65 New PHOTOS: Saturday's Westboro Church "Protest" Foiled Thanks to Community Support
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A military funeral service was held in Raeford for a North Carolina National Guard soldier killed in Afghanistan.
Staff Sgt. Donna Johnson, 29, was one of three members of the Winterville-based 514th Military Police Company killed October 1 by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. Her body arrived Friday at Pope Army Air Field on Fort Bragg.
Hundreds of Patriot Guard Riders and other community supporters formed a human wall around the Raeford Presbyterian Church to shield the family from The Westboro Baptist Church who made it public that they would picket the service. Nearly 1,500 more people lined the streets of downtown Raeford waving flags and signs that they made to show their support for the family and friends.
Thanks to the human wall effort, the members of Westboro Baptist Church did not stay longer than 10 minutes to protest.
Joe Beasley
8:14 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
I'm not one for limiting someone's freedom of speech. However, as a Combat Veteran, I'm ALL for shutting this idiot down. Great job everyone!
He was at my friend's funeral in Topeka, KS. Our brother was KIA in Afghanistan and the Patriot Guard Riders formed a wall around he and his followers, and every time they'd start to spew their idiocy, the PGR would rev their motorcycle engines...again, great job...and THANK YOU!
Kelly Twedell
10:23 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Thanks, Joe. They came to the wrong town! Great show of support everyone.
Jon
7:34 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
The Westboro group believes that when American soldiers die it is God's judgement against our country -- the consequence of tolerating and accepting homosexuality as a nation. They are confusing a specific judgement of God with the natural consequences of sin in the world, in the heart of mankind, which has a more obvious connection with death in war.
They have also elevated the sin of homosexuality to a place it does not deserve and give it a special emphasis that the Scriptures do not give it.
It does not matter which sin(s) you choose in an unrepentant lifestyle, it is all a rebellion against God;
The righteousness and holiness of God means we deserve to be crushed for our sins, each and every time we commit them (why should God wait until we die?).
Because God is also love, He planned from the begining of time to reconcile his absolute righteousness with his absolute Love. He is the one who also justifies us, by sacrificing himself for our sins which accomplished two things: the sins of those who have faith in Jesus are paid for, and we can now have the righteousness of Christ given to us so that we may glorify God and enjoy him forever.
God has spoken, he does not change and his word can not be broken.
Jon
7:42 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
As a reference I suggest this: [Romans 3:21-27]
"But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. "