Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) was founded in 1955 by Fred Phelps in Kansas, USA.
It gained notoriety for its views on various social issues, particularly its views on homosexuality and why ‘God hates fags’.
Actually, pretty much everything they preach is about how much God hates the world.
The church is known for its ‘extreme’ views. After all, arguing that God is a God of hatred rather than a God of love—something we were all taught—is quite radical.
In return, everybody hates Westboro Baptist Church.
They are known for picketing at events related to homosexuality and at funerals of war veterans, which they see as divine punishments.
Put another way, they believe God punishes evil and they celebrate His wrath.
Why do they picket?
Well, it’s to spread awareness of God’s hatred, they say; the world is deceived into thinking that God loves us.
But there’s another method to their madness.
Westboro’s funding comes primarily from member donations and aggressive litigation, particularly around free speech. They get sued a lot and they win based on their right to expression.
And they get millions of dollars as a result.
It’s genius.
Conversation
I spoke to one of the church’s pastors and really enjoyed the conversation. I appreciated his honesty and conviction.
You can hate him all you want, but unlike so many wishy-washy Christians, at least you know what you’re getting.
Fred Phelps died in 2014.
Did he go to Heaven?
Or did God hate him too?
Does God hate?
I’ve seen many conversations where people argue that God can’t or doesn’t hate because He is a God of love.
This isn’t true.
You can easily find verses in the Bible supporting the idea that God can and does hate.
- Proverbs 6:16-19: ‘These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.’
- Psalm 5:5: ‘The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.’
- Psalm 11:5: ‘The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.’
- Malachi 1:3: ‘And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.’
- Romans 9:13: ‘As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.’
It is clear, therefore, that God can and does both love and hate.
God hates fags. God hates fag enablers. Therefore, God hates America and this doomed world.
Fred Phelps
