The Anti-Christ comes to Blacksburg, VA
Deep in the dark recesses of the Christian community lurks a demonic little group led by a man named Fred Phelps. Phelps has for years been engaged in what he believes is a moral crusade against the United States and it’s fall from some perceived ethical standard of long ago. He believes that the Unites States has fallen from grace by tolerating homosexuals and we are being punished by God for our sins. He blames gays for the destruction of the Challenger, 9/11, the War in Iraq, and – most recently – the shootings at Virginia Tech. He sometimes refers to gays and lesbians as “these beasts”. He claims the Fire Fighters who died at the World Trade Center and Mr. Rogers are in Hell (not joking!).
And just in case you are not sure that Phelps is serious about blaming
One of Fred Phelps’ more – shall we say – endearing qualities is that he likes to picket funerals. He picketed the funeral of Matthew Shepherd, the young man who was brutally assaulted in Laramie, Wyoming and strung up on a fence facing a road for all to see. He ultimately died after a few days from a fracture that ran from the back of his head to the front of his right ear. 22 year old Shepherd was gay and his attacker admitted this was the reason they attacked and killed the boy.
Every major church – even the most conservative in the America – condemned the attack as brutal, monstrous and opposed to the best values that God commands for each and every one of us. Every one. Even the churches that condemn homosexuality says that – while Shepherd was a sinner – what those two men did to him was worse.Everyone except Fred Phelps, who showed up with a brigade to picket the funeral of Shepherd and denounce any public outcry for the execution of a gay man.
Phelps has in recent years taken to picketing the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq. He believed that Saddam Hussein was the only Muslim leader in the Middle East who allowed the Gospel to be preached and supported him. He believes that 9/11 was God’s condemnation of America for being tolerant to gays and lesbians, and he believes that the present troubles in Iraq are the direct result of God’s displeasure.
Just this week he announced he would be picketing the funerals for the victims of Seung-Hui Cho, the Virginia Tech mass murderer. Not to fear. Fred is not losing his edge. He believes that Cho is in Hell too, but he believes that Cho “was also fulfilling the word of God.” Apparently, we all needed a wake up call to realize just how mad God was.
A great theologian once wrote that Christians do not need to contend with non-believers for the conversion of the world. We need to contend with other Christians who are – more often than not – the best argument against Jesus Christ. The Bible says that anyone who stands against the Gospel of Jesus Christ is effectively anti-Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). Rev. Phelps, I say this in all sincerity and biblical faithfulness: you are the Antichrist, dear sir.
Fred, the best I can pray for you is that one day, when you are cast into the “outer darkness where there is great weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 22:13-14), you will look around and not find a single Irishman, Swede or homosexual. Perhaps then, as you have a moment to pause because Lucifer gags briefly before swallowing you down, you will realize just how horribly, deeply, and truly you have betrayed the Lord and God you once hoped to serve.
And for that dreadful day I would say, “God be with you” but I know there are some places even He will not go. May it be so, Amen.
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