Let’s be clear: The Rev. Fred Phelps may be at least partially right that the war in Iraq is God’s judgment on America for its toleration and many times endorsement of the gay agenda and lifestyle, but his rhetoric and tactics are outside the bounds of Christian decorum. No family who has lost a child while serving this country in the armed forces deserves to have the memorial for that child descrated by chants of “God Hates Fags.”<\/p>\n
One family of a soldier fought back, bringing suit in federal court against Fred Phelps and his church, the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, a church which primarily consists of Phelps’ extended family. On Wednesday a jury awarded the family $10.9 million dollars in the suit<\/a>.<\/p>\n As much as I believe Fred Phelps to be a despicable human being and a terrible representative of the Christian faith, what are the long time implications of this decision? Phelps has never been charged with criminal trespass. He and his followers have never physically assaulted anyone. Phelps has been penalized strictly for speech which nearly every American, regardless of creed and regardless of your personal views on homosexuality, find objectionable.<\/p>\n But isn’t that why we have the First Admendment to the Constitution – for cases just like this – to protect the minority from the majority, freeing them to speak their minds without fear of molestation from the tyranny of the majority? And given the fact that the viewpoint of Christians is in many cases a minority opinion in our secularized culture,\u00a0is the verdict of this jury a precusor to the silencing of any speech perceived to be obectionable by the majority?<\/p>\n What are the free speech implications of this decision for legitimate pastors or lay Christians who lovingly confront the sin of homosexuality from their pulpits and in their workplaces? Will this decision, if allowed to stand, be the basis for similar suits against those of us who hold strong convictions about what Scripture clearly teaches about the homosexual lifestyle, infringing our right to speak what God’s word teaches?<\/p>\n Beyond that, what are the implications for the free speech rights of those who oppose the war generally and wish to speak out against it? There is no question in my mind that this case will eventually be overturned by a higher court. If it isn’t, we may as well just kiss the First Amendtment good-bye.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Let’s be clear: The Rev. Fred Phelps may be at least partially right that the war in Iraq is God’s judgment on America for its toleration and many times endorsement of the gay agenda and lifestyle, but his rhetoric and … Continue reading