How you can tell that America is not a theocracy:

He was interrupted by Steve Drain, who bellowed that God hates gays and their enablers and "so, therefore, God hates the U.S. military."

According to an account reported by the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune, about a half-hour before the service, Deirdre Ostlund, Kemple's mother, approached the six Kansans and told them in a cold fury: "I'm Andrew's mother and I want you to know you are truly hateful people."

As Ostlund turned away to enter Zion Lutheran Church, Shirley Phelps-Roper taunted her: "Adulterer! You can't admit you sent your own child to hell! If she does not heed this warning, she will look up from hell with him."

If America were a theocracy, the Phelps would have been tried for blasphemy and would either have been excommunicated (which is a spiritually dangerous, almost deadly punishment in its own right) or put to death. Why? Because scripture is clear that God does not hate homosexuals, but rather hates their sin. The sin of homosexuality is a severe one because all sexual sins are against one's own body as well as God, but that does not in any way make them sufficiently egregious as to make them unforgivable. There is, however, one sin that the Bible says quite clearly is unforgivable, and that is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Phelps is not a Christian anymore than Osama Bin Laden is. His approach speaks directly against basic Christian teachings and regardless of the label that he wears, it is not fitting for him to be referred to as a Christian. He is a sick and evil little man who is doing his very best to stifle any genuine call for repentance for those he encounters and is an enemy of God, not a devoted follower of God.

So, what would he be doing here if he were a Christian preacher instead of a lying charlatan? He'd be praying on behalf of the fallen and would be urging others to strengthen their relationship with God so as to earn God's favor for our country. Instead, he turns people off to the Gospel message. Some preacher. I'm sure Satan will give him a merit badge or two someday.