Posted on 04/14/2005 12:00:51 PM PDT by Dean Baker
Baptist church 'fake pope' sign attracting attention, criticism By JEANNINE F. HUNTER, hunter@knews.com April 13, 2005
NEWPORT, Tenn. - Two days after being posted, a church marquee message that questions the purpose of the papacy is still attracting attention in this small community.
"What I am trying to do is to let people know there's only one way to heaven through Jesus Christ," said the Rev. Cline Franklin, pastor of Hilltop Baptist Church. "There's no need for help. God sent his son, Jesus Christ. We're all priests if we're saved. I don't need to go to anybody else to pray."
The sign's side facing Broadway, the main thoroughfare in Newport, reads, "No truth, No hope Following a hell-bound pope!" On the other side, facing the church parking lot, it reads: "False hope in a fake pope."
The message appeared days after Pope John Paul II's funeral last week.
"It is unfortunate when it comes from within the Christian church. It's really sad," said the Rev. Dan Whitman, 54, pastor of Newport's Good Shepherd Catholic parish and Holy Trinity parish in Jefferson City. "You learn how to deal with it and pray not to be that way yourself."
It does not reflect mainstream Baptist thought, said Dr. Merrill "Mel" Hawkins, associate professor of religion and director of the Center for Baptist Studies at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City.
"When you see signs like that, they are almost like relics or artifacts of a bygone era," Hawkins said.
He spoke about animus between Protestants and Catholics persisting after the Protestant Reformation and for centuries, during which "harsh things were said, couched within misperceptions, misunderstandings."
Among the major misperceptions is that Catholics "venerate the pope on the same level as Jesus," Hawkins said, and that "the pope is connected to their salvation in place of Jesus Christ."
Catholics make up about 12 percent of the population in the South.
"Catholics are a minority faith in the South, and there's often bias toward minority religious communities because people don't understand," he said.
James Gaddis, a lay speaker who also chairs the board at First United Methodist Church, said he had not seen the sign but had heard about it.
"I understand that it's very degrading," he said. "I think it's tragic that any church group would stoop to this posture."
Following Tuesday night's council meeting, Newport Mayor Roland Dykes Jr. said he was a little saddened by the message.
"It doesn't behoove any of us to determine who is going to heaven or hell. I think the pope is a highly, highly respected person," he said.
Franklin's church is a five-year-old independent Baptist church. When asked what the message meant, he said: "What does 'pope' mean? It means father. We have a heavenly father, and the Bible says we shall call no man a father. "
He said people have been driving by or taking pictures or calling to share their views. He said the intent was not to offend Catholics and people are misunderstanding the sign.
Copyright 2005, Knoxville News-Sentinel Co.
The "born again" part is universal. It says so, right there in John 3:5.
So what? The Baptists profane the Holy Sacraments every time they dunk themselves, and every time they mock the Holy Eucharist. They had better take a look at the beam in their own eye before they start kvetching about the mote in somebody elses.
pssst... the way to heaven isn't putting up signs saying somebody else is going to hell. I have thought and said it of people. I'm sorry. I'm forgiven. I'll probably do it again though I wish I wouldn't.
Everytime I think about that whole "Thought, Word, and Deed" thing I realize how hopeless I am.
I think ....uh maybe the Zoroastrians are the true church. Does Vegas have a line on this?
Exactly...so you won't mind if nobody shows up to see YOU pray or hear YOU'RE interpretation of the Bible, huh? Hypocrit.
The Bible says to pray often in private. There is no need for a building to pray. Those who are saved are already given eternal life.
Why would anyone demand others see them pray?
You're calling me an AntiChrist for posting something?
Or because I've dared ask some honest questions? (Questions that have been answered by a few interested people. Politely, I might add).
I think some are missing the point. The pastor (in good taste) should not have posted somthing like that.
However, according to the Bible - salvation is based on grace, not works. If the Pope accepted Christ as his personal savior - then he is bound for heaven.
One other thing you guys might want to consider as many of you debate this issue. How many of you have different beliefs than those who are protestants or Baptist? I am sure many of you (some have posted offensive stuff right now) have teased about Baptist in a mean spirited way?
My point is, dont go throwing rocks in glass houses.
I, my self, am an independent baptist as well - but I think I have enough common sense to know that the sign is offensive and probably hurts things more than anything. There is a saying in the Bible. Speak the truth in love.
One last thing we need to consider is the man's heart. No one can really judge this guy's intentions besides God. I think it would be wise to just let the situation go and let God take care of it. I am sure the man has enough heart ache at the moment.
thanks.
Sometimes my refusal to agree with 'we are the true religion and everyone else is doomed' has gotten me in trouble with my church and others. But I feel that anyone, ANYONE who truly seeks the will of God and yearns for it (and that does not include bombings and beheadings) is headed up that good path and has God's favor and attention.
big BS. You are nothing but a DU troll
For why should I be judging outsiders? Is it not your business to judge those within? God will judge those outside.Many non-Christians in particular love to quote Matthew 7:1-3---and ironically, as 1 Cor 5 above suggests, they have some justification---though the conveniently fail to put any weight on verses they don't like.
-- 1 Cor 5:12-13a
But please don't misunderstand, I share the condemnation of this pastor and his tactlessness (and likely his error as well). I'm just saying that whipping out that verse from Matthew really isn't as helpful as it might first appear.
In your criteria for gaining heavenly admittance, you may wish to consider:
John 6:52, "If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world." and
John 6:55, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day."
If you ever need publicity, a "the pope going to Hell" sign will get it for you.
You are way off in some of your characterizations.
Yeah, I guess that makes sense.
But it brings up another question, if you're interested...
What about practicing and non-practicing Jews? Or even Orthadox or Reformed (Or whatever the proper terms are) Jews?
Just being born Jewish gets them all into Heaven equally?
(And to really throw a twist in here...What about converts??)
Because