My Thought’s On The Picketing Of Sage Stallone’s Funeral
This post was from a writing I did several days ago.
This morning I was reading an article on Sylvester Stallone and Sasha, Sage’s Mother about their son Sage’s-death. Sage was 36 & passed away on July 13 2012. The article captures my attention because the title reads….
Sage Stallone Death: Westboro Baptist Church Plans To Picket Actor’s Funeral on account of his “adulterous dad,” Sylvester Stallone. After it was announced that the 36-year-old actor had died on July 13, Margie Phelps, daughter of Westboro leader Fred Phelps, tweeted to her 5,600 followers, urging them to picket Stallone’s funeral.
What!!! I am so angry & hurt right now. I am a Christian & I love Jesus. What they are doing Is NOT in the least being a Christian! No wonder the world laughs at Christians! No wonder Christians get smug looks, when they try & share the Salvation of Jesus Christ with them. I mean why would they? Here we as Christian’s talk about God’s love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, acceptance. Then in the same breath a church who is supposed to be carrying the message of God’s love-wants to picket a funeral! All because they say his father is an adulterous? Where’s the love, compassion in this?
Let me say this. Christian’s are not perfect. Not by any means. We all fall down. We all make mistakes. But to reach out this far with hatered in their hearts is not what Christianity is about. Like anything in life, your going to have the radical people that want to stir the pot. But what they don’t realize is the damage they are doing to so many that are lost and hurting out there. The one’s who feel they have no hope. The ones who are standing at the church doors Sunday mornings pacing back and forth before deciding to take a chance and open the door. Deciding too walk into the sanctuary. Fear ensues them. Will I be accepted? Will they judge me on what I’m wearing, have I messed up so bad that God won’t forgive me? And so many, many other un-answered questions. I was at this spot twenty-one yrs ago. So I’ll be honest. Yes “some” of the people there will look at you and judge you. There will be the clicks that think your not “good” enough for their get together’s. But there are many, many others that will open their hands to you. You’ll either get a hand shake or a hug. Maybe even both. There is warmth and security in this kind of acceptance. Especially when you have felt like an outsider for so long. You took that chance. You opened the doors to the church. Not knowing what to expect. Looking for hope. Let me also say this. That people will let you down. The church will let you down. But that question you had in your mind-the one that wonders if you’ve messed up to much for God to accept you. Too love you. I can say 100% never. There is nothing under heaven that you can do that God won’t forgive. Nothing. Because God loved us while we were yet sinners. God didn’t start loving you when you came to him. When you walked into that church. No, God loved you while you were yet a sinner. Romans 3:23-for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:24-and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Yet, this church-or actually some of the people from the church who are participating in this picketing is telling other’s by their actions that God only loves certain people, certain clicks or groups. This is called religion-not Christianity! Anyone can act religious and pompous. Puff themselves up enough to where they feel they have the right to judge others! Not true! We have all sinned. Rather your a Christian or not. We all sin. Every day. Were human beings. Flesh and blood. Does that mean we mock God and do what ever we want? Of course not. Because when you accept Jesus into your heart, there is a peace that nothing on earth could even come close to. And you have a new heart. A heart for God. God does not make us change we want to change. God does not demand for us to change instantly. Or to give up every bad habit right then and there. Why? Because God gave us free will. Free will is just that-a choice. So when you start to see good things change in your life it’s because Jesus lives in your heart. You no longer want to do the old things you once did. Hang out with the so called “in” crowd etc. Do all these changes happen over night? No. God will continue to work on us until Jesus calls us home.
My gosh I always seem to go around the bend when sharing my thoughts. But that’s the way my mind works *smile.*
But I have said all this while thinking out loud. God loves Sylvester Stallone. God loves us all. And in the word of God the Holy Bible there is a scripture that talks about this very thing that is happening at this church. I’ll share it with you. John 8:7-11 ESV
And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Romans 8:9-11- But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. V 10-Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” V 11-She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
This is the pure love of God. All that are picketing this funeral are acting just like those who thought their sins were hidden. That her sin was greater. They were ready to throw her to the wolves. But God see’s our inner most being, Our soul and all it’s dark places. So he called them out on it. Once it was realized that their sins came into play no one, not one could throw the first stone.
I pray that there will be those who will speak up and say this same thing to the picketing crowd.
Who of you is without sin!
I pray for Sylvester, Sage’s Mom, family, friends. That by the grace of God the Pastor of this church would step in. That the ones filled with anger and maybe even hatred-will listen to that still small voice of God-telling them that what they are doing does not bring glory to God. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
here is the link to the article in case you didn’t see it this morning.
Until next time~Donna
