By now, most of you have already heard of the recent ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in regard to the suit brought against Westboro Baptist Church for inflicting emotional harm upon the family of a U.S. serviceman who died in the line of duty after church (it pains me to use the word "church" in regard to this organization)people picketed at the funeral. As always, they brought their hate filled signs and rhetoric and made their claim that they speak on God's behalf.
The SCOTUS ruled for the church on the basis that free speech, "even hurtful" is protected by the First Amendment. Few people like the ruling, even though it is correct, because most recognize that the right to free speech brings with it tremendous responsibility. Words remain powerful, as we have witnessed in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Certainly, in light of the suffering and grief that attends a funeral, the Westboro congregation has cast aside the church's historic compassion for those who are grieving, to spew their anti gay hatred. What the Westboro people do is in stark contrast to the compassion shown by Jesus to those who were dead, dying or in grief.
On the way to the tomb of Lazarus Jesus "began to weep" (Jn 11:35ff)and then he raised him from the dead and restored him to his grieving sisters. In Mark 5:21ff Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead. "Little girl, get up!", he said. Aside from being immanently present at times of grief, Jesus continually expanded the Kingdom of Heaven to include tax collectors, outcasts, sinners,and gentiles. From the woman he saved from stoning, to the woman at the well of Sychar, to the parable of the great banquet, to the parable of he lost sheep and the Prodigal Son,Jesus continually makes room for those who would ordinarily be left out, and continually shows compassion for those in need. In Matthew 5:4 Jesus says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Even if one could recognize a prophetic side to the ministry of the Westboro people, in failing to be compassionate as Jesus is compassionate they have utterly forsaken the pastoral responsibility of the Christian faith.
They also have a tendency to misappropriate scipture on their placards. I couldn't help notice that one of their signs quoted Jesus saying, "whoever kills is liable to judgment." In actuality Jesus begins in Matthew 5:21 by saying "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.'" Jesus goes on however to reframe the law in the context of the believer's much greater responsibility to seek reconciliation. He goes on to say in verse 23, "if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift." Jesus point is two fold: his followers are called to a ministry of reconciliation, and God's acceptance of our gifts is dependent upon the seriousness with which we engage in the ministry of righteousness and reconciliation. The placard, used like a cudgel on those who read it, both misquotes and misinterprets Jesus at the core of Christian teaching.
In the Sermon on the Mount (the very sermon that the placard misquotes) Jesus says,"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:44) The rest of the passage and sermon are well worth reading. Nowhere in it is an authorization to curse others as the Westboro people claim to do on God's behalf.
As with so many hate groups, the Westboro people cherry pick which scriptures apply and then lift them completely out of context.
The Westboro people seem far to interested in judging others, but would that they would read further on in the sermon from which they misquoted. There we read,"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be he measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbors's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your negihbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye', while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)I know myself well enough not to engage in eye surgery of this kind, and it is something from which all should refrain.
Near the end of the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 7:15ff, Jesus speaks of the false prophets who claim to speak in his name, "Beware of false prophets, wo come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit..."
Over many years, I have met many pastors and priests who, as I do, struggle with preaching the Word of God;and struggle to be both prophetic and pastoral. If I like a sermon too much, I usually have to start over. A sermon needs to afflict my conscience as well as the consciences of others. I have come to believe,however, that in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, God's final Word to us is a Word of Grace. This is why each sermon may contain law, but always ends with Gospel. The sermon really is the story of the resurrection told in different words, and it is always about Grace. And if I err, I would rather plead to Jesus that I erred on the side of grace, rather than plead excuse for the flesh I bruised with thorns and thistles.
I will pray for those injured by the picketing of the Westboro people, and as hard as Jesus command is, I will pray for the Westboro people, that the hatred with which they are afflicted and afflict will be replaced with a renewed spirit of mercy and justice.
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According to an NPR story, a spokesperson (not identified in the report) for that group of “Baptists”, openly declared, that “the primary reason for choosing the funeral venue - the military funeral for a veteran, [was to] “draw the attention, and get maximum coverage by the public media”. Wasn’t this practically the same motivation that drove a pastor (Baptist as I recall) to publicly burn copies of the Qran, “to garner media coverage”, in order to promote an agenda item, specifically, to embarrass the Federal government about allowing a masque to be built in NYC.
ReplyDeleteWhile these individuals, groups of individuals are shameful, and disgusting; they are, in my estimation, tiny and mostly harmless. And I also believe most Americans are able to recognize them for what they are, not spokespersons for Christian views, rather misguided individuals, pushing a personal agenda. True, those who seek to deride Christianity will indeed appropriate these stories as just more evidence to promote disdain for the Christian faith, sadly, through painful embarrassment of faithful church – goers; they were going to do that anyway. I am, on the other hand, deeply disturbed and apprehensive concerning other (much more formidable, in my estimation) Christians with an agenda (again, strangely, Baptists) whom I regard with far, far more distrust and contempt. I deem them confusing to the citizenry, and deleterious to the Christian faith. Chief among them; Rev. Richard Land, (BA Princeton, PHD, Oxford), president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, of the Southern Baptist Convention., the most powerful, in terms of members (and votes), evangelical (current media-speak for protestant) Christian body in America. Dr Land, and others, would seek to thread the Christian faith into the fabric of the American democracy. Not through, love and grace, as Jesus taught us; no indeed, they would accomplish this goal by lobbying (even threatening) members of Congress, state and local officials, while rallying voters, etc… Here is a current case-in-point:
http://erlc.com/article/religious-leaders-urge-house-to-defend-doma/
Note: Rev, Dr. Land at the head of the list. I’m heartened that no Lutheran appears on this list.
Now, I would pose the question; isn’t Rev., Land seeking precisely the same agenda, as the folks mentioned above and in Pastor’s blog? Namely, through a “Christian perspective”, denying the rights of a specific segment of the American population (gays, in this instance).
Here, he is trying to block the construction of a Mosque, (this time, in Nashville, TN):
http://blackchristiannews.com/news/2011/01/southern-baptist-leader-richard-land-leaves-interfaith-coalition-on-mosques.html
True: he isn’t outdoors, shouting at a funeral, or burning a Qran on an open fire. I would suggest however, that Rev. Land, and millions (yes – his numbers of followers range into the millions) of his “Christian” followers are walking the same path.
Is this what a Christian should be involved in? Does this represent the Word of God, manifest thorough Jesus, that we are justified from sin by grace?
Please don’t construe this as a personal swipe at Baptists; on the contrary, being a Southerner, the Baptists are very close to my heart. I’m Lutheran simply because, in my youth, I fell deeply in love with a girl who happened to be Lutheran.
ADDENDUM: I like to cut-and-paste the source of a reference so that the reader may follow, simply by clicking on the highlighted pointer, (URL), assuming you are currently connected to the internet. If first time assistance in this technique is needed, please feel free to ask.
This is my first time to “blog”, ever in my life – if you are reading this, it worked, I’m now in the blogasphere! I hope a lively, “Christian”, discussion begins!
-BB-