Two Thoughts About Fred Phelps

In the last 24 hours or so, there's been a lot written about Fred Phelps & Westboro Baptist Church in the light of his death. I recommend to you:

• Ed Stetzer (Christianity Today) - Hate and How to Overcome It: How Should We Respond to the Tragic Death of Fred Phelps?
• Amy Tracy (Washington Post) - May God have mercy on Fred Phelps

A few years back, I wrote extensively about the Westboro Baptist Church & free speech following the Supreme Court decision in their favor - Westboro, Motown, Sesame Street & Tiny Tim.

For today, I simply have two personal thoughts for you:

1. Despite having the name "Baptist" on the sign out front, Westboro Baptist Church is theologically on another planet.
2. The following quote is both a rebuke to the Westboro Church AND a warning to those of us who are tempted to gloat and/or pontificate in the light of Fred Phelps' death: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”  (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

That's it. Live wisely & well in the light of God's grace.

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. (Romans 12:17-21 NLT)

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