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Apr 1, 2015
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Is it okay to allow a visitor to your church to attend the open air preaching and evangelism when this person agrees with the Westboro Baptist church?

He is a young believer who, in person, is a meek and lovely person however he promotes the actions of WBC on Facebook and has told many members of our church that he has a desire to join WBC in the near future.

My pastor and other members of the church have been trying to share with him the truth but he seems blind to it.

He has a strong desire to evangelise but I am worried that he will share his views as a representative of our church.

I have thought of verses such as

2 John 9,10 "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed"

and

Ephesians 5:11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

The first struck me as we have here a principle of not allowing others to believe that you are in agreement with heretics by being seen to be inviting them into your home.

The second verse is clear, I believe. We should not fellowship with those who deny gospel truths.

Does anyone have any information which may be helpful?

Thank you and God bless.
 

St_Worm2

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Hi Brian, first off, WELCOME TO CF ..

As far as your question is concerned, it would be helpful if we knew exactly what this young man believes. If it's straight Westboro Baptist beliefs, why is he still attending your church? If not, how extreme is he, IOW, what contentious or heretical beliefs is he absolutely determined to stand firm in?

That said, in most cases I would be very hesitant to see someone removed from fellowship because of heretical views (unless they are in church leadership or they are 'teaching' these heretical beliefs to others rather than just questioning whether they are true or not). Church isn't a place that's reserved for those who rightly divide the word of truth at every point, it's filled with those of us who are still have a lot to learn.

I have witnessed MANY over the years turn from their deeply held heretical views when confronted by the faithful, expository preaching of the Word of God (not to mention the added benefit of being in the fellowship of mature believers who know and can share what the truth really is away from the pulpit). He won't get any of that if you ship him off to Westboro ..

Such a decision is for the Elders to make. Until then, pray for him and continue to lovingly guide him toward a proper understanding of the truth.

Yours and His,
David
 
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sdowney717

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What came to my mind about these things is peace.

1 Timothy 2 New King James Version (NKJV)

Pray for All Men
2 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority,

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ[a] and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.


Is the Westboro church living in quietness and a peaceable life?
It seems not to me.
Sure, all that homosexuals do points to eventual judgement. Their web site is accurate about that.
We can not make the world into the image of Christ.
God redeems us out of the world making us His own special possession.

God is at work within us to do as He pleases who have believed and obey the gospel.

The world and those of the world though are going to destruction, and you can not do a thing for them except pray for them that God would mercifully save some of them. Paul was grieved to the core of his heart and wished his own self accursed that his own countrymen might be saved. Most of his own Jewish people were cut off from the gospel and salvation. Paul prayed that they might come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved. Paul knew though that God shows mercy to whom God wills and God will harden whomever He wishes. Still Paul prays for them.

Romans 9, 10, 11, all point to the sovereignty of God in our coming to know the truth and be saved.

1 Cor 5

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.

10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”[d]


v10, God judges those outside the church. We do not judge them. We judge those inside the church.
We can talk, and have dealings with ungodly people of the world. We are only to shun those who claim to be brethren and who do not walk the Christian walk.

2 Corinthians 13:11New King James Version (NKJV)

Live in peace with all men as much as you are able.

Greetings and Benediction
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Romans 12
Behave Like a Christian, live out the Christian life.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[a] says the Lord. 20 Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
 
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Apr 1, 2015
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Hi St_Worm2.

Thanks for the welcome

He is studying at the moment and wishes to join them as soon as he has opportunity. In talking with him so far he has agreed with all practises of the wbc. He agrees with everything laid out on their website which sadly is the one that you posted

Thanks for your reply.
 
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