This week in Blain, Perry County, Pennsylvania, seven children from one family died in a house fire. While they are still in the grieving process trying to find some way to make arrangements for a loss many of us cannot even begin to understand, the Westboro Bapstist Church has decide to protest at the children's funerals. A much as I find this just disgusting and unforgiveable, I must go back to my faith and find a way to answer this group of people who have differing views of what God's kingdom is all about. In reading all this I am reminded of Matthew 5:43-48 (The Message)
43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. 48"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."
I would call on all of us who are profess Christ, to stand up and let the family know there are people who do care, and grieve with them and do not hold this particular church's views.
The first link below is from one of the local tv stations in the Harrisburg area. It provides an address for people to help send donations to the family. The second link is one from a story about the Westboro Baptist Church deciding to protest the funerals.
Let's fight back in love. Let their worst bring out the best in us. Let's live generously and graciously towards this family just as God does with us!
|
