Social Scientist Wannabes came from Pittsburg State University (from Pittsburg, Kansas) recently with some questions. We had a pleasant time with them (they did their best to remain detached–rots of ruck; it’s hard to deal with sharp threshing instruments all detached and such); and when they left they left some questions. Nine of us answered them below. Their question appear and then blam, blam, blam, blam, blam, blam, blam, blam, blam come the answers. Hold on to your hats. It’s an adventure . . .
1. Tell me about yourself.
–I am a thankful member of the Westboro Baptist Church, happy to dwell in the land which flows with milk and honey.
— I am a depraved son of Adam, blessed by God my Creator to walk amongst the Elect of God in the dispensation I live in. There is nothing remarkable about me except that by the Grace of God my daily conversation is not one of riotousness and chasing every lust that crosses my mind.
— This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1 Thessalonians 1:15.
— I’m a depraved human, who has a hope that her name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
— I’m 5’7” (I used to be 5’6 & ¾ inches for years – but I grew that ¼ inch within the last year or so). I was born and raised in and am now a member of the Westboro Baptist Church, for which I am so very thankful.
— I am just a normal run of the mill sinner. Nothing special.
— I’m a despised nobody who desperately clings to any hope of heaven I possibly can. =)
— None of your business, there is only one thing you need to know: I was called out of the corrupt mass of mankind and there is not one thing within me to glory about, I am an unprofitable servant of the Living God.
— I am a member of Westboro Baptist Church (WBC). I am 45 and married with 7 children.
2. Tell me about Westboro Baptist Church.
–Westboro Baptist Church is the light set on a hill that shines forth truth as a beacon through darkness. It is the place where God meets with this people and determined to provide a Pastor for his sheep. It is made up of living stones, each with gifts unique to them for use to minister to the saints and serve our Lord.
— WBC is the place where by all indications God Almighty has chosen to put His Name in this day and age. It is the Candlestick University, the light upon a hill surrounded by a moral miasma of perversion and degeneracy in possibly mankind’s darkest age. It is the only place where the Bible is preached honestly, truthfully, and without modification to please men’s ears; it is where God’s standards are spoken of and kept.
— Ps 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion. Hebrews 12: 22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Ephesians 2: 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. 1 Tim 3:15: The house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
— It is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, where God meets with His people, where the candlestick shines, and where God has an unction with the body. It is the only proper place of worship in the world today.
— By the grace and mercy of God, WBC is a small, local autonomous church of the Lord Jesus Christ that adheres to the Bible’s teachings, because we recognize (again, by the supernatural faith the Almighty supernaturally implanted in us) that the Bible is for our learning and admonition and there is no problem that comes up in life that cannot be answered by Scripture. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, so we commit our way unto Him and He brings all things to past as they should.
— We members of the Westboro Baptist Church fear God and keep His commandments (See Eccl. 12). We are earnestly looking for the appearing of the Jesus Christ in power and glory and are moved with fear like Noah was to the saving of his house (see 2 Pet. and Jude).
— The Westboro Baptist Church is the sign of the prophet Jonas (Matthew 12:39&16:4; Luke 11:29-30); present-day John the Baptist, preparing the way of the Lord, laying the axe to the root of the tree, crying in this waste howling wilderness the simple command: “Obey or perish!”
— See the websites, all your questions can be answered there.
— WBC is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in the earth in these last days. It is the only place on earth where you will be told the truth pursuant to our duty to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:17-18.)
WBC members are known world-wide for their love for their neighbor and for each other – we love one another as Christ has loved us.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:35.)
3. What is the basis of your beliefs?
—Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 32:40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
Pr 15:11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
— The Bible.
—1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 ¶ This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 ¶ He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
— The Bible.
— The Bible.
— The Old and New Testaments.
