Need help on countering anti-gay "Reverend"

Vanity | 4/30/05 | caseinpoint

[caseinpoint]

This is the first vanity I have posted. I need some help from some of you really clever thinkers there.

We have an active Gay Straight Alliance Club which has succeeded in pressuring a high school math teacher to resign because of a private comment that teacher made at school regarding his views of homosexuality. I have made my views known in a column I write for our local paper that teachers ought not be gagged, especially in private conversations that either were accidentally overhead or deliberately set up by an activist (I'm not sure which happened). Anyway, the damage is done and the kids are feeling mighty proud of themselves for destroying a teacher's career. They are now gunning for others and pressuring all teachers to put up gay support signs in their rooms.

That being the case, we now have received word that the "Reverend" Fred Phelps' church is planning to drop by our community on the day of our graduations at the two high schools and demonstrate against the gay agenda. For those who don't know this "gentleman", his church likes to demonstrate with signs like "God hates all fags" and "Fags are going to hell" in-your-face protests.

The kids at our schools don't need this kind of notoriety. Most of them are just trying to get through school, keep their heads down, and enjoy their graduations.

I am opposed to the gay agenda and we in the community are fighting against this bullying by the Gay Straight Alliance but someone like Phelps will only hurt our cause. So what I am asking is some ideas for counter signs to demonstrate against Phelps without supporting homosexuality. I can think of serious ones, but I am hoping some of you can come up with some clever ones that will make people laugh. I think we need a light-hearted approach on this serious subject and I am lousy at comedy--at least the intentional kind.

Any ideas would be appreciated. I am hoping to organize a group of people to display counter signs to Phelps and let him know that his hatred isn't the answer. Yet I don't want to be construed as in support of the homosexuals.

In advance, thanks much.

[Roots]

I'm simply calling you out on your initial statement of "casting the first stone" and how you threw it out there in a way that had absolutely no context.

How is this without context? That verse applies as any verse does. This priest chooses to chastise sinners without considering his own sinful nature - Jesus' message was that sinners should not cast stones at those who have sinned. He's not actually throwing rocks, if that's what you need to hear.

You mention not offending fellow Christians publicly.

By this I was referring to the priest.

they are sodomites so the biblical passages on approaching a fellow believer do not apply

I'm sorry, I missed the memo on which aspects of life God did not have full control over. No offense to you and yours, but maybe you need to reconsider just how all-powerful and in control God really is.

[JesseHousman]

A school that has allowed its "administrators" to become steeped in the evil that is homosexuality by sanctioning a club for perverts needs the signs and slogans from the other side.

A school that condones such a monstrous gathering of little sickies needs to be turned around quickly.

Yet I don't want to be construed as in support of the homosexuals.

You are, in fact, in support of homosexuals, because if you're against them where's the confrontation with "school" authoritites? They think your part of the club sycophants.

[JesseHousman]

A school that has allowed its "administrators" to become steeped in the evil that is homosexuality by sanctioning a club for perverts needs the signs and slogans from the other side.

A school that condones such a monstrous gathering of little sickies needs to be turned around quickly.

Yet I don't want to be construed as in support of the homosexuals.

You are, in fact, in support of homosexuals, because if you're against them where's the confrontation with "school" authoritites? They think your part of the club sycophants.

[JesseHousman]

A school that has allowed its "administrators" to become steeped in the evil that is homosexuality by sanctioning a club for perverts needs the signs and slogans from the other side.

A school that condones such a monstrous gathering of little sickies needs to be turned around quickly.

Yet I don't want to be construed as in support of the homosexuals.

You are, in fact, in support of homosexuals, because if you're against them where's the confrontation with "school" authoritites? They think your part of the club sycophants.

[JesseHousman]

Hiccup!

[gobucks]

"I am opposed to the gay agenda and we in the community are fighting against this bullying by the Gay Straight Alliance but someone like Phelps will only hurt our cause."

And so, on Graduation Day, you will join him in a 'counter protest'?

This is an odd vanity. Very odd. Looking for clever ideas about what to put on signs to counter an obnoxious Christian? Because 'his hatred' isn't the answer .... very, very odd indeed.

Look, let's say first-off that you are having your children witness your actions. And that you know for a total fact that they will imitate your actions some day. And let's say that what you want is for them to do just that ... imitate your actions.

You need to ask yourself a simple question: what other offensive behavior have protesting Christians engaged in which you believe doesn't help? What other counter protests have you attended? What signs have you painted at a counter protest at an abortion clinic for example?

My point is that if you are going to paint signs to 'show how NOT to be like THEM', then you are NOT being Christian.

Being a Christian is like being a golf teacher. Using words to tell someone how to hit the ball straight does not, repeat, does not work.

Going out and telling a bunch of folks they are not hitting it straight is a waste of your God-Given time, and does nothing, zilch, to blunt the efforts of the GSA (on the contrary, your efforts will be interpreted by them as camouflaged support - but I'll assume you have thought of that and have a plan to counter that too...; I'd rather not assume you are a troll, though my instincts suggest strongly otherwise).

