While looking at the news online today, I discovered once again why so many people hate Christians (and rightfully so it would seem). The front page of Fox News had an article about the infamous Westboro Baptist Chruch, whose website (not a joke) is www.godhatesfags.com. The type of polemic these people have adopted is sickening and somewhat depressing, for their misinterpretation and exaggeration have caused them to form a cult, picketing signs all over the country protesting what they think to be God's most hated sins. I find this hard to believe, but then again it's not that surprising, for these types of cults have sprung up claiming Christianity as their base since the beginning of the church. Their blatant mockery of God's word is what is most appalling, citing scraps of verse to fuel their picketing instead of searching for the whole truth (which is obviously not calling Christians to hold up signs saying "God hates fags.") Whether or not homosexuality is sin is not the debate, the problem is how sin is driving these "Christians" into even worse sin, for they have committed much of their time and resources to condemning and judging people who fall short of their claims.
I do consider this is a cult, for one qualification is that a group takes one doctrine to the extreme and elevates it as the supreme guiding light of the congregation, as Westboro has done with homosexuality. Yes, homosexuality is sin, but so is hate, judgment, and arrogance, all of which are clearly seen in this church's actions. To give you some insight, the heading on their home page says "Welcome depraved sons and daughters of Adam" and "1000 reprobates have split hell wide open since you looked at this page." I don't know whether to be angry or just sad, for people like this (who boldly have "Baptist" written on their sign) I fear will be the one's who fall short, just as Paul describes in 2 Timothy 3, for they will "hold to a form of godliness, but they have denied its power."
If Leviticus 20:23 is your churches verse, something is not right, because I am pretty confident Jesus never commanded his disciples to go into all the world, condemning sinners. Without love, the gospel can move, and these sorts of pseudo-Christians are trampling on the work of the gospel so many others are trying to share. My point being, we should heed the words of Paul given to Timothy, to "avoid men such as these" and "be on guard." Do your best to not be angry with these people, but feel compassion for they have been led astray by a false leader who seeks the kingdom of God by way of a different route than the gospel of Christ that we as true Christians hold.
God Bless