— The Triune God (God the Father, Christ Jesus the Son of God & the Holy Spirit) established a covenant in eternity past that in this human experiment: 1. God the Father would choose His elect, 2. Christ Jesus would live, suffer & die to redeem those elect & 3. The Holy Spirit would call, sanctify & guide those elect in their lives. God kindly gave us His revealed word, the Bible, written by the Holy Ghost via men; Christ Jesus calling Himself that same Word. (John 1:1-18). I guess that’s a fair summary.
— The Holy Bible.
— The basis of WBC’s beliefs is the written word of God as found in the Bible.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1.)
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:19-21.)
4. What motivates you to be so passionate in your activities?
—Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
— The unction of God placed upon my heart to fulfill the Royal Law, and love my neighbor as myself. To warn others of the dire peril their eternal soul is in if they do not repent and worship God in truth. The hope that some sheep, perhaps the last sheep will, by the foolishness of our preaching, have his or her heart touched by God and put off their sinfulness.
— Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
— Php. 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
— Our duty to our fellow man and our beloved God, which is to preach the gospel to every creature (Mr 16:15), to cause America & the world to know their abominations (Eze 16:2), to cry aloud, spare not and lift up our voices like trumpets and show America & the world their transgressions (Isa 58:1), to blind the eyes, harden the heart, and make heavy the ears of the wicked so they can’t repent and be converted and healed by Christ (Isa 6:9, Mt 13:15), and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Lev 19:17-18, Mt 22:39).
— The fear of God motivates me. The punishment of hell fire where the worm that eats on your never dies and where the fire is never quenched motivates me (Isaiah 66). Knowing that I, like all humans must stand before the judgment seat of God and receive the things done in the body motivates me. Therefore knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men. See 2 Cor. 5:10-11.
— The Holy Spirit working in us, opening the eyes & ears of our understanding so we can see the gravity of these eternal matters (outcomes based upon our temporal lives). The Holy Spirit dwelling in us & the Word of God being as a “burning fire shut up in [our] bones” (Jer. 20:9).
— The grace of God and the Holy Ghost which was sent to His people, to give them an unction to serve God, described in several different ways within the scripture, but I like this verse best: 1Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
The “motivation” being to avoid hell by ignoring my job to my neighbor. It is a very self-serving thing that I do. Romans 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
— What motivates me to be so passionate in my religious activities is the desire to obey the commandments of God, and to do my duty to every person alive with me. You may say I am addicted to this ministry, ala the house of Stephanas.
I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. (1 Corinthians 16:15-16.)
I also hope to do as Noah did when he preached to the antediluvian world, to wit:
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:7.)
Every person when they hear or see our words are going to take a position either to obey or rebel.
5. Tell us about the things that you do that are not WBC related. For example, what do you do in your free time or what do you do for entertainment?
–No time is free. It is all owned by God and to be used in service to him. So I use my “free” time to tend to my children and teach them what is required by God of them and find ways to minister to those around me who fear and love the Lord.
— Everything I do pertains to WBC and ministering to these people’s needs, whether they be my children, wife, or fellow church members. As a member it is my duty to God to aid His people in every way I can, and I endeavor to do so.
–Free time? Free time? We don’t got no stinkin free time. The name of our church is Westboro “Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Baptist Church.
— I don’t do anything that is not related to serving God in this life. I work to support myself; I picket, blog, write, tweet, sing and otherwise publish; I minister to the saints, which includes the thoroughly enjoyable opportunity to spend time with these beloved people, whether it’s breaking bread, taking a walk or getting some other form of exercise, reading the Bible, singing, talking, or watching children. There is very little “free time,” and this work is the highest form of “entertainment,” being utterly rewarding. And I don’t mind watching a little Law & Order to wind down before going to sleep at night.
— Cook delicious (and sometimes not so delicious) food stuffs for my loved ones.
— We help the other members of the church, we watch movies, mostly at home, we watch the news. We grow vegetables in the garden. We play with our children and other children of the church. We read the Bible a lot.
— Those things are of little to no importance, comparatively…so, no thank you. 😉
— I have thought for years of putting this on a t-shirt and wearing it: “Life is picketing, the rest is practice”.
— I have seven children – I don’t have any free time! J No, actually, I like to exercise and do fun activities with my kids.