Your children, and your neighbors children, will be watching you. On graduation day, the primary concern of the kids, which remains the same in the days thereafter, is how to hit it straight. You have to show them, by your example. If you really want to make a difference, schedule a meeting w/ Phelps. Have your kids attend with you. On the basis of Christian perspective, suggest alternatives to his plan and what he puts on signs. Show him that he needs to show how ... and let the kids watch your example.

That is the heart of Godly confrontation, and that is the heart of courage if you actually follow through and do something like that. For it is the craven among us that has led to the reality that a few overheard words can lead to the destruction of a person's career...

In short ... show your kids what courage looks like, not what counter-protests look like ... so that they may be someday adults that kids will want to imitate.

[JesseHousman]

I don't believe it is a Christian responsibility to judge and seek restitution.

At this point I believe that only goal is to work towards the de-legitimization of the perverted homosexual club. It clearly has no place in a school, left alone polite society. The participants are evil! What do they talk about? Buggery!

Now, you mention restitution. Has the group committed any rape of children? Then what's the posturing about "seek(ing) restitution about?

[JesseHousman]

I agree with you that this is a strange vanity post.

It sounds as though the poster is one of the sycophants.

[JesseHousman]

...when dealing with a group intoxicated by "righteous indignation,"...

I would say that the Christians attending that wayward school should have been displaying some righteous indigation long ago.

As I believe the poster to be a sycophant, if not a member of the club, he should be demonstrating some indignation that his school has caved in to the homosexual agenda.

The reverened is doing God's work, the poster isn't.

[stage left]

At the risk of landing on a Phelps flyer: Don't go anywhere near that lunatic clan.

Phelps should file an itinerary with your local PD.. mirror their picket times... do something positive. Have a Bible study, prayer meeting, visit a nursing home, knock on doors...

[stage left]

At the risk of landing on a Phelps flyer: Don't go anywhere near that lunatic clan.

Phelps should file an itinerary with your local PD.. mirror their picket times... do something positive. Have a Bible study, prayer meeting, visit a nursing home, knock on doors...

[scripter]

This source may not be all that reputable, but it lists a very interesting timeline of Fred Phelps that I haven't seen anywhere else. If I have time I'll research the more spectacular events in Phelps' life.

[caseinpoint]

Thanks all for your feedback. I'm sorry you seem to think I am a troll or sycophant.

You have given me much to think about. I wanted to see if it were possible to find a way to express disapproval of both sides in this contentious matter and let the kids have decent graduation ceremonies.

As to those who think I should have acted sooner, this whole matter only came to the public attention (GSA club, teacher criticized then resigning, then Phelps' intent to demonstrate at the graduation ceremonies) only about ten days ago. I was trolling, but only for ideas on how to deal with this so as not to mar the graduations.

I appreciate all the posts and I understand your points of view, even those who think I am a troll. Evidently this is a lose-lose situation for our graduates if the Phelps show up. It may be one of those situations, as some of you have pointed out, in which no matter what you do, you will be misunderstood.

Again, thanks for all your feedback. I was not trying to bait anyone and those familiar with my occasional posts in the past year will see that. I have enjoyed the thoughtful discussions on this site and have tried to contribute where I could. I will continue to lurk but I guess I don't understand the use of vanities. Good Sabbath to you all.

[scripter]

You ask some good questions. What should folks do if Fred Phelps came to their town? Phelps certainly doesn't represent the Christian community in my town, and getting involved may mean getting attacked from both Phelps and the GSA folks. And getting attacked doesn't necessarily mean a verbal attack.

Get together with like minded folks. I would be tempted to get together with the GSA folks before graduation and tell them about homosexuals who have left the lifestyle. Tell them about the I Do Exist video. Hand out testimonies of former homosexuals:

    Confession from a former homosexual
    Over 40 additional testimonies

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11:

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

The Bible tells us that some of the Corinthian believers were homosexuals.

Tell the homosexuals where they can get additional help. There is a lot of information available on FreeRepublic with pointers in my profile.

[scripter]

More on Fred Phelps.

[little jeremiah]

You're jumping the gun on criticizing caseinpoint. It sounds as though he/she is sincerely trying to stand up for truth in this convoluted situation.

Phelps is a madman. I'm surprised that you could possibly think anything else.

[little jeremiah]

You stated your case very well. I think it is totally correct to distance yourselves from Phelps, as he is a nutcase.

[little jeremiah]

Finally got it!

[caseinpoint]

Thanks, little jeremiah. I really am sincere about this. I don't support the gay agenda at all but I feel we have as much of a responsibility to speak out against Christian extremism as our Muslim counterparts against Bin Laden, Zarqawi and company. I just want to find some either diplomatic means or even a sort of funny way to express taht while we don't support the gay agenda, neither do we support hatred cloaked in Christianity. I thought some of the posters here with really choice senses of humor could help. Fact is, my sense of humor stinks.

I don't blame them for being suspicious, though. No one likes to be set up.

[rwfromkansas]

Well, he also said:

"Think not that I came to bring peace. I did not come to bring peace, but the sword."