We learned today that Fred Phelps, founder and (excommunicated?) leader of the much hated Westboro Baptist Church, has died.
I take no joy in this news. I instead feel a very deep sorrow for, I fear, Fred Phelps learned very little of grace and love in his 84 years of life.
Not only this, but he gave the impression of revelling in hate, abuse and dissension. He created a culture within his church (if one can call it that) of enjoying the pain of others and of proclaiming judgement over anyone who wasn't involved with them. If you ever saw videos of their protests, or of them speaking about their beliefs, they laugh and apparently enjoy the awful things they say and do.
I fear that Fred Phelps, even if he did love those around him, did not ever learn of the joyful and hopeful message of the gospel. I feel intensely sad because he never had the opportunity to live in true love and freedom, and to experience the joy of offering and receiving forgiveness. Not only that but he, and his message, damaged some peoples' view of the Christian message, the Bible and God.
I have no thoughts regarding his eternity - that, for me, is God's business. I am simply sorry that he didn't get to experience heaven on earth as I have and hope to, and because he believed so strongly in a hateful and vengeful god. Because he used the Bible and the Christian message to support this view, he blinded himself and those in his community to the possibility of experiencing God as I know God to be.
I hope, one day, that the passion and drive will be taken out of the community and they will find another way of being. I hope that, if they do do this, there will be enough grace in the communities they go to to forgive and accept them. I hope and pray that they come to know God, and people, as I know God and people to be.
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