Hello, I am ALSO a student doing a research paper on the Snyder V Phelps case. I apologize for the overlap of questions/interviews regarding the same material, but as was stated earlier, we all must conduct our own interviews and need different information, so if you could answer my inquiries as well, I would greatly appreciate your time.
Questions AND Answers:
1) Please give your name, the length of your affiliation with the church, (and if applicable, why you joined this particular church).
I was born into this blessed land 54.5 years ago, and by mercy from God, I have been here continuously for all those years.
2) If you could, please give me an overview of the teachings of your church, how it was founded, and the requirements to become a member.
We teach the Bible, including the Doctrines of Grace, also known as the TULIP doctrines of:
Total Depravity, (all mankind is born into this world, totally depraved, and without a work of grace upon their hearts and mercy from God, they will die and spend eternity in hell.)
Unconditional Election. God, in the council halls of eternity past, before the foundations of this world, chose humans that he would have mercy upon, and the Lord Jesus Christ agreed, for his part, to be born into this world, to live and walk among humans, and to be evilly, woefully and shamefully entreated and to submit himself to the death on the cross and the Holy Spirit agreed for his part to work upon those people, and to teach them all things and to call them and more good words like that. That election to grace, is unconditional, that love from God, is unconditional, and it is reserved for those that HE chose and that Christ died for, and that the Holy Spirit calls. NO ONE ELSE gets that blessing. It is God that will have mercy upon whom HE will, and upon whom HE will, HE hardens.
God told Moses: Exodus 33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
Paul reminds us all of those words of God here: Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Limited Design in the Atonement. That is to say, NOT ONE SOUL will be added to those that God chose before the foundation of the world. The list is fixed and certain and cannot be augmented by one or diminished by one! Praise God!!
Irresistible Grace. That is to say, there is no power on this earth that can stop the call to salvation! If Christ died for your sins, you will go to heaven.
Perseverance of the Saints or Predestination. In short, each soul, called of God to salvation through Jesus Christ, will endure to the end.
Here is a document put together by a kind soul at WBC, that draws a large body of scripture that confirms these doctrines: http://j.mp/nYAwN3
We also believe in the doctrine of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, that is the place God draws his people, where the ordinances of Baptism and The Lord’s Supper.
Begin there.
The Eastside Baptist Church of Topeka, KS was about the business of beginning another Church. That was in 1955. Many details later, Pastor Fred Phelps agreed to lead that church, and from that day, to this, that is what he has done.
Requirement to be a member is a request to be baptized, with a statement indicating a faith and belief in God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and so on. Members are required to walk orderly, and in obedience to the commandments of God.
3)Why do you particularly target homosexuals?
We “target” rebellion against God. We “target” what God targets. God says that conduct is abomination and worse. God destroyed Sodom et al, for that conduct. Our Lord Jesus said that at the time of his imminent return, the world would look likeSodom. I think we are there.
4)Why does Westboro Baptist preach hatred and disgust when it is taught that God wants his children to love others?
We preach TRUTH! You cannot preach from the Bible without preaching about the hatred of God. God goes way past hate, to abhor; and even past that, to despise. You better put away the emotional nonsense, sober up, and begin to look at your never-dying soul and answer this question put by our Lord, to wit: WHAT WILL YOU GIVE FOR YOUR SOUL?!
5)Why do you protest particularly at military funerals?
We speak to the living. They raised the dead rebel for the devil and sent them to hell. NOW, if they heed our warning and repent and obey, they might avoid that same fate as their “loved” one.
6) How do you choose what funerals and events to protest at?
We have a beautifully, simple plan, to wit: We follow Christ. We don’t sweat the small stuff, like where to go, as we know where we should go, as we look up, and that is exactly where we are. We are thankful to be counted among those that are described here: Rev 14: 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
7) If you are targeting homosexuals and sinners specifically, why do you have signs such as Thank God for 911 or Thank God for Katrina?
See #3 above. Forget targeting anything or anyone. We target every son and daughter of Adam that is alive in this earth at the same time we are alive. We have been instructed to preach this gospel to every creature. THAT is our target audience.
8) How was your church and its teachings represented in the Snyder case?
It was like a well-rehearsed, perfect symphony that accomplished the spreading of the Word of God unlike any pricy marketing campaign that we could have dreamed up. It was the fulfilling of these words of our dear Lord Jesus, in speaking of these last days of all, to wit: Luke 21: 7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? 8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. 9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. 10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. 12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. HOW GOOD IS THAT?!
9) How was your church, its members, and its beliefs affected by the outcome of the Snyder case?
Words fail me to cover this answer adequately. First, it increased our Faith! Second, it accomplished things among our members. It was simply another beautiful part of our path. It gave us great boldness to speak the Word of God to power. It confirmed the Word of God, and the words of our dear Lord Jesus and more and more. It was a work of God, and it is simply marvelous in our eyes. Our God said this: Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
10) What connection between our constitutional rights and yourreligious beliefs do you find?
No connection really, just this: God gave the First Amendment to this nation in her infancy, so that at this hour, that body of law, called the First Amendment would be so well established and engrained in this national psychie that it will take a LOT MORE than the rebels put forth to dispose of that way for WBC to preach this gospel to every creature, that God has set, and that beautiful garment that God clothed Doomed USA with.
11) And lastly, how does your church respond to/feel about the negativity directed towards your beliefs/protests since the outcome of the Snyder V Phelps case?
We LEAP for joy! God said that we would be hated by all men for the gospel’s sake. How is that going to happen, if we are hiding in the corner as the nation is being overthrown?! God set us here with a job to do, to bind this nation with his standards. Psalm 149 says that is the very honor that God gives to his people. We are always pressing on into the kingdom, and toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. It is not a vain thing that we do, IT IS OUR LIFE!
Thanks for writing.
-Your friends at WBC