Ron Aulbach

It’s true one bad apple can ruin a whole bunch and for pastors that is often the feeling when it comes to being lumped together with the outspoken celebrity pastors.  The media loves making examples of them.  The bigger they are, the harder they fall.  But, in the case of Fred Phelps, pastor of Westboro Baptist Church, the media didn’t need any help in portraying his hate filled message of God.  Phelps hated gays, military personnel, and anyone who wasn’t “baptist” the way he defined it.  Rather then sharing the love of God, Phelps preached the wrong message that God is hate.   Rather then leaving a legacy of what he stood for, the Westboro pastor will be known for what he vehemently objected.  You can read all about his life and hate filled message here.

It breaks my heart to see a pastor use their influence to spread the wrong message.  Jesus came to save us from this judgmental, self righteous religiosity.  How did Phelps get it so wrong? And, how does a pastor respond to a pastor who got it so wrong?

With Love.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

If you’ve been damaged by the church or pastors like Phelps, who present the wrong message, I’d like to offer a few words:

I’m sorry.   If you’re gay, lesbian, black, served in the military, lost a loved one to war, been picketed because of your alternative views, and only heard a message of a hate filled God, I’m sorry.  I start there.  I’ll own it.  I didn’t say it, but it breaks my heart that someone in the name of God, did say it.  I’m sorry.

God loves you.  No greater love has ever walked the earth then the Son of God, Jesus.  The outspoken celebrity pastors of Jesus day hated him too.  In fact, they were the one’s who crucified him.

Hear the message.  The standard for what a loving God looks is not a a hate filled preacher, or any preacher for that matter.  The standard is Jesus.  The message is love.