The Westboro Baptist Church is one of the most hated groups in America. Other than their members, which consists of mainly of the Phelps family, no one seems to agree with the way they present their message. Despite this, there are several Oklahomans who are issuing an open invitation to the Westboro Baptist Church. In interviews conducted on March 7 and March 8, these Oklahomans explained why they want the Westboro Baptist Church to visit Oklahoma.
“I agree with a lot of what the Wesboro Baptist Church teaches,” Diane Mills, from Norman, said. “I don't believe in abortion. Gay marriage is also wrong. Their message is good, but the way they convey that message is wrong. Everyone knows you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. All they do is spew hatred and that is no way to share the Gospel of Christ. They need to go to church with me. My pastor preaches fire and brimstone and he teaches mercy, grace and forgiveness.”
“I have the perfect tool against the Westboro Baptist Church,” Ray O'Dell, from south central Oklahoma, said. “The Bible says 'For God so loved the world.' That verse doesn't include 'except for all the people the WBC hates.' God loves the whole world. He doesn't like what we do all the time, but He still loves us.”
The Westboro Baptist Church preaches how God hates everything except the Westboro Baptist Church. They spread this message with signs that read “God hates America,” “God hates fags” and “God hates everything” when they protest.
“The Westboro Baptist Church should visit us Okie 'rebels' more often,” Roselyn Kemp, from Oklahoma City, said. “We are tough and we can handle them. We survived the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression and came back stronger. They ain't got anything we can't handle.”
The Westboro Baptist Church, at once time, had made Oklahoma a target of their protests and pickets. They fed off the “McAlester incident” where their tires were slashed and no one in McAlester would repair them. After similar treatment in other Oklahoma towns, the Westboro Baptist Church has failed to visit Oklahoma. If they do, they rarely even get out of their cars.
“I'm a demon-rebuking, old-fashioned Pentecostal,” Rachel Anderson, from Moore, said. “They should come on down to Moore. I'll get out my anointing oil and pray those demons away. The Bible says that when the enemy comes against you one way, it will have to flee seven when you believe. They don't bother me at all. My God of love is bigger than their false god of hate and He'll take care of them.”
It is unknown when or even if the Westboro Baptist Church will be returning to Oklahoma. Should they choose to protest in the Sooner State, the Westboro Baptist Church will meet with opposition. Despite Oklahomans inviting the Westboro Baptist Church back, it is clear they only want them in their state to show them what Okies are made of and that they and their message of hate will not be tolerated.
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