6. What is your idea of an ideal America?
–One that is truly thankful to their Creator for all things and demonstrates their thankfulness through knowledge of the scriptures and adherence to his standards, including telling their fellow human beings that their sins are taking them to Hell, rather than suffering sin.
— One which obeys God’s Word.
— As it appears today: ripe for utter destruction by God their creator. Because they have made God their enemy with their idols and their hatred, mocking and abuse of His prophets at WBC.
— An obedient America.
— One who mourns for their sins and fears and serves the Lord their God with all of their heart, soul, strength and mind.
— A country that fears God and keeps the commandments of God and has behavior that is not counter to the scriptures 24x7x365.
— I think I can fairly say that the ideal *anything* is how it presently is – because the bottom line of anything I would want in this life – is that the will of God be done & to be content with whatever that looks like. (Luke 11:2; Matthew 26:42).
— Any nation which fears God and Obeys God would be just fine with me: Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
— I don’t have an idea of an ideal america. This nation is doomed – it is so far gone, and for so long. God blessed this nation greatly and gave her everything she wanted and needed; then, america forgot her God and turned to idols. Now, she will be turned into hell with all other nations.
7. Do you consider yourself patriotic? Why or why not?
–I suppose I could call myself patriotic, when I consider that I support the beliefs our founding fathers had the God-given foresight to put into our Constitution and that I would defend those individual rights that we are given.
— No. My citizenship is not of this world. Patriotism is an idolatrous invention of man, not found in Scripture. It puts the idea of “country” before the simple idea of serving God.
— My attitude is like Abraham’s as described in Hebrews 11: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. … 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. And, see Hebrews 13:14: For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
— To the extent there is any proper concept of “patriotism,” we are the most patriotic people in the world. We warn our fellow citizen to flee God’s wrath by obeying, using every sinew of our being to do so. The only way this nation will survive as a nation is by putting away its sin, and having policies of obedience and humility. The odds of that are very slim; but it’s the only hope. The only true “patriotic” thing to do under these circumstances is to say those words, no matter how much they resist. Any other form of “patriotism” is idolatry.
— Yes. I have sincere love for the souls of my fellow americans even as they plot and perform appalling/vicious acts of terrorism against my loved ones and I.
— Not really. Our allegiance is to God not to America. God is not an American.
— Dictionary.com says “patriotic” means: of, like, suitable for, or characteristic of a patriot. & “patriot” means:
1. a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion.
2. a person who regards himself or herself as a defender, especially of individual rights, against presumed interference by the federal government.
So, after clearly seeing the meaning of that word, I would have to say – of course! If you understand the Bible-defined meanings of love, support & defend, I would think any rational, reasonable person would agree.
— I am a true patriot for the definition of patriot is:
1. a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion.
2. a person who regards himself or herself as a defender, especially of individual rights, against presumed interference by the federal government.
Can you point to one thing I or any member of the Westboro Baptist Church has done that does not fall squarely within the four squares of that definition? Just sayin’! We obey the law, we pay our taxes and we demonstrate our love by our words and deeds. Only an unfaithful rebel enables lies, sin, and crimes.
— Members of WBC are the only true patriots left in this land. We are the only ones who truly love our country and her people and truly care about your never-dying souls. The rest of you lie to each other every day and thereby show your traitorous hatred for your neighbor and your country. Just tell the stinkin’ truth!
8. How do you think the public perceives your culture?
–I know they perceive it to be of something that can be disregarded as crazy and unsubstantiated. I know this by their behavior when I stand on the street with a picket sign and watch how they react, or by how the news portrays us and the comments that attach to such an article.
They are mockers and scoffers of our culture. But, I take comfort in knowing that this reaction was prophesied about in Jude 1:17-19 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
— They hate us. They hate everything about us and would love nothing more than to snuff us out of existence.
— I don’t care. 1 John 3: 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
— The world hates us. I don’t know whether they think things through enough to know we are a sub-culture; and it doesn’t matter. Label us any way you want. They hate us.
