Westboro Baptist Church adds to punishing reputation

When I saw the headlines of the past 2 days about the protests of the Westboro Baptist Church coming to Canada, I knew I wanted to respond. A grieving family shouldn't have to deal with these kinds of added grief, sadly the nature of public media makes it almost impossible to avoid them. My deep sympathy goes out to all involved.

It's not the first time the Westboro Baptist Church from Kansas has been in the news for threatening to dishonor the living who are mourning the dead and, unfortunately, it won't be the last. Their message to their northerly neighbours is that "God is punishing Canada" as evidenced in the tragic death of Tim Mclean, a Greyhound bus passenger. While Westboro's proposed protest does a lot to promote their media notoriety it does nothing to promote the cause of God in the world.

This disturbance has come about because the people of Westboro Baptist have confused the difference between God and humanity - God is God and they are not. I offer here a few simple clarifications in case anyone else finds themselves at some point caught in the same confusion.

#1 About humans: "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) Always act in ways that make things right, offer undeserved favor to others at all times, humbly acknowledge and accept that you are a creation. #2 About God: "The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love." (Psalm 145) #3 About judgements: There is a day when God will make final assessments, and they will be wholly true and right. (II Timothy 4:1)

So while Westboro continues to establish its punishing reputation, God continues to offer compassion.