The Reverend Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas is on a crusade. Across the country he and his followers show up at funerals of fallen soldiers with picket signs that say things like, “Thank God for Dead Soldiers!” and “God hates fags,” and more. Hate speech. They showed up at Matthew Snyder’s funeral, a fallen Marine who died while on active duty in Iraq in 2006. Matthew’s father, Al Snyder, sued. Snyder won the suit along with a five million dollar judgment. It was appealed. The case has now gone to the Supreme Court. The court will consider the case from the legal, free speech point of view. But let us consider this case from a spiritual, theological, Christ centered perspective.
When I first heard about this case I reflected upon the spirit, attitude, and language of Reverend Phelps, and others like him, who self-righteously pronounce that “God hates fags” (or this group, that group, and any other group they deem worthy of condemnation by God). I asked myself, “Where in the Bible does it speak of God hating someone? The first verse that came to mind is Malachi 2:16; and I quote, “‘I hate divorce,’ says the Lord God of Israel, ‘and I hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,’ says the Lord Almighty.”[1] And even here we might note that it does not say that God hates the divorcee, that is, the person; rather that God hates the action, the deed of divorce. In other words, to use what has now become a rather trite cliché, “God hates the sin, not the sinner.”
There is no question that the historical Jesus, born two millennia ago, whom Christians accept as, and believe to be God’s Anointed One, the Messiah, Lord and Savior of humanity, continues to impact the hearts and lives of billions of people around the world even today, over 2000 years later. This is the same Jesus who said things like, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her,” in reference to the woman “caught in the act of adultery” (John 8:1-11). Jesus also said, “For God did not send his Son [speaking of Himself] into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17).
Without condoning evil, sin, or wrongdoing of any kind, Jesus is invitational toward the wrongdoer. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). That is, Jesus’ way of dealing with people’s bad behavior, sinful lives, and evil tendencies is to invite them in, so as to find forgiveness and experience change and transformation, to be renewed and cleansed from any and all dark stains upon one’s soul.
In other words, Jesus’ message is a message of hope for the guilty. God is quite ready and willing to receive and accept the wrongdoer and is doing everything possible to avoid having to reject and destroy him or her. It is a message of hope for escape from the wrath of God, NOT a gleeful message of eager anticipation toward condemning and destroying the transgressor. The Apostle Peter, one who sat directly under Jesus’ teaching, put it this way, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). And let us not forget Jesus’ famous invitational words, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For, I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13).
Jesus is the only person who has ever claimed the right to speak for God and is able to get away with it. (See John 8:42, 54-56.) Why, because Jesus demonstrated His right to speak for God by means of His Power, Purpose, and Purity of living. Thus, whenever some self-appointed prophet or spokesperson for God stands up and declares that God hates this or that person or hates this or that group of people, I suggest you compare his or her statements with the life and teachings of Jesus Himself and see if they match up. Do they match up with Jesus’ character, lifestyle, and teaching? Most importantly do they match up with Jesus’ self-sacrificial acceptance of death on the cross out of love for humanity? “But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus came, lived, taught, and died in order to save, ransom, and redeem offenders against God’s perfect righteousness, the so-called bad people of this world, which happens to include me and you. This is what God’s grace is all about. Jesus said of Himself: “I am the good shepherd; …and I lay down my life for the sheep. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again” (John 10:14-18). He died by choice in order that we might choose to live.
It was and is Jesus’ intent that we humans understand that God’s desire for us is to be received by Him in love and joy, to be saved and forgiven not to be rejected and condemned. God does NOT wish to destroy the evildoer; He wants to change and renew the wrongdoer by the power of His love and grace. No matter how bad, how evil, how despicable one’s life may be or has been, God INVITES the evil doer to be welcomed and embraced by His merciful grace; God is NOT therefore gleefully waiting to pounce on sinful offenders with bloodthirsty hate, eager to take condemnatory revenge on the fallen. On the other hand, the only group of people for whom Jesus had no kind words, were the self-righteous, holier-than-thou types.
1. All Bible quotes are from the NIV BACK TO POST
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