— They generally hate it (in full or in part).
— We don’t care, we care about how God views us.
— Tee hee, culture…you’re so silly! This is a living, breathing organism called the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, a body of believers – the betrothed Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s okay, you’re learning! 😉
I know the way we are perceived; it’s the same way the church of the Lord Jesus Christ has always been perceived. Check out my dear friend Abel – he was viciously hated by his brother, who soon became the first murderer, murdering little Abel for his conspicuous testimony. Then look to our only Hope, Christ Jesus – when He publicly spoke, the general consensus was to pick up stones & kill Him – and they did kill Him, remember?? (John 10:31-33; Matthew 26:4; Mark 9:31; Luke 22:2). Furthermore, our kind Savior forewarned us how we would be perceived:
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Mark 13:13
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.” Luke 21:17
— I don’t care because like I have always said: What Is Right Is Not Always Popular – What Is Popular Is Not Always Right. Put another way: 1John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
I HOPE they hate me because they hate God, to wit: 1 John 3:11 ¶ For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
— I don’t care how the public perceives our culture. They have no interest in or say about our culture. We don’t serve humans. We serve the living God! What He thinks is all that matters.
9. How do you perceive your community and what impact do you think you have on them?
–Our community is full of rebels who believe they can mistreat the servants of God. They have waxed more gross in their sins since we started picketing, so I believe the impact to be that we have brought the word of God to their ears, eyes and hearts and they have fully rejected it, thereby rejecting God. And, like Noah and his preaching for 120 years prior to the flood the impact is that we have saved our house, condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Heb 11:7
— Our community is the world, which is also our parish. Our community is just as we are, depraved souls without hope of eternal life without the Grace of God. They walk about willingly ignorant of the Scripture, they hate us, hate our words, and hate the God who gave them to us to speak. I believe the impact we have on them is precisely the impact God wants us to have on them – their eyes are blinded, their hearts are hardened, and their ears stopped up; which is precisely the same impact all the preachers and prophets from Adam until now have had, including Jesus Christ.
— Ho 9:9 They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins. Isa 41:15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
–If by “community” you mean the city I live in, the city of Topeka is one of the most evil cities to ever exist. If God doesn’t punish Topeka, for rejecting the words of His prophets, and for maltreating His people, He will have to apologize to Sodom. He’s not going to apologize to Sodom; Topeka is doomed. We have warned them, and will warn them, until that doom comes.
— If by “community” you mean the people pertaining to my church, then the answer is: I dearly love the little peaceful sheep of God in this humble church, and am daily mournful that I don’t provide near as much comfort, edification and support as they do me. But I give it the old college try and ask the Lord for direction, wisdom and all spiritual blessings in this matter.
— We bind them with cords and chains so no one can say they didn’t know what the standard of God was on these matters of heaven and hell. We accomplish only what God set out for us to accomplish.
–My general, physical community called Topeka, KS has never been my friend & I lightly esteem this city; in fact I join in with Christ Jesus, as He cursed Meroz, so does He Topeka:
“Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.” Judges 5:23
A college student visiting & studying this little church in the past put it quite well – that Topeka tried to smother us in our proverbial cradle. That’s not good.
And on our impact on Topeka? Upon the first picket, I think our impact was immediate & by now we’ve been interwoven into her psyche – I’m talking major saturation. But it’s in more facets of society than just our picketing on the streets.
We have been as active in our community as I can imagine possible for any one group of people.
Our effect has been to throughly pickle her so that she is irreversibly doomed & absolutely accountable & guilty.
–My neighbors, only that impact which the Lord intends me to have. God’s word for it, I have done my share of salting them with fire for the Day of Judgment:
Mark 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
— See my answers to questions 2 and 7 above.
10. What is your end goal or what do you hope to achieve?
–See answer to number 9 above. We have a hope that we would become heir of the righteousness of God which is by faith. We hope to achieve that eternal life which is promised to those who continue in well doing. Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.
–Fulfilling my duty to God.
