I rarely tear up when I read the newspaper. I probably should weep everytime I pick up that journal of human misery and evil. I suppose you become numb to the overwhelming scope of suffering. Two stories this week have generated wildly different responses. One story produced anger and disgust. The other story caused tears to well up in my eyes and humble self-examination.
I have had several people write to me and ask me to address the group of people in Kansas that pickets the funerals of fallen soldiers. I have hesitated to respond for two reasons. One, I do not wish to give this group any more exposure. Two, I always try to be gentle in my admonishment when I disagree with the views or actions of others. I cannot do that in this case. The group reached a despicable new low this week when they threatened to picket the funerals of those precious children who were killed in Pennsylvania. Cybercast News Service reported their “reasoning” for picketing the funerals.
- The Westboro group says the Amish school girls were “killed by a madman in punishment for Gov. Ed Rendell’s blasphemous sins against Westboro Baptist Church.
“Gov. Ed Rendell — speaking and acting in his official capacity to bind the State of Pennsylvania — slandered and mocked and ridiculed and condemned Westboro Baptist Church on national Fox TV,” the group says on its website. Later in the story the group is quoted as saying that they are “continuing to pray for even worse punishment upon Pennsylvania.”
Their rhetoric and actions make me physically ill. Seriously. My stomach hurts as I read this stuff. Perhaps one clue about the group is that I have to pick up their quotes from news stories. My filtering software (developed for Christian parents) blocks their website as hate speech. I would be concerned if Christian software blocked my website. So I suppose the group will now pray for punishment on me for condemning them. Whatever.
It did cause me to examine what a more reliable source said about who is to blame when horrible things happen in life.
Jesus was asked about some tragedies that had occurred and it is interesting to note that He did not establish blame…
About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were sacrificing at the Temple in Jerusalem. “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than other people from Galilee?” he asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will also perish unless you turn from your evil ways and turn to God. And what about the eighteen men who died when the Tower of Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will also perish.” NLT Luke 13
If Jesus had a chance to establish blame and did not do it then I am pretty sure that this Kansas group cannot decipher where His judgement might fall. Jesus did call for repentance as individuals. But He did not tie their spiritual condition to the tragedies that happen in life.
Jesus reserved His harshest condemnation for the religious. This group’s ranking of one sin as being God’s number one reason for retribution is unsettling. Would He be more likely to judge the Christians in my city of Dallas for their materialism and greed? How can I know? Perhaps a Holy God is more upset in how we (His followers) have squandered great wealth than in how some behave in their private lives. Is neglecting the widows and the poor less egregious to God than a parade in San Francisco? I am not smart enough to know. But Scripture seems pretty clear we should be taking care of those in need both physically and spiritually. And that we should love sinners as we show them grace and truth mixed together.
There was another time when Jesus could have let us know how judgment is dispensed here on earth.
Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?” Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. John 9 The Message
And that brings us to the rest of the story. The story that made me cry. The people that have with broken hearts looked instead at what God can do. I have always had respect for the commitment of the Amish people. To be honest, I have viewed their lives as being a bit odd. Now I wonder if they have it far more right than I do. I say that after reading their response to the senseless killing of these innocents in Pennsylvania. As I thought about my wonderful sons I don’t know if I would have the capacity to respond like these servants of the Lord. The Dallas Morning News reported this reaction from the Amish community.
The Amish have been reaching out to the family of the gunman, Charles Carl Roberts IV, 32, who committed suicide during the attack. Dwight Lefever, a Roberts family spokesman, said an Amish neighbor comforted the Roberts family hours after the shooting and extended forgiveness to them.
“I hope they stay around here and they’ll have a lot of friends and a lot of support,” Daniel Esh, a 57-year-old Amish artist and woodworker whose three grandnephews were inside the school during the attack, said of the Robertses. Huntington, the authority on the Amish, predicted they will be will be very supportive of the killer and his wife, “because judgment is in God’s hands”.
Could I do that? Would I even consider such a response? Later in the story I read this.
