11:08 PM
Mike Brownstein
I'm sure you are probably thinking that the title was a joke, but unfortunately it wasn't. The Westboro Baptist Church protested an NHL game between the Dallas Stars and Phoenix Coyotes last weekend. Seriously, why? What has the game of pro hockey done to the faith of Christians to warrant such a response? This is what the WBC had to say about this picketing:
God H8s Ur hockey! Valor Pl. & Olive St. WBC will picket your stupid, cold (you will truly pray for these days of being in the cold hockey games when you burn in hell for eternity) violent, time-wasting hockey game - your SPORT. You know there will be only a few more of these entertainment events before God lets Obama simply destroy this nation. God does not have anything good to say about your sport(s).
This is sadly true. It is awful that the church had to picket a hockey game, because it felt that Obama is fixing events like the "marquee" Stars vs. Coyotes game to get people to spend into debt. Last time I checked Gary Bettman is the commissioner and is in no way tied to President Obama, other than he is the President of the country he lives in.
I'm still having a hard time following the logic of this protest, and I probably will never understand it. Were they trying to protest how bad Marty Turco is playing? Probably not, but they did succeed in one aspect: annoying more people, who are likely not going to join up with their cause.
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8 Response to "The Westboro Baptist Church Protests an NHL Game"
I didn't think it was possible for the WBC to get any crazier. I stand corrected.
This is, truly, a "lolwut" moment.
Oh, if Gary Bettman is like a president, he's more like Herbert Hoover than Barack Obama.
This is barely even a church and why anyone pays them any attention is beyond me. It's one crazy guy and mostly a bunch of his idiot family members who spew hate. The dude's hatred for gays is so intense you almost have to think he's closeted himself. I don't understand how they aren't classified as a cult (or maybe they are?).
I am certain that God hates hockey in the sunny Southwest, but I don't understand why he needs these nuts as messengers. He could have sent any of his "prosperity gospel" preachers to Phoenix to say "See, if God wanted hockey here, the Coyotes would make money."
The WBC is not a recognized church by any denomination. They are all crazies. I mean, the protest the funerals of fallen soldiers, which I find more insulting than protesting a hockey game...
WBC should not be considered or in any way be connected to the Church that Christ describes as His bride in the Bible. They are a cult that spreads hatred and is totally ignorant to the teachings of the Bible. I truly hope that they repent of their foolish ways and grasp the true understanding of the true teachings of Christianity and how to be a Christ-follower.
It doesnt matter what they are classified as, it's still hateful and disrespectful. No matter what event it is.
Whether you all like it or not, they're a church. Just as much as any other non-denominational, evangelical Christian church in this country. You may not like that they call themselves Christians, and it's good for you to speak out and say so, but they have just as much right to the name as Pat Robertson does. Or Rick Warren. Or Jerry Falwell did. Or Jim Bakker. Or any of the other charlatans who pass themselves off as "spiritual leaders" among non-denominational evangelicals. If you people want to create a standardized definition of "Christianity" you should start with the folks who have really damaged the brand - those con artists have done far, far worse in their time as "spiritual leaders" to hurt the name of Christianity than Phelps and his clan ever could be capable of.
Hell, old Fred Phelps has one up an all those old fakers - he seems to actually believe the crap he spews. So at least he's sincere in his beliefs. And he has a set of beliefs that are cut from the bog-standard mold for anyone who has historically started their own Christian branch - i.e. "God thinks just like me". A tradition that goes back at least to Martin Luther, if not earlier. AND he's able to rationally put together a coherent theology using the Bible to justify his belief system, which is better than a lot of Christians can manage even with fancy degrees in theology (a theology he mostly cribbed from the odious John Calvin to be sure, but he's put his own modern spin on it). I suppose it helps that Phelps has no belief that the God he worships is particularly "good" or "loving", just that he's supposed to be obeyed - Phelps doesn't have to spin himself in circles to justify the nasty crap that comes part and parcel with the Bible.
Some Christians may not like what the WBC says, but the worldview the church teaches has a clear Christian pedigree direct from Calvinism. The only major "theological" difference between the WBC and some of the larger Calvinist sects in this country is that most Calvinist churches are smart enough to keep their ugly beliefs of who God is punishing for what to themselves instead of holding up signs on street corners. But they've all made their own lists about who the "elect" are who are going to get to heaven and who the horrible sinners are who they get to spend eternity watching suffer in Hell. No different from Fred Phelps in that regard at all.