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Embarrassed to be Baptist 4/6/2010 1:15:46 PM
regarding the Baptist Church that defiled a veteran's funeral I am embarrassed to say I was raised as a Baptist; s Southern Baptist, at that. Yes, I know, Dr. Graham, I was taught better than that. I agree. But obviously the words of the Bible have lost their interpretation if people can say they represent a Baptist Church and that the church agrees and upholds their picketing of the funeral of a fallen soldier. Isn't it bad enough that the parents and family and friends have to suffer from the loss of a boy who voluntarily gave his life for his country? Is it too much to expect respect instead of humiliation at his last moments on earth? Standing there waving their signs saying that God hates a man who fought for his country does not promote Christian or Baptist values. The people who are doing this are neither one. There is nothing vaguely religious or spiritual in the meanings of those signs or the snarky comments made by the people holding them. It is an opinion of text whether or not God and Jesus approved or disapproved of homosexuality. Personally, I have never met a soul who has met either of them and gotten a first hand opinion. I DO know that they are a disgrace to any group of people who purport to be a church of any kind...unless it's the Church of Satan. Hatred has no place in Christianity. Religion was my college major and I have been enrolled in seminary for the past 2 years trying to broaden my degree and understanding. I have never found one reference in the Bible to picketing a fallen soldier's funeral. In the first place, if the objection is to some life style of the soldier it is a little late to be bringing it up. He is no longer among the living (in case they didn't notice). The only people being hurt by the picketing and signs and cat calls are the family, friends and relatives who have been left behind. That is just plain cruel. Isn't it enough to have to lose a child? Do you have to try to denigrate that soul that has passed into the eternal world? The one that aggravated me most was the "GOD hates you" sign. I was taught that God is love. Christianity is love. Jesus imbodies love. There is no need for hate. That is the message. Love your neighbor...but it sure is hard to bless them that curse you when they are doing it at your son's funeral.
My heart goes out to the parents. I wish they could have avoided this pain on top of the pain they must already suffer. Please know that people everywhere are on YOUR side; your son's side. These so-called Baptists don't mean anything. They are only showing their ignorance and reinforcing snide remarks made by the non-religious who call all relgious people "idiots"; these people fit their category. If they asked WWJD, they obviously forgot to listen to what HE answered.
