Sunday, May 16, 2010

A Unique Perspectve on Westboro Baptist Church

So, I just got finished reading my wife's blog and saw that it had been 11 MONTHS sense my last post. So much for having an update, huh? As some of you probably know there will be the burial of an American Hero tomorrow in Jacksonville, AL. Captain Kyle Comfort was killed last week in Afghanistan by a road side bomb, leaving behind a wife and a 6 month old little girl, along with many many other family and friends. Some of you may or may not know that Westboro Baptist Church from Kansas plans on coming down to protest. I don't understand what would make someone want to come and spew hatred at the family of a United States veteran who was killed serving this great nation. Here's the kicker, they think they are doing what God wants them to do! I was thinking about how crazy that is today at church and then I thought of the conversion of the Apostle Paul. In Acts 9:1-2 Luke tells us "But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem." What do we find Paul doing? He is going to the high priest and getting arrest warrants to pick up Christian and bring them back to Jerusalem so they can stand trial and face the punishment for being a follower of Christ. Now why is Saul (the Apostle Paul) doing this? He is doing this because he thinks God wants him to do it. He is going around and getting these followers of Jesus and getting rid of them for God. You remember from Chapter 7 of Acts that Saul was there holding the garments of those who stoned Stephen the first martyr of the early church. Place yourself back in the early church. You are meeting with other believers in homes out of fear of what will happen to you. Saul isn't who you want to see come to the door, because he wants you dead.
Hopefully, you see the picture I am trying to paint here. Westboro Baptist thinks just like Saul thought, they are doing what God wants them to do. They think by these protest they are proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just like Saul was wrong, Westboro Baptist is wrong. Here is where we come in. Paul in verse 3 was knocked off his horse by God and confronted then converted. The same God who saved Paul can knock this group off their high horse and save them. Paul had a Damascus Road Experience, let's pray that Westboro Baptist Church has a "Pelham Road Experience". Pray that they will hear God ask them just like he asked Saul "Why are you persecuting me?" We can out number the protesters with supporters all day, we can drown out there hateful speak till they leave, but we won't change them. God is their only hope. He is the only one who can change their wicked hearts. Pray He will. 2nd Chronicles 14 says "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." We can't sit by and do nothing, we must call on our only Hope. Pray that God will change the hearts of Westboro Baptist Church for His glory. And don't stop praying for Captain Comfort's family. Please go tomorrow and show support for not only Captain Comfort and his family, but also all those who have sacrificed for this country. May God heal our land, He is our only hope.