—Jude 1: 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
–Obey God; warn my fellow man; not have their blood on my hands because I failed to say “stop sinning.”
–I hope to overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of our testimony and to not love my life unto the death. I hope that when I get before my God on the great Day of Judgment that He will not look upon my sins that cover me as a second skin and judge me accordingly, but will instead accept my pleas to look upon Christ Jesus my Lord as my justification and that my Friend and Advocate will speak for me (having elected me to salvation since the beginning of time, hopefully) and give me His glorious robes of righteousness. I hope for a new name and a new glorious body fashioned like unto Christ’s glorious body, and new songs to forever sing the praises of my God to whom belongs all glory and majesty and power and thanksgiving.
–Our only goal is to please God and to warn our generation it is an awful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb 10:31.
–It’s simple, really. =) We have a commission, as watchmen to cry aloud in warning! Whether your hear or forbear is God’s business, but we’ll raise as much hell as we can to preach this message – to get it before the eyes & in the ears as many humans as possible! (Ezekiel 33:1-9; Ezekiel 2:5-7; Ezekiel 3:11&27; Isaiah 58:1; Mark 16:15)
–Good question: My end goal is to run my race, finish my course and join the great cloud of witnesses, and spend eternity sharing stories of my great adventures with those who went before, and to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Primarily, to be with those sheep who are on the King’s right hand as described here:
Matthew 25: 31 ¶ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
–My goal is to go to heaven when I die.
11. Your actions often incite hatred and rage. What does this mean to you? How do you deal with that on a personal level?
–It means they have received the word. Jeremiah 25:15 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. 16 And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.
–My actions do NOT incite hatred and rage. My WORDS prick people’s consciences which they hate, and that drives them to rage. I am not responsible for another creature’s rebellion and inability to control their spirit. My actions – that is, my sacrifice of 20+ years standing on public rights of way with words of warning, the countless hours I have spent putting words into cyberspace to warn all who see them to repent or perish – I say my actions to a person who understands the eternal peril they are in, are rightly seen as a kind warning to flee the wrath that is without a doubt to come.
I don’t “deal” with any of it on a personal level. This isn’t about me. This is about a one-way transmission of God’s truth to any and all whom God will have hear it. Those who will not will perish because God has created them for that purpose.
—Ps 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise [God]: the remainder of wrath shalt [God] restrain.
–My actions don’t incite rage; my words incite rage. It means to me that we have hit the mark. I couldn’t care less on a personal level. Their hatred of these words is not personal; they don’t know us personally. Their hatred of these words is against God. They can answer to Him.
–It is simply validation of Christ’s Word: “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me,” (John 15:20-21). So I rejoice.
–Lu 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
Heb 11: 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
This is the mold or die of God’s elect, that they are hated by their generation, like Christ.
–The hatred they feel was already there, the word of God takes off their silly guise of decency; what was in their hearts comes forth as rage when they hear the simplicity of God’s word. This means that the words of God are confirmed before our very eyes! Personally, it makes me so happy! Check it out:
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5: 11-12
“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” Luke 6:22-23.
–The question is a lie, and I am so glad you asked it since it now puts you squarely in the crosshairs of a raging mad God: Psalm 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
However, I am in good company with those who have dealt with rebels throughout the ages: Jeremiah 25: 15 ¶ For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. 16 And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.
You who dwell upon the earth (all your thoughts, lusts, resources go towards serving yourself and this earth) think you can dictate to me what I should believe and how I should express my beliefs, up to and including lying about me, stealing from me, beating me, slandering me and trying to kill me. By your warped standards that should incite me to anger, but instead it incites me to rejoice because I know God is going to kick your ass up one side and down the other:
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
–Human hatred and rage are sins against God. Those who proudly engage in those sins are putting their souls in peril. My job is to faithfully report the message; what happens to the hearts of those who hear is not my business and has no impact on me.
The promises of Jesus Christ prepared me for their reaction, so there hatred and rage comes as no surprise.
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. (Luke 6:20-23.)