Enos Miller, the grandfather of the two Miller sisters, was with both of the girls when they died. He was out walking near the schoolhouse before dawn Wednesday — he said he couldn’t sleep — when he was asked by a reporter for WGAL-TV whether he had forgiven the gunman. “In my heart, yes,” he said, explaining it was “through God’s help.”
I have a hard time forgiving someone who says something negative about me. I am humbled by their faith. Another story in the Dallas Morning News had this amazing demonstration of grace,
Donors from around the world are pledging money to help the families of the five dead and the five wounded in amounts ranging from $1 to $500,000. The families could face steep medical bills. Though the Amish generally do not seek help from outside their community, Kevin King, executive director of Mennonite Disaster services, an agency managing the donations, quoted an Amish bishop as saying: “We are not asking for funds. In fact, it’s wrong for us to ask. But we will accept them with humility.” At the behest of Amish leaders, a fund has also been set up for the killer’s widow and three children.
Are you kidding me? Thinking of the financial needs of the killer’s family? Incredible. No, make that supernatural. That is beyond the scope of human response. And then the final story that brought tears to my eyes this morning. This report comes from the New York Post.
Staring down the barrel of Charles Carl Roberts’ gun, 13-year-old Marian Fisher and her 11-year-old sister, Barbie, bravely pleaded with the madman to shoot them and spare the eight other girls he was holding hostage. “Marian said, ‘Shoot me first,’ and Barbie said, ‘Shoot me second,’ ” said midwife Rita Rhoads, who had helped deliver several of the victims. “They were really trying to save the younger girls. It is a real reflection of their faith.”
So we have news stories about two very different groups. The group from Kansas and the Amish faithful from Pennsylvania. You tell me…where do you see Jesus?
film izle
Some say it was more due to the tendency of Phelps and company to sue.
Carrie
I know you are reluctant to comment on the funeral protesters, but it’s probably a good thing to have many Christian voices out there saying that most of us are more compassionate than that!
Buckeye Michael in NC
Torn up is an understatement. To see the beautiful, undistorted, true reflection of Jesus in the faith and life of these Amish people. The world will be able to tell that they are real Christians be their love. God forgive me and help me to radiate your reflection like these true believers and their lives. Preach often… use words only when necessary.
Dave
Thanks for this article Dave. I will be referring it to others I know.
Bill
I Truly enjoyed your article I intend to pass it along.
Thanks,
Michael Cooper
Thanks for reminding us of the faith of our brothers and sisters in the Amish community. Their humility and mercy in this circumstance is truly a witness to the entire world of the power of God’s grace.
May the Father bless and comfort them in their grief and their ministry to the shooter’s family.
Because of Him,
Mike
Ed
Dave,
Thanks for your insights. I read this article to my family at dinner the other night and my 11 year old said "Wow, you guys should vote for him for President." Don’t worry about that, Dave, you’re much more valuable to us with your writing. Keep up the great work!
Blessings,
Ed
Phil Hodges
dave,
thank you again for putting into words emotions and struggles many within the christian community are scarecely able to describe. Anger burns within me for the hateful comments that the kansas group spouts. i know that satan applauds their every move, but they like the amish have so well shown us deserve our grace as much as we in our sins recieve the grace of our Heavenly Father. what a world we would live in if the church could stand not with fists clenched at the injustice in this world but with arms wide open ready to recieve the hungry, sick, yes, but also the angry, hateful, ugly, evil, beings who do what they do thinking themselves justified, but only spreading grief and tragedy and confusion behind them. I know this sounds like a radical idea, but I am struck so strongly by what the amish have said, let God be the judge in our world, we are HIS church and as such must turn the other cheek time and time again, this too is against all human understanding, much like Christ dying for us while we were still in our sin, rejecting him, spitting on him, stabbing our brothers in the back, worshiping false gods. Sin is Sin, ugly, evil. by turning the other cheek and offering forgiveness as Christ does maybe just maybe we too can make a difference. it will certainly make the church and possibly the world stand up and take notice. Forgive me if this has upset you i hope it is read in the context that it is intended, Thank you Dave again for your heart, your mind, your willingness to express your heart to others.
