"MATTHEW SHEPHERD, Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God's Warning: 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.' Leviticus 18:22."

Not even the lovable "Mr. Rogers" escapes the pastor's wrath. According to Phelps, Fred Rogers "went straight to hell" because of his ordination in the Presbyterian Church and association with PBS.

Phelps also picketed in New York City three times since September 11, 2001, with signs that read "Thank God For Sept. 11" and calling the FDNY a "fag fire department." Recently he was in Hawaii, the site of the WWII attack on Pearl Harbor, with signs that read "Thank God for December 7".

He especially seems to hate anyone who disagrees with him. His website proclaims:

"[Anyone] believing and preaching that God loves every individual of mankind -- we say, You are going to Hell! Period! End of discussion! God's decree sending you to Hell is irreversible! Hypocrites! How can ye escape the damnation of Hell?!"

Well, at the risk of "the damnation of Hell," I've gotta ask, what does God Himself think about all this? I'll let His Book speak for Him.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). (The word translated "world" is actually "cosmos" which includes every created thing and every single person.)

Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? (Ezekiel 18:23).

"The Lord . . . is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:7).

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:36-38)

Let your conversation be always full of grace (Colossians 4:6).

But it also includes hundreds of sections that teach "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

God loves gays and straights, America and Iraq, Fred Rogers and Fred Phelps. He's not always happy with their behavior, but He loves them unconditionally.

So should we.

© 2003 James N. Watkins

comments

I am not really a religious person. I practice agnosticism, and I believe that my decision to do so stems from my want to be free to come to my own conclusions about certain topics. I also believe it's because I want to have faith in people, to respect other people, and because I want my views in life to be unclouded by religious teachings. However, I believe some religious teachings (if not most) are almost fundamental.

The only reason I've said that is because I want to thank you for your site. I think your site has proved that truly religious people or people with any kind of good sense can realize that religion is not a weapon. It is not something you should use to hurt people or to dominate over them. You have shown, especially with the quotes on your homepage, that truly religious people are far more intelligent than those they are commonly represented by (aka- Fred Phelps). The teachings of Christianity, and most other religions, actually, such as the idea of loving thy neighbor, respecting your fellow man, and striving to be a kind and generous human being seems fundamental to me, and it baffles me that so few people concentrate on that aspect of religion before they will persecute people and alienate them.

Mr. Phelps and his family/congregation are a sincere detriment to our society. I have never been so infuriated by a group of people in my life, and it really is sickening to know that people like that use the bible and the constitution to manipulate the law and continue to preach hate and hurt the people around them. It's comforting though, to know that there are people willing to combat that, and that such behavior will not be tolerated. Thank you for starting this site, I only wish more people knew about it.

Sincerely, Joe

Thanks for your email. I do trust that you'll investigate the pure "Christianity" taught by Jesus in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. And my apologies to all those who have been turned away from Christ by "Christians." Here's a page called Genuine Jesus or Counterfeit Christ that attempts to dispel some of misconceptions of Jesus: who He is and what He taught.

I can think of no graceful way to begin this post, so I'll jump right in.

What is the difference between homosexuality and heterosexual sex outside of marriage? Nothing. Both are sexual sins in God's eyes. So why is the church so comfortable around an "adult" couple who have sex outside or marriage or may even be living together, but clam up when confronted with someone who is contemplating whether they are attracted to the same sex?

Frankly, I think the church needs to take a good, long, hard and painful look at itself and how it portrays Christ to the world. Did Christ distinguish between the thief, the prostitute, and the pharisee? I don't think so. If anything, he was harder on the pharisee who KNEW what God wanted and refused to do it.

Remember, the Bible says that those who don't know God are BLINDED by satan. Conviction of sin is God's area of expertise, not ours. Good job, Jim, for pointing out that hate is not a form of witnessing. Love is. Take a cue from Nike and "Just do it."

