Hyper-Calvinism at its Worst

June 14th, 2006 | Posted in » Baptist Issues

As I mentioned last week, Westboro Baptist Church planned to protest this year’s Southern Baptist Convention meeting, and they didn’t disappoint. As promised, I obtained video of that protest. Quite honestly? I was surprised by the protest. I expected a lot of yelling, screaming, cursing, etc… but it was really pretty tame. That’s probably because the protest was made up of about three adults at twelve kids. Yes… let me state than again… the protest was mostly kids.

I couldn’t believe it, and, quite honestly, thinking about it now makes me sick. I’m near tears knowing that these impressionable, innocent children have been brain-washed with such hatred of other human beings.

So… the video is available at sbcvideos.info, as promised. There are three clips there from the interview Kevin Bussey and I obtained… about 22 minutes of footage. So you’re fairly warned, THIS FOOTAGE IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, AND IS NOT TERRIBLY APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN.

My thoughts?

– The interview was surreal. Shirley Phelps-Roper, daughter of Fred Phelps, was the primary protester, and, although very coherent at times, was surrounded with an evil, if not even demonic, aura. It was quite disturbing.

– These folks actually have a good point or two. Don’t take that the wrong way… I don’t support what they are doing at all, and especially not their methodology… but they see sin and call it such.

– Their theological beliefs come through clearly. The folks from Westboro Baptist are hyper-Calvinists, and are unashamed of that fact. Shirley clearly stated time after time that God determines who is saved and who is not, and that our efforts are fruitless. She stated that God drew the elect to Himself, and that our job is not to love sinners, but to scare them into repentance. I disagree with this viewpoint wholly, of course… it neglects the great commission and so much of Scripture… but I do understand how their emphasis on God’s role in predestining us to salvation or damnation could lead to their positions and methods of protest. It has been said that Calvinism is a danger to the SBC. I can assure you, this is patently false. HYPER-CALVINISM, of the sort seen demonstrated by Westboro Baptist, is the danger. This will NEVER be allowed to creep into our convention.

– The impact of these parents on their children disturbed me. God created these kids, and their parents, who have been entrusted to raise them in His ways, are leading them straight to hell. We are to be known by our fruit, and these folks demonstrate the most rotten, smelly, and disgusting kind I’ve seen.

Lastly? Everyone needs to thank Kevin Bussey for his immense patience and courage in interviewing these folks. I felt SO uncomfortable even being ten feet away from these folks, but he went right up and spoke with them, and endured abuse none of us could possibly deserve. His humble, Christ-like attitude is something all of us should strive to emulate. Kevin? I love you, brother. You’re an awesome man of God, and I’m proud to call you my friend and brother in Christ.

UPDATE…
The Greensboro News Record interviewed us after we finished interviewing the Westboro folks. Check it out here.