How Not To React

Posted by Scott McClellan on January 23rd, 2008 at 2:18 pm

The untimely passing of actor Heath Ledger, 28, been all over the news for the past 23 hours or so. Some of the coverage has been comprised of thoughtful, respectful reflections on a talented and troubled life cut short. Some of the coverage has been sensationalism and speculation run amok. In a situation such as this, how should Christians respond (if at all)? Some might talk about tragedy, pain, loss, hope, and redemption. Others might be a little more harsh and matter-of-fact. Then there’s Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. You may remember them as the walking lightning rods who picket the funerals of American soldiers. They’ve opted to give us what I consider to be a shining example of how NOT to react to something like this. VH1’s Best Week Ever blog points us to the following press release from WBC. Read it at your own risk.

WBC Press Release

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17 Responses to “How Not To React”

That is quite sad…and ridiculous. How about spending more time and energy on something constructive??? I’d like to meet the person (or people) who thought that press release would be a good thing or have a positive impact on God’s Kingdom.

posted at 2:49 pm on January 23rd, 2008 by Cameron

I’m stunned, shocked and embarrassed. This is why people hate us. This right here. Never have I ever wanted to muzzle someone so much in my whole life.

Where is “Love God, love others” in that? Where is the woman at the well in that? How can you claim to love God and care so little for his people? “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do” is not in that.

posted at 3:11 pm on January 23rd, 2008 by Tiffani Barnes

Could you imagine Jesus saying those kinds of things to the woman caught in adultery? Of course not.

These folks may think they are doing God’s will, but they they are dismantling the Kingdom of God. It is the same spirit found in the Pharisees that manipulated the system to put Jesus on the cross.

God help us.

posted at 3:46 pm on January 23rd, 2008 by Chad Payne

[...] Scott for the link. [...]

posted at 4:32 pm on January 23rd, 2008 by Heath Ledger’s Death - How Should Christians Respond? « My World

This is not a normal ‘Baptist’ church. It’s a cult out of Topeka, Kansas.

posted at 5:11 pm on January 23rd, 2008 by JC

disgusting.

posted at 7:02 pm on January 23rd, 2008 by joshua

It’s things like this that should make us pause to look at our own legalisms and judgments against other people. It seems that Jesus was very mad with these things. I’ve started making a list of some of the places Jesus warns us not to judge others. Can you all think of any others?

posted at 8:12 pm on January 23rd, 2008 by Mike

this is shocking. amazing(ly bad). I hate that people see these kinds of people as “Christians” or “Christ Followers,” it’s so misleading.

posted at 12:20 am on January 24th, 2008 by Will

I’ve read quite a bit about the WBC. All they want is publicity.

The more people that get enraged over what they do, the more they get what they want.

Although this will probably never ever happen, I think the most effective way to fight them and their hatred is to ignore them. Completely. Pretend like they don’t exist. Because talking about them and blogging about them, even to disagree, gives them what they want.

posted at 1:04 pm on January 24th, 2008 by Becky

This is really an embarassment. I’m currently reading “unChristian” right now. I won’t be shocked if these folks are used as an illustration in the book for contributing to the image problem.

//TC//

posted at 3:16 pm on January 24th, 2008 by Terrace Crawford

I’m not sure that ignoring WBC is the best way to go, Becky. After all, secular media outlets (Fox News, VH1, blogs, etc.) have already picked up on the story. In light of that, I think it becomes important for us to speak up rather than be silent. It seems like we should make it clear that WBC doesn’t accurately represent Christ or his Church.

When people hear about WBC’s actions, I want them to perceive them as I do: an isolated group with a message of hate that is in way embraced by mainstream Christianity. That said, I’m certainly not going to make it my goal to keep everyone posted on the movements of WBC from now on, but I thought their latest shenanigans were worth mentioning.

posted at 4:43 pm on January 24th, 2008 by Scott McClellan

yeah, this pissed me off.

posted at 5:05 pm on January 24th, 2008 by portorikan

Good point, Scott. I agree with you that we need to make the distinction between them and true followers of Christ. Their message is just so hate-filled that it’s easy for Christians to get so caught up in disagreeing with them and inadvertantly give their hate a wider audience.

(Your post did a good job of avoiding this, by the way.)

posted at 9:13 pm on January 24th, 2008 by Becky

FWIW: My understanding is that the official Baptist churh has disavowed any relationship with that group.

posted at 7:11 pm on January 27th, 2008 by rjwalker

Anybody for starting a “Christians Against WBC” rally group? I think it would be in good tastes to rally in front of the WBC building in a time of prayer for the misguided.

posted at 4:32 pm on January 28th, 2008 by Nathan Walker

We made a poster in response to this horrible poster. http://blog.ministrygrowers.com/2008/01/28/the-revised-poster-of-love/

posted at 5:40 pm on January 28th, 2008 by Mike Anderson

Combating hate with love? I like it. Thanks for the link, Mike.

posted at 9:00 am on January 29th, 2008 by Scott McClellan

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