(RNS) Fred Phelps started (and continues) his signature campaign against homosexuality with the most old-fashioned of methods: picket signs. Graphic, offensive and visual picket signs about how God “hates fags” and America, but picket signs nonetheless.
Now, amid reports that the founder of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., is near death, the old-fashioned protestor is getting the instantaneous social media treatment:
1. The Facebook post that told us he was nearing death.
https://twitter.com/scottbix/status/445197368875442176
2. Westboro is calling reports about Phelps’ impending death “speculative.”
Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist: "I'm not dead yet." http://t.co/wptSvgZccq @RNS
— David Gibson (@GibsonWrites) March 17, 2014
3. Earlier on in his life, Phelps took a different approach in his career, as noted by Huffington Post religion reporter Jaweed Kaleem.
Fred Phelps, near-death WBC founder, was once a widely hailed civil rights lawyer who won an award from the NAACP http://t.co/EIppYwOXEG
— Jaweed Kaleem 🦅 (@jaweedkaleem) March 16, 2014
4. On Monday, an earthquake shook L.A., connecting the dots for some tweeters, comedian Kyle Kinane noted.
Oh, you went for the Fred Phelps/earthquake combo joke. Good for you.
— Thad Daiquiri (@kylekinane) March 17, 2014
5. There’s debate about how various groups should respond. Should people who are gay, for instance, picket his funeral?
Fred Phelps: Let's Picket His Funeral…With Love | The Gay ChristianThe Gay Christian http://t.co/uToIppkgQz
— Rachel Held Evans (@rachelheldevans) March 16, 2014
6. Jeff Chu, a gay Christian who wrote a book about his experience, tweeted the following.
Let's extend to Fred Phelps—and those at Westboro—the grace they will not extend to us. I wish him peace in his dying days.
— Jeff Chu 朱天慧 (@jeffchu) March 17, 2014
7. Jared Wilson, a pastor who blogs at The Gospel Coalition, tweeted the Bible verse about judgement: “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”
Hebrews 9:27. Repent and believe, Fred Phelps.
— Jared C. Wilson (@jaredcwilson) March 16, 2014
8. Artist Derek Webb, who is a Christian, tweeted about how people might respond to Phelps’ impending death.
hearing a lot today about fred phelps being close to death. we should take care to never celebrate anyone’s pain or dying.
— derek webb (@derekwebb) March 16, 2014
9. And another post from Webb:
i believe fred phelps will soon be free of his intense hatred. if God’s grace isn’t sufficient for the worst, there’s no hope for anyone.
— derek webb (@derekwebb) March 16, 2014
10. Expect some reflective blog posts to come soon, including this one from Jayson Bradley.
Westboro built a platform on our outrage. That's on us. What I've Learned from the (Hateful) Ministry of Fred Phelps http://t.co/I2DurEnhUe
— JaysonDBradley (@jaysondbradley) March 17, 2014