John H reports that the Westboro Baptist Church is threatening to hold anti-gay rallies in Great Britian. One commenter, Scott L, has this to say:
I live in the same city where Rev. Phelps’ “church” is located. Our congregation is on their regular protest rounds because, even though we are opposed to homosexuality as a church body (LC-MS), we won’t join them.
Unfortunately, they live for publicity, so anything you do in terms of “counter protest” will just egg them on. Don’t confront them, don’t argue with them. I hope and pray if you do something, you are able to make an effective witness of the love of God for homosexuals, and all sinners, while not condoning the sin. Their entire theology is based on the Law; they have no place in their worldview for the Gospel, since, according to them, we are all predestined to end up wherever we are going. About the only thing that works is to ignore them.
I agree with John that the rally is anti-Christian and stands to cause more people to reject the Word of God. This is sounding a little familiar:
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you— but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others.” — Matthew 23:1-5(a)
So how should this topic be approached? The same way we approach all sins and sinners. All of us deserve to be in Hell. All of us need to repent and believe the Gospel.
Lent is coming, and there is no better time to take the log out of our eyes before seeing clearly to take the speck out of our brother’s. Acknowledge your sin and allow yourself to feel remorse for it. Confess it to your pastor, and he will announce that God has forgiven it. Continue on, informed of what is right and wrong, trying to do better, and return to your church and pastor to repent again. Despair is a tool of Satan.
“Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ…willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.” Luther, Thesis No. 1.
iggyantiochus on 
Dan
Don’t they have different “hate speech” laws there? It would be great to see Phelps in the same cell as that blind, hook-handed Sheik.
I have had a theory, which was also voiced by Phil Hendrie: I think this group is a troupe, not a church or group of Christians. It’s attack street theater. However, I am not 100% sure after the funeral debacle they had. Hendrie still thinks it is. Something to contemplate.