People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Dear Westboro Baptist Church,
I never thought I would ever be contacting you guys. Hopefully, this will be a little bit different from the other calls and messages you receive. I will be sending this to just about every WBC Twitter account I can find so at least one person might read this. I can be quite obnoxious when I want to be heard. You all have taught me well. I can also be a bit snarky a times so keep it mind it's not meant to be mean spirited in any way. It probably means I like you. This will also be written as an open letter because I have a point to make to the reprobate as well.
I'll go ahead and get this out of the way. I find your doctrines and ministry to be utterly disgusting. There really isn't a point into going into more detail because honestly, what hasn't already been said by others? Wait there is one thing actually. I confess I'm a bit of a sicko and at times I find you guys HILARIOUS! "Big Fibbin" is the whitest rap song I've ever heard in my life. I need to write about that someday.
Anyway, I'm writing to you all because the church has had a major effect on me. No, I'm not cowering under my bed thinking I'm going to hell. To tell you the truth, if you're right then I'm convinced that most people would be better off in hell than heaven but that's a topic for another time. In fact, WBC has strengthened my own Christian faith and has taught me a lot about life and people. Let me explain. I became reacquainted with WBC through the stories of some ex-members of the church. If any of you are interested in the details please read the three previous parts of this series. To make a long story short, I've realized that no matter what you people do, you are still human beings. You are flawed people just like me even though our flaws may come in different varieties. As a result of all this, I've come to the conclusion that WBC is not evil or at least not intentionally. You're trying to love your fellow man even though it comes off as a "hateful love" or a "loving hate." Which one of those sounds better because I'll probably use that terminology in the future? Guess the point I'm trying to make here is that I don't hate you. I don't think I could even if I wanted to at this point in my life. Honestly, if I met some of you in real life I'd probably really like some of you.
The thing is though, not hating you isn't enough. Christian morality, or at least the way I understand it, is inherently counter cultural and counter intuitive. There is even a YouTube bible study series I follow called Preposterous which recognizes this fact. One of the most straight up crazy concepts Jesus presents is the idea of loving your enemies. Unfortunately, it’s also one the principles Christendom fails to keep most often. As difficult as it may be, I've decided I'm going to love Westboro Baptist Church, hence to title of my series. Of course, we operate on very different definitions of the word love so let me clarify. I intend on treating you with kindness and compassion regardless of your actions. Sure, I might screw up a few times but it’s an ideal to strive for. Remember its counter intuitive. How exactly I'm going to do that I'm not quite sure. This letter is hopefully a good start. Love isn't just about being nice though. I will continue to affirm that what you do is evil. I will also plan on looking past that. God loves you no matter what and I'll be doing the same.
So, the next time WBC decides to gloat about being "The Most Hated Families in the World" (I did that just for you guys. Didn't want to leave the Drains, Hockenbargers, or any other Non-Phelpses out either). Remember there's some crazy geek in Georgia who loves you. If you want to tell me I'm going to hell personally, feel free to add me on Facebook. Shouldn't be too hard to find and I have the same creepy photo on my Twitter and Facebook. Don't expect a theological debate or anything. I have no interest in a screaming match. If you happen to be in Augusta we might run into each other. Not sure why you would come down here though unless God hates golf. Stay safe out on the picket line. I really don't want to see the headline "Westboro Baptist Church Found Dead in a Pink Cave in Jordan."
Paul Perry
I never thought I would ever be contacting you guys. Hopefully, this will be a little bit different from the other calls and messages you receive. I will be sending this to just about every WBC Twitter account I can find so at least one person might read this. I can be quite obnoxious when I want to be heard. You all have taught me well. I can also be a bit snarky a times so keep it mind it's not meant to be mean spirited in any way. It probably means I like you. This will also be written as an open letter because I have a point to make to the reprobate as well.
I'll go ahead and get this out of the way. I find your doctrines and ministry to be utterly disgusting. There really isn't a point into going into more detail because honestly, what hasn't already been said by others? Wait there is one thing actually. I confess I'm a bit of a sicko and at times I find you guys HILARIOUS! "Big Fibbin" is the whitest rap song I've ever heard in my life. I need to write about that someday.
Anyway, I'm writing to you all because the church has had a major effect on me. No, I'm not cowering under my bed thinking I'm going to hell. To tell you the truth, if you're right then I'm convinced that most people would be better off in hell than heaven but that's a topic for another time. In fact, WBC has strengthened my own Christian faith and has taught me a lot about life and people. Let me explain. I became reacquainted with WBC through the stories of some ex-members of the church. If any of you are interested in the details please read the three previous parts of this series. To make a long story short, I've realized that no matter what you people do, you are still human beings. You are flawed people just like me even though our flaws may come in different varieties. As a result of all this, I've come to the conclusion that WBC is not evil or at least not intentionally. You're trying to love your fellow man even though it comes off as a "hateful love" or a "loving hate." Which one of those sounds better because I'll probably use that terminology in the future? Guess the point I'm trying to make here is that I don't hate you. I don't think I could even if I wanted to at this point in my life. Honestly, if I met some of you in real life I'd probably really like some of you.
The thing is though, not hating you isn't enough. Christian morality, or at least the way I understand it, is inherently counter cultural and counter intuitive. There is even a YouTube bible study series I follow called Preposterous which recognizes this fact. One of the most straight up crazy concepts Jesus presents is the idea of loving your enemies. Unfortunately, it’s also one the principles Christendom fails to keep most often. As difficult as it may be, I've decided I'm going to love Westboro Baptist Church, hence to title of my series. Of course, we operate on very different definitions of the word love so let me clarify. I intend on treating you with kindness and compassion regardless of your actions. Sure, I might screw up a few times but it’s an ideal to strive for. Remember its counter intuitive. How exactly I'm going to do that I'm not quite sure. This letter is hopefully a good start. Love isn't just about being nice though. I will continue to affirm that what you do is evil. I will also plan on looking past that. God loves you no matter what and I'll be doing the same.
So, the next time WBC decides to gloat about being "The Most Hated Families in the World" (I did that just for you guys. Didn't want to leave the Drains, Hockenbargers, or any other Non-Phelpses out either). Remember there's some crazy geek in Georgia who loves you. If you want to tell me I'm going to hell personally, feel free to add me on Facebook. Shouldn't be too hard to find and I have the same creepy photo on my Twitter and Facebook. Don't expect a theological debate or anything. I have no interest in a screaming match. If you happen to be in Augusta we might run into each other. Not sure why you would come down here though unless God hates golf. Stay safe out on the picket line. I really don't want to see the headline "Westboro Baptist Church Found Dead in a Pink Cave in Jordan."
Paul Perry
P.S.: When I said I wasn't interested in a debate it didn't mean I wouldn't want to discuss our beliefs. I just don’t want to fight you.
Ok blog readers. I'm sure most of you are sick of me talking about WBC. I'll be moving on for a while. I've got a sporadic series I'll be starting up a sporadic series called "Music I Like" and I have some comic reviews planned if you're into that kind of thing.
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