In His hands
Phil
Bill
I have been reading the same comments in the paper, but it took your putting them together to really hit me with what an unbelievable expression of Christ the response of the Amish has been. Thanks!
Cheryl
The Phelps people are rednecks.
The Amish people are too good for this world.
Anissa Griffin
What a testimony of forgiveness. I cried. Who am I to hold on to "slights" or petty complaints. What a witness….a quiet and humble witness for our Messiah to both the unsaved and us as fellow Christians. THIS is the way to behave. It stings to think about how far below this we can each fall (I know I do!) when the slightest wrong is committed to our person. Ouch! I have been touched, I hope permanently by this show of Christ’s love. Not only the children’s pleas for each other, but also by reaching out to the widow. She, of course, is also a victim (along with her children), perhaps the worst victims. The most touching thing to me was not the fund set up for them, but the assurance they were given that they should remain in the community, that they would find more comfort, support and love there than anywhere else. What a testimony has grown from this tragedy. Isn’t that similar to how Jesus set us free? Not only did He die for us (when He was innocent), then His Father adopted us into Their home with the assurance that I should stay there, no other place could ever give me as much comfort, support and love. Wow! What an awesome God I serve!
Bridgette Moore
It helps me when I realize that Phelps family is what makes up the church.
Then it is scary and even with the judge not least ye be judged in the back of my head, I can’t help but think "Whoever causes a child to sin it would be better to have a millstone around there neck" More about the Phelps family can be found :
<b>Addicted to Hate: The Fred Phelps Story – This book was written by Jon Michael Bell, originally for the Topeka Capital-Journal, but the paper refused to publish it because of lack of credibility of its contents. Bell sued the paper for monetary compensation for his work on it and in the process, the book was submitted as evidence and therefor became public domain, allowing it to be published on the internet, where you can find it at http://www.addictedtohate.com. </b>
Some say it was more due to the tendency of Phelps and company to sue.
Last year we took my daughter and her friend to see Magic Schoolbus Live in Lawerence Kansas (between Topeka and Kansas City). Phelps and company were there there. So we got to explain to our daughter why "God Hates Fags" is very unchristian. Why were they there? It was a theatre production and "most actors are gay".
On the other hand, I’ve been reading all that have come out about the Amish. I don’t know if I have the faith to be as graceful as they are. It’s making me pray to be more loving.
tom
Well said, Dave. Thanks!
Patricia
I can’t believe that there is a group who wanted the Amish children in Pennsylvania to suffer more! How horrible! And they call themselves Christians? Whatever. I am here now trying to restrain myself from using four-letter words for those "Christians".
But the Amish are so awesome! They must have an incredible strength and faith. I don’t know if I could have been forgiving towards people if I knew they killed one of my family members. They are such a peaceful people. If everyone were like these Amish people, then the world would be a much better place.
Steve
Those jokers from Topeka make me almost ashamed to be a Kansan.
Jubile98
Thank you. Not all who SAY they are "Christian" are really Christian.
"The tree is known by it’s fruit." Matt. 7:16-20; 12:33
Tina Comstock
Amazing! To set up an account for the killers wife and children. . . it just dumbstruck me. They are a few steps ahead of mainstream christianity. How amazing. As Christians we are called to love our enemies. The Amish figured this out. . . too bad the other "Christian’s" in this story havent figured this out yet. Hopefully it wont take until they hear "depart from me for I never knew you" for them to learn to love rather than hate.
Darlene O
Thank you for discussing the stand that this church has taken. It is scary to think that a group that calls itself "Christian" is out there saying that my GOD wanted these children to suffer and die because of something a governor said about this church. I know we are not here to judge. But I think we are here to point out to others struggling in their walk, what we believe. My GOD was there to hold these innocents as they died and to welcome them home. HE is also there to comfort the families left behind. What a wonderful witness the Amish have in opening their hearts to the family of the man that did this. The world would be a better place if we could all be as "Christ-like" as these people. Thanks again for a great website!