“Don’t look at me. I never said that.”
Everyone's favorite Baptist minister, Fred Phelps, is at it again. Julius Carter, A Des Moines, Iowa high school student, has been awarded a scholarship created in honor of Matthew Sheppard, a young man who was tortured and killed in 1998 for being gay. Apparently Fred thinks this is an event worthy of his attention. "The plan is to stand peacefully on the sidewalk...and remind these people that there is a God, that there is a day of judgement and that it's not OK to be gay," said Phelp's daughter and congregational spokesperson. Asked about detracting from the graduation cerimonies, Phelp's daughter said, "Everyone is involved right up to their eyeballs. If they're not standing up and saying, 'no no no,' then they're not doing their duty to their Lord God."
It never ceases to amaze me how people can claim to be Christian but completely ingore the life of Christ. Phelps seems to be possessed of what I would call and Old Testament mentality. (Never mind the rightness or wrongness of his views.) Moses came down from Mount Sinai with what is often called the Mosaic law: eye for an eye, judgement and retribution, step out of line and I'll bust your chops, that sort of thing. Interesting isn't it that is has always been called the Mosaic law? The tablets were written on by the finger of God. Why isn't it referred to as God's Law? Maybe because it isn't God's law?
Early in Christ's ministry he gave a small sermon. Most people refer to it as "The Sermon on the Mount." It was just a small thing, I can understand how some people might have over looked it.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:43-45
Christ taught that he had come to fulfill "the law [of Moses]" (Matthew 5: 17), and endeavored to teach a law based on mercy and understanding, on personal responsibility and not blind justice founded on a laundry list of do's and don'ts. He also taught even the laundry list had become corrupt over the years. (Matthew 15:1-11) Paul later taught "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Galatians 5: 14) Doesn't it seem odd for a God who preached love, compassion and mercy to condone the "God hates fags" message of Mr. Phelps? On the other hand, if Fred is being truly literal in keeping the commandments, that would imply he doesn't think very much of himself and is a very unhappy man.