Fred Phelps preaches that God hates homosexuals, this seems to be all he preaches publically, he even goes to funerals of homosexual individuals to preach the same message. I was shown some of this material the other day and asked to responed. Here is my response:
The gospel according to Fred Phelps is a twisted proclamation of the word of God. Whatever someone believes about the word of God, that is what they will tell to others. So, if I believe the word of God is nonsense that is what i will spend my time telling others (in this example of course i could just not tell anyone anything about it - this could also work). If i believe the word of God is the proclamation of the damnation of homosexuals that is what i will spend my time telling others. If i believe the word of God is anti-women, that is what i will spend my time telling others. And so on.
Phelps, as he and his bill boards show, spends his time constantly proclaiming to others that homosexuals are damned (if ive understood the material rightly, and if the material is an accurate depiction of all of his ministry.) This is not what the word of God is about, even though its mesage includes homosexuality being offensive to God (Rom. 1:26-27; Lev. 18:22; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Its message also includes the fact that idolatry, dishonouring of parents, envy, pride, greed, sexual immorality, and might i suggest after watching the material of Phelps, hatred of fellow humans (Matt. 22:39) are also wrong.
But we have still not reached what the word of God is about, the word which Frank Phelps (and sadly so many others) have twisted. The scriptures are about God's free decision to rescue miserable sinners like me, and anyone else who has repented and believed, from destruction - "She will bear a Son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21 see John 3:16-17; the passion narratives; Acts 4:12; Romans 1:16-17; 5:8; 8:1; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 corinthian 5:18; Galatians 1:3-5; 3:13; Ephesians 2:4-6; Philippians 2:5-10; Colossians 1:21-22; 1 Thess. 1:10; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:4-6; Philemon :25; Hebrews 10:19-22; James 2:5; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 2 Peter 1:3-4; 1 john 4:9-10; 2 john :3; 3 john :11; Jude :24; Revelation 5:9-10). I did not hear this at one moment in the Phelps material and I did not see it in his actions either - so i believe he is twisting the word of God ("fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them." - Acts 20:29-30) and needs to repent. This is sad, but it proves not only the apostle Paul true in the quotation just cited, but also the Lord Jesus himself - "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." - Phelps' sheeps clothing is off - the game is up.
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Dear Paul,
you've been busy with the posts lately. On the last one, I've not come across Phelps, but I nonetheless enjoyed reading a simple yet profoundly helpful reminder of what the word of God IS about. May more people proclaim the grace found in Jesus, that he has come to save sinners, that more rejoice in his name and bring him glory.
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