The LORD God is highly offended when you seek outside His mighty and outstretched arm to find the chief cause of every affliction you face. So say it with us: God sent the mudslide!
See WBC’s video production, here: http://bit.ly/1fEBqtZ
Thank God for the massive mudslide in Oso, Washington. Thank God for the slaying of 18 men, women, and children in a simple and relatively microscopic demonstration of the power and might our Creator possesses. This event is a particularly important one about which Westboro Baptist Church must absolutely preach. We must absolutely go to Seattle — and to Oso — and celebrate the wisdom and power and might and dominion displayed by that raging God about whom we have tirelessly and lovingly warned the citizens of Washington state and this entire nation.
Since the number of unaccounted for is now at 30, there are the families and friends of at least this number who are utterly consumed with grief and fear at the very real, palpable, and horrifying prospects that the final number of dead from this event will be 48. We at WBC are parents; we are children; we are siblings; we are relatives and loved ones. We know grief, sorrow, pain, and fear.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” [2 Corinthians 5:11]
Far more importantly, we are instructed in Holy Scripture both about such suffering AND the proper disposition of heart and mind to have about that suffering. That is why we must speak NOW! We must talk to the families and friends of the dead and injured NOW! We must tell all of those who are still living what Jesus Christ says on such matters. Ours is a heavy and blessed burden, which we dare not delay in bearing.
The Patriarch Job faced such an event — the destruction of all his property and the death of his servants and his children. All these died in ways every bit as horrible as the mudslide of Oso, Washington. Cut down in relative youth, and while engaged in unremarkably common events of their lives, just like in the mudslide of Oso, Washington. Job loved them all — and particularly loved his children such that he regularly sought after them to encourage them not to sin against God while they conducted their affairs of life! See the words at Job 1:4-5:
“And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.” [Job 1:4-5]
The relevance of Job’s handling of such events in our lives is specifically articulated by the Apostle James, when talking about the suffering of the beloved Saints in the Churches of God:
“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” [James 5:11]
The difference between how the Saints of God (including at WBC) deal with these times of great affliction and trial, such as the death of a loved one or friend — and the rebellious, God-mocking reprobate — is that we at WBC look to what the Scriptures teach us about such matters, and heed those words! So, let us see what Job says when he faced his mudslide:
“Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” [Job 1:20-22]
That’s the stuff right there! There’s life and peace and joy and comfort when you put the proper perspective on a great affliction. When my heart aches for the loss of a father, or son, or sibling, or dear friend — this is the place to go FIRST! Give God the glory, FIRST!
Conversely, the population of Oso, Washington — and all those who stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them from sea to shining sea — rise up with one voice and REFUSE to give God the glory for His wondrous work! You deaf, dumb, and blind who inhabit this dark nation of Bible-ignoramuses scratch around and search for a cause among the results; the disease among the symptoms.
“The LORD’S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.” [Micah 6:9]
God did it!
“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” [Amos 3:6]
Of course God broke the ground forth and sent it sliding down upon man, woman, child, and suckling in Oso, Washington. Of COURSE He did it!
For your faithlessness, your blasphemy, your arrogance and pride — you get no hope on the earth, and much worse when you quit the earth. Consider God’s words at the mouth of His prophet Isaiah:
“Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.” [Isaiah 50:11]
The LORD God is highly offended when you seek outside His mighty and outstretched arm to find the chief cause of every affliction you face. You are fools to tempt such a mighty God with your blasphemous words. We at WBC will commit no folly. We at WBC know and will proclaim the name of the God who afflicts us. Therefore we say:
Thank God for the death of Fred W. Phelps, Sr. and thank God for the death of all those who perish in the mudslide of Oso, Washington.
Amen.