The events of recent days have been hard for me to process. I struggle to understand the violent deaths of five Amish school girls in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The actions of Charles Carl Roberts IV are a stark reminder of our fallen and depraved world. How else are we to explain such calculated, premeditated brutality? I have no barometer for this kind of thing. Senseless pain is always more difficult to deal with. I pray for the families of the wounded and the deceased. I pray for the family of Charles Carl Roberts. May God be with you all.
Equally appalling has been the response of a certain group of Americans who refer to themselves as a “church”. In my opinion, any organization that the Anti-Defamation League recognizes as a hate group isn’t a Christian church. Contrary to the position of their leader, Jesus doesn’t hate homosexuals any more than he hates racists, bigots, legalists, anti-Semites, anti-Catholics, anti-Americans and hatemongers. The fact that these extremists would even consider demonstrating at the funerals of these young girls repulses me. Again, I have no barometer for such flippant disregard for the sanctity of human life. That a group would “pray for even worse punishment upon Pennsylvania,” — well, it just makes me weep.
And yet, I find hope in these days as well. Good men like Mike Gallagher are doing whatever they can to keep Phelps and his crew from following through on their protest threats. I find hope in the Amish grandfather who, amid his tears, tells his grandchildren, “We must not think evil of this man,” referring of course to Roberts. I need to be reminded that Jesus is powerful to reorient our hearts away from hatred. His call to love and forgive, although unnatural on nearly every level, is indeed the better way. I’ll admit, I have a hard time fathoming that level of mercy. But I believe in it, with every fiber of my being. That’s what I keep coming back to on days like these.
already & not yet 
I’ve been reading your blog from the link on Lane’s page, and I agree with you — the people from Westboro are absolutely sick. To take the moment of grief for a family, when they are laying loved ones to rest, and to turn it into a hate-filled political opportunity in the name of religion is beyond the limits of decency. People like them set back the work of Christ and other Christian groups so much.I too have so much respect for the Amish — they are preaching forgiveness for the man who acted out of such madness and sickness, when the world expects anger. They truly have their hearts modeled after Jesus in that respect — they are so much echoing Christ from the cross — “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”We could all learn so much from the example of the Amish community right now…may God give them the comfort and peace they need.
The Amish are living the message of non-violence. So much we have to learn.
Michael,Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts anytime. I simply cannot fathom how a group could overlook the grief and pain of this situation and only be concerned about their own ideology. Beyond the limits of decency indeed. Is there any wonder why an unbelieving world wants nothing to do with Jesus?Scott,You’re right, the non-violent attitude of the Amish should convict us.
Jason, it seems to me this Westboro organization has totally lost it’s focus on what it means to serve Christ. What did they not understand when Jesus preached of love – love your nieghbor, love your enemies. Love and Forgiveness was the cornerstone of his ministry. We know that, so what convinces them God punishes us? Satan was given dominion over this world until Christ returned…that is the reason these children died, not because God was angry at their family!Also, it says in the last days, the world will be filled with false prophets. Many of us tend to focus on other religions (i.e. Islam) for these so called prophets…maybe we should open our eyes to the falseness in our own neighbors. Death comes to us all at some point, young and old, through sickness, murder or mother nature. We can choose to make the most and LOVE while we are given the time or we can point fingers at others and hate. Either way, God’s plan will be realized, with or without us.
I take comfort in this: for each loss, I have faith that there are many more victories which occur beyond our sight and perception.I Kings 19:18
Rebecca,You’re right. We should never let anything deter us from choosing to love. This is the way of Christ.Mike,Knowing He is (and will be) victorious sustains me during these days.
jason-i have to agree that the westboro group is totally nuts. the fact that these people would even think about protesting at any funeral, especially the funerals of amish students, or fallen soldiers, makes me want to throw up. and what makes me even more mad is that by calling themselves a “church”, they are sending the world the completely wrong message of what Jesus and the bible are all about. i made the mistake of going to their website, and they have their “picketing schedule” in a column under the header “love crusades.” i could go on about this group all day, but i’m beginning to feel the need to throw up or punch my fist through a wall. one last thing: the guys at xxxchurch.com did an interview with a “member” on their radio show-check it out if you get a chance.-rieder
Rieder,You and I are on the same page on this one. I guess this is an opportunity for us to take a page from the Amish; their response of love and mercy convicts me deeply.
Jason, all I can say is thank goodness God loves everybody and is obviously giving these sickos some time to realize what they are doing and turn to him. It is times like these that I cannot grasp the amount of Love God has for each and everyone of us. I know this makes him hurt so much. These girls are def. in a better place but still cannot fathom the hurt and sorrow these families are going through. We just have to keep telling ourselves this is just temporary and work towards a better place. God Is So Good! I pray that he has a lot of Grace with me because my heart is not probably what it should be when reading this article about these sick people. The simpleness of the amish is probably alot closer to Jesus times and the early church. Not saying I agree with their religion so don’t read too much into that but they are truly shining right now asking the families to forgive this man. Also, we cannot forget about the family in Colorado who just buried their daughter this week too. So much pain hard to realize that one day in heaven there will be no heartache or pain. Helps put our minor troubles into perspective. Have a good week we will be on vacation.
I wrote a term paper on this topic last year, at least semitopical. Check it out on my new blog.cassidyandroy.blogspot.com
Good stuff, Paul.