Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Karen Spears Zacharias

Home
Evangelical
God is the First Amendment

God is the First Amendment

Last updated on: October 20, 2011 at 3:24 pm by Karen Spears Zacharias

God is the First Amendment 2011-10-20T15:24:19+00:00 Karen Spears Zacharias

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I’m teaching Comm classes this term at Central Washington University. Specifically, I’m teaching Media & Culture and First Amendment classes. What that means is that a handful of students, those who are taking both classes, have me for four hours a day.

Poor thangs.

But it also means constant, engaging dialogue, which carries over from one class to the next. Most of the students are out of King County (Seattle area). They are bright and well-read. Several are well-traveled, and are very actively involved in social justice issues. They have a keen sense of humor and high levels of compassion.

The First Amendment class is a bit smaller than the Media class, so that allows for more students to be involved in the discussions. We’ve addressed war, flag-burning, porn, cussing, protesting, politics and parenting.

Today we talked about Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church.

The students were surprised to learn that the folks from Westboro had been to Ellensburg to protest.

It’s hard not to want to silence WBC, especially when you read, as we did, the latest press release from them:

GOD HATES AMERICA & IS KILLING OUR TROOPS IN HIS WRATH.

Military funerals have become pagan orgies of idolatrous blasphemy, where they pray to the dunghill gods of Sodom & play taps to a fallen fool.This message to be preached in respectful, lawful proximity to the memorial of Capt. Joshua S. LawrenceFri., Oct. 21, at 12:15 p.m.Goodlettsville FBC613 S. Main Street, Goodlettsville, TN

Capt. Lawrence died in vain, and that America is a nation of sodomite hypocrites.“Except the Lord build the house, They labor in vain that build it;Except the Lord keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.” Psa. 127:1.The Lord no longer builds the American house; nor does the Lord watch over and protect America. These soldiers are dying for the homosexual and other sins of America. God is now America’s enemy, and God Himself is fighting against America.

THANK GOD FOR IEDs.

Just makes your blood boil, don’t it?

There was a lot of discussion among the students about Westboro and First Amendment rights.

One student pointed out that even the KKK had denounced WBC and Fred Phelps, proving that even hate groups have a code of ethics and standards.

If the KKK rejects you for being bad ass, does that make you a total degenerate?

And if the answer to that question is yes, then by golly, shouldn’t you be stripped of your First Amendment rights?

These are the sorts of things we discuss.

And it was while discussing that very issue that it occurred to me that God is the embodiment of the First Amendment.

He gives audience to everyone.

Before God everyone has a voice.

No one is denied the right to speak because they are too small, too ugly, or too hateful.

God hears us all out

KKK members

and Westboro Baptist Church folks.

God wisely lets us state our grievances

He listens patiently to our rants

And He nods like a mother when we whine like a two-year-old.

Surely there are times when God would like to take a baseball bat and beat us upside the head, hoping to knock some sense into us,

But he doesn’t.

God embodies the First Amendment.

He’s committed to making sure that every person knows that in His presence, you matter.

He’s listening.

Always.

He wants to hear it.

The good.

The bad.

The ugly.

So go ahead.

Get it all out. The ranting. The raging. The hating.

He’s listening.

And when you’re done.

He’ll still be there, giving you his undivided attention.

Because when you stand before the Judge of all Judges, the thing he wants you to know for certain is that you matter.

In God’s presence, everyone is granted equal access.

So say what you will.

Say what you fear

God is listening.

He might not like what you have to say

Or the way you say it

But He’s already defended to the death your right to say it.

Westboro Baptist Church

Previous Post

October 19, 2011

Prayers for Eleanor & family

Next Post

October 22, 2011 Unpacking the Headcase

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category child abuse Military ministry pop culture prayer Sports Uncategorized Veterans Day

Select a Month July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz