pilgrim's progress

"i come from the City of Destruction,
and am going to Mount Zion...
my name is now Christian,
but my name at the first was Graceless."

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Welcome! I'm Farris.
In my former life of atheism, I used to persecute the church of God and hoped to see it destroyed. BUT GOD, who called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Crucified Son to me so that I would preach Him among the lost.
1 Galatians 1:13-16


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  1. What is your opinion of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, known for their extremist views and overt condemnation of America, the military, and other religions? They believe they are the only group going to Heaven, yet they spew hatred. Isn't this a paradox? Curious to hear your thoughts.
    asked by Anonymous
    answer:

    Thanks for this question - despite its seemingly obvious answer, it really forced me to dig deep into the Character of God and my own hatred and pride.

    First, we all have moral intuitions (Romans 2, the conscience) and for most humans Westboro Baptist Church raises a HUGE ethical flag.

    Please understand me - these people yelling “Thank God for dead soldiers” are wrong.

    However, do I agree that America is not “God’s country?” Yes.
    Do I agree that the Lord sees homosexuality as a sin? Yes.
    Do I agree that Christ Jesus is the only salvation for men? Yes.
    Do I believe that God is capable of Wrath? Jealousy? Hate? Yes. It is part of His righteous Character.

    The scary thing about Satan is how he masterfully works Truth into sickness and thus causes people to harden their hearts towards the Gospel and God’s Word. So, by using the radical hate of this “church” and scary “Jesus camps” and thieving T.V. “pastors,” Satan casts doubts on all of Scripture and Truth by associating it with these people and institutions. But still, yes, Christians should condemn sin.

    But Scripture tells us: Do all things in Love. (1 Corinthians 16:14)

    & Scripture says: Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.

    But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

    Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him.

    Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

    And yes, it is a paradox of sorts to preach hate but believe in your own justification before God - Scripture speaks clearly on this matter. Those who are truly forgiven, they forgive. Those who have received Grace, give Grace. Those who were once unsaved, love the unsaved. Those who were lost, well, they march forward to find others.

    Jesus wasn’t here to save the righteous, He came for the sinners! It is not the healthy man who is in need of a doctor! If the Westboro Baptist Church members wish to cling to their own righteousness, they will be judged by their own righteousness - which is nothing compared to the Perfection of God. For this reason, we must all claim the Perfect Merit of Lord Jesus.

    But, we must be humble and vigilant. We must pray for these people and for others caught in “religion” without Christ. For not all that say “Lord, Lord! I have Prophesied in Your name!” will enter the Kingdom on that day. In fact, Christ will lock the gates for some, declaring, “depart from Me, I never knew you.”

     
     
    1. effsteele posted this