The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists will we be? Will we be extremists for hate or will be extremists for love?
I recently read those words, copied them down, and forgot to note the source.
The words were powerfully illustrated because Living Word Community Church was recently one of six area churches who were picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church. If you are not familiar with this group - they are a severely disturbed group of extremely angry fundamentalists. In particular, they hate homosexuals and hate anything and anyone who does not agree with their agenda.
If you want to get a sense of their extremism click here to go to the home page of WBC.
So there they were, outside the entrance to LWCC on a cold Sunday morning. They had their posters of protest. God hates fags. God hates America. It was really quite sad. We had intended to serve them coffee and donuts, but a variety of circumstances worked against us to prevent this from happening.
Hatred is powerful. No matter what euphemism we use to describe it, no matter what reason we use to justify it.
Everyone should be slow to become angry. For anger does not bring about the righteous life that god desires. James 1:19-20
I read these words in my devotional times in 1 Peter during the past week:
Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps . . . When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (2:21-23)
The extremism of Jesus was an extremism of love, of grace and of enduring suffering for the well-being of the world.
The question is not will you and I be extremists. The question is - extremists of and for WHAT and for WHOM?
Brian Rice
