On Monday, March 8, 2010, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth District in Baltimore, Maryland. The Appeals Court had overturned a lower federal district court judgment in favor of Albert Snyder of York, Pennsylvania. Mr. York's son, Marine Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder, was killed in the line of duty in Iraq on March 6, 2006. On March 10, 2006, Mr. Phelps, his two daughters, and four of his grandchildren protested at Lance Corporal Snyder's funeral in order to publicize their message of God's hatred for America because of its tolerance of homosexuality. Mr. Snyder successfully sued Mr. Phelps, Westboro Baptist Church, and others in US Federal District Court for invasion of privacy and causing emotional distress to the Snyder family; he was awarded $5 million. On appeal from Mr. Phelps, et. al., The Fourth US District Court reversed the judgment of the lower court, citing that the judgment contravenes the First Amendment of the Constitution.
The constitutional question raised here does not seem as clear as one might expect. The First Amendment of the Constitution is not universal. I do not have the right to shout, "Fire!" in a crowded movie theater. It was undisputed at trial that Mr. Phelps and others with him complied with local ordinances and police instructions while protesting at the church where the funeral was held. It was also established at trial that Mr. Snyder did not see the signs (God Hates You, Thank God for dead soldiers, God Hates the USA, among others) until he saw video footage later that day of the Phelps' protest at his son's funeral.
I am not a lawyer, and my interest in this case has nothing to do with a constitutional issue of First Amendment rights. I am more interested with Mr. Phelps and his perversion of the Gospel message. As long as the Church remains silent in the public square, refusing to speak about the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ and man's dangerous condition, the gospel of Fred Phelps IS the face of the Church. Do we really want Fred Phelps speaking for Christ and his Church? Would you hire Bernie Madoff to sell your retirement and investment portfolio?
How we got to this point could be a book in itself. Society has told the Church for so long that biblical faith is a private matter belonging to the realm of ideas, and therefore unverifiable as truth. Since it is unverifiable, discussion of the biblical faith in the public square is irrelevant. In response, the Church has countered that the physical world, including man, is such a chaotic and screwed up state, that the best thing we can do is just wait for Jesus to return, and then sinful man will finally get his. As Shirley Phelps-Roper, daughter of Mr. Phelps, said, "Her [America's] destruction is imminent, and it's going to be marvelous." Well, she is one person who has no comprehension of the severity of the judgment of God.
How different is the message of Fred from the message of Paul. Does anyone really think that Corinth or Rome in the time of Paul was a paragon of virtue?
And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, though not being myself under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
1 Corinthians 9:20-23
When was the last time we thought of the lost, those who are without Christ and any hope in the world, as people who have to be won over? When did we begin to think of lost souls as a mere commodity that we could ignore at our convenience? When are we going to wake up and warn the lost to flee the wrath to come and flee to Jesus, who will never turn away a penitent sinner?
Phelps reminds me of Simon the Pharisee in Luke7. You know the guy who loves little because he has been forgiven little.
Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him. And He entered the Pharisee's house, and reclined at the table. And behold, there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner." And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher." "A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty."When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him more?" Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly." And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. "You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. "You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." And He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace.
Luke 7:38-50
The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is marginalized and caricatured enough these days. Hardly a day goes by when one doesn't hear of a bit of mockery towards the Church. In fairness, sometimes it's because of the stupidity or sin of some church leader. But, when the Church sits back and acts disinterestedly, allowing men like Fred Phelps do their "branding" for them, our estate has reached an all time low. We need to change, and we need to change right now.
We do not need any new programs, classes, or seasons to get us moving in the right direction. What we do need is to pray, and to take an interest in our neighbor just as we would like him to take an interest in us. Treat others as you would have them treat you. Love one another as Jesus has loved you. Ask God to give you one opportunity each day to ask someone you know, "What difference does Jesus Christ make in your life?" Then listen carefully, very carefully.
Sound too simplistic? Well, come up with something better and let me know.
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