiritual' intrest of any church. Why has noone taken a stand against these people?

I asked my mother, who is highly religous, and the best answer I could get is 'They will get theirs.' Yet, I felt no comfort from this statement. They picket the funerals of my fallen brothers, those who are slain at Virgina Tech, etc., etc.

As a former U.S. Marine, it pains me that I spent years of my life protecting the rights of these people as they use a slogan I tried to honor as a weapon against families during their childrens funerals. To watch as she and her clan dishonor their memory and sacrifice cuts a wound to my soul, I can't even explain.

Source:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3PyoUPcobA&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0dGt_JMUr0&NR=1
http://wwww.godhatesfags.com

Answer 1

Many believers do stand up against them. They are not representing Christianity.

Although I agree that homosexuality is a sin (in several places in the Bible, it is called an abomination), I do not agree that God hates them. Jesus died for the person who engages in the sin of Sodom, just as He died for anybody else.

The sin that will condemn sodomites to Hell is that they don't accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If they did, they would lose the desire to engage in their sin.

The "God hates fags" people are engaging in a sin that they will have to answer for before the throne of God. For them to disrupt the funerals of the men who have died for their country is abhorrent. It is no comfort to know that they will be judged in eternity according to their actions. However, I must say that they are exercising the freedom that you have served your country to protect, distasteful as their actions are.

As a Christian and, as one who served our country, as well, please know that I understand what you are saying. I agree with you. I am sorry that they are doing this.

Answer 2

Some people do. There's a motorcycle club called Patriot Guard Riders who, upon invitation from the mourning family, will set up near the funeral and if the Phelpses show up, will roar supportive slogans so loud they drown out the protesters.

The Phelps family is made up nearly entirely of lawyers. Fred Phelps made everyone become lawyers so they could sue for the right to do just about anything. They even have legal permission to slander people in their hometown by fax, saying the most outrageous and hurtful accusations.

I recommend reading the document at the link below. Two of the Phelps children who escaped that nightmare reveal all, and it's very informative and enlightening. It really helps you understand a lot of 'why's and it's nice to know that at least some of them got away.

Edit: Point being, these guys aren't just about religion, they are plain nuts. They are six sigma.

Answer 3

It is simply wisdom. My wifey is in the Army and I know how I would feel if that happened at her funeral (if she dies (which isnt going to happen =D))...
But what do you expect other Christians to do go fight them? A lot of people openly disagree with them and stand up to say that they are wrong, but it doesn't stop them because they have protected rights just like we as christians and other religions do also. I mean I live in Virginia about 5 Minutes from Thomas Road Baptist Church and 45 minutes from VT. I remember when they where talking about protesting VT and Jerry Falwell's funeral, but the best thing you can do is not give them the publicity that they are grasping for. God tells us to Love our enemies and even though we should tell them what they are doing is wrong (which many many have) if it doesn't stop them (which it hasn't) then the best thing you can do is let God take care of it. On Judgment day they will have to answer and give an account to what they are doing and what they did.
But don't look at the negative side of things, as a former serviceman you just didn't protect their rights you protected your rights, your families rights, your current or future spouses and kids rights. There is always someone out their you will totally disagree with because everyone is different, but you have to realize that those difference's balance out the world.

God Bless

Answer 4

The entire Phelps "family" and "religion" are a disgrace to humanity.

As they feed off attention, the only things to do are:
1) ignore them
2) ask the legal authorities to make sure that they are kept in their own little hatred area, have demonstration permits, do not disturb the peace, etc. - in other words, do their job
3) outnumber them

Did you ever see "The Laramie Project?" There were a group of teens who donned angels wings and stood in front of Phelps, Inc., completely blocking the view of them, silently. What a great symbol of love and tolerance these teens were!

We pray for such people to return to Jesus' teachings, and stop preaching hatred and bigotry. But some people never listen, even to prayers. . . .

Answer 5

Sometimes I wonder if these people are just acting like they believe the stuff they say. It almost seems like they are just trying to make christianity look bad.

Its very interesting that they are targeting military funerals, as the military is generally one of the most anti-gay institutions in the whole country. Its like they have decided to make themselves as crazy as humanly possible.

Don't let their actions "cut a wound" in your soul. You can't take the actions of lunatics seriously. If some crazy guy told you that you are actually satan in disguise, would you actually let that upset you? Or would you just shrug it off as the ridiculous ravings of a madman? I hope you would be wise enough to just shrug it off.

I think the fact that these people are all related indicates that it is very likely that insanity runs in their family. (Some types of insanity can have genetic causes).

However, I do kind of like the fact that they are targeting people who are normally homophobic. It kinds of seems like an ironic justice. It puts people on the receiving end of the kind of hate that they normally dish out to others.

Answer 6

She is a champion of misinformed love.
Thinking she knows what's right gives her the illusion of moral superiority by way of her misbegotten belief that she correctly shows the love of Christ against an ungodly menace thus making a mockery of the love of Christ and becoming the ungodly menace herself.
She doesn’t hate these people; she hates what she thinks is the evil that threatens to corrupt the soul of society. She has become what she hates and she is the real threat to society.


Blessed Be!

Answer 7

Many people not just Christians think the Phelps' are incredibly sick. However, they are also very intelligent. Many members of their family are lawyers so they know the laws and know the loopholes. They have found their way around the legal system so they cannot be arrested. Unfortunately they cannot be arrested for being warped or rude and disrespectful.

Answer 8

I am a former British Soldier so am totally with you on this one and the only thing I can say is that people like this are lower than low and obviously have precious little else in their lives.
Just thank your lucky stars you are not like them, but one of the few who has had the balls to go out there and make a difference.

Answer 9

well, i'm not a jarhead, but i am in the army, i've been deployed, 5 out of 7 years i've been in. your right, in a way, when your getting shot at, your not thinking about your country, not about your family, your wife or child, those will get you killed, you think about the person next to you, about his family, a soldier goes to war not because a man with a couple of stars tells you to, that part is just a job, a soldier goes to war to make sure his battle buddy makes it back to his family. and, if you fail at that, when the time comes, your at the funeral and all you hear is this. i agree, my feelings on the subject are alittle too strong to put on here, but only if i had my way....

Answer 10

Actually, a motorcycle group called the Patriot Guard stands up against that horrible group. They will keep the "protesters" away from the fallen hero and the family. They also escort the hero and family to the gravesite.

I went to a service for a Marine who passed in December when it was very cold, and I hoped and prayed to see those jerks because I was going to douse them with ice water when it was 20 degrees F outside. But, fortunately, they were not there. BUT the Patriot Guard was.

Many states have enacted laws prohibiting them from protesting at military funerals.

I hate them, too, and as your mother says, "they will get their's." But they want you to hate them, they want you to confront them...that's how they get attention. I'd still feel great if I kicked one of their asses.

Thanks for your past service. It means a lot more to a lot of people than you might realize.

Answer 11

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