Keep the food for thought coming, Jim. America is hungry. raverill@earthlink.net (April 2004)

Thanks for your article on Fred Phelps. He needs a public rebuke! fess@paonline.com (October 30, 2003)

I am sitting here with tears in my eyes after reading GOD HATES GODHATESFAGS.COM. You put it so beautifully and chose such good passages to debunk this insult to our God and to Christianity in general. One of the reasons my adult daughters avoid church like one of the Ten Plagues is because of filthy trash-talk like that spewed by the Rev (?!) Phelps. I'm forwarding this column to both of them so they can see that not all so-called Christians believe that their friends are doomed to hell. Thanks, teacherlin@verizon.net (October 30, 2003)

Great message, Jim. I have always deplored hate mongering in any form. This applies equally to the vindictiveness addressed to those with whom I agree, and to those with whom I disagree. Thanks for your Biblical stand in Christ. T.AirportChaplain@verizon.net (December 30, 2003)

I've been hoping for months that no one else on the planet was aware of the godhatesfags site. I came across it early last year and was flabbergasted. I live a quiet and sheltered life in the midwest with my wife and 2 children and am pitifully unaware of much going on in the outside world. I'd assumed that such misguided understanding and teaching of GOD's word had died with the demise of Jim and Tammy.

However, kudos on you response. I, too, know that GOD's love is for everyone. Those things that GOD hates are the actions and thoughts of man, not the man himself. If GOD hates homosexuals as well as homosexuality, then it stands to reason He hates the liar, the proud, the thief....etc. That then leaves no one for GOD to love for as you know, "We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD." But, we must recognize and repent of our sins lest we be given over to our depravity. Sincerely, bonzo_lives@yahoo.com (January 7, 2004).

As a citizen of Topeka, Kansas, I have long ago realized this man isn't going to change by anything we do or say. Unfortunately, I have experienced him up close and personal by unavoidably driving or walking by his placards. One of his church members was a student in my vocational class There have been lawsuits against him and his family and letters to the editor, to try to instill some decency and compassion in him. He manages to come out even stronger with his message at any attempt to squelch him.

Occasionally, but not intentionally, I drive by his "compound" and see his Perkins-sized American flag hanging upside down from his flag pole. Now, the latest is a Canadian flag, which he flies above the American flag! There is some message there he trying to convey.

For reasons I don't understand, God is allowing him to continue his message virtually unscathed. I'm sure Fred believes he is right and God is on his side because he is getting away with it. Maybe we need to look at ourselves. God expects us to have the same love and compassion for Fred and his followers as for the rest of humankind. We are to love our enemies, no matter how hard it is to do that or how much they hurt us. It has been difficult, but with God's help, I'm able to drive by his hate messages without feeling hate myself. I pray for him to see God's love, not for my own comfort, but truly for his salvation and for his misguided flock.

Your bible passages are right on. Our church is studying God's love this year as we believe God wants all his children to know and understand of his love to help prepare us for the difficult years ahead for our nation and world. Time is short, and all are to come to Him before it is too difficult to find Him. His presence and influence in the world will be diminishing, as He allows humankind to take themselves to the end of their evilness; to do what has been desired by humans since creation---to be their own gods. He knows humankind will eventually destroy itself so He will stop the evilness before that happens and bring back His Son to rule forever and ever.

Of course, God doesn't love the homosexual lifestyle, for He abhors sin. Paul told the church always to tell the truth in love. Truth is a two-edged sword. One side cuts with the pain of the truth as it cuts out evil and the other side brings hope, love and healing. It is hard but only by God's grace, can I love Fred and the homosexual unconditionally. To love unconditionally means to give others love and TRUTH. It would not be unconditional love if we didn't also tell others the consequences of their actions of eternal damnation; but to give the message in love. The light of His love shines in every dark corner and reveals the sin therein. Someone who knows and understands of His love, begins to see their own sin from God's perspective and hate it as God hates it. With true repentance, it opens the door for healing.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond. djhawk@networksplus.net (February 18, 2004)



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