The Phelps clan (Westboro Baptist Church) was in Ponca City recently. They were there to protest the funerals of O-State plane crash victims. While I don't agree with what they're saying, I do however respect their right to free speech and -- to the disbelief of some -- the reason they say what they do. This may sound strange given how critical I've been of the Christian faith in some of my other posts, but lets set aside the emotional element for just a minute and focus on what they are actually saying. The members of Westboro Baptist are bible literalists. They follow the word of their god as was intended. They don't insult the bible by interpreting it or adapting it to today's world. They honor the inerrant, infallible, all-mighty word of the creator of the universe. You would think that with a god as magnificent as the Christian god all Christians would give him the same due respect...but they don't. Most Christians punch their clock for an hour on Wednesday or Sunday and punch out the rest of the week; only exhibiting signs of their faith when its convenient. How dare they mock their god? How dare they disrespect and misrepresent what to others is their only reason for living? It amazes me how someone could so half-heartedly devote themselves to something and at the same time be so critical towards someone who's more devoted to the same thing. The Phelps bunch may be a little nutty, but at least they're true to their religion. Moderate and modern Christians should ask themselves: What would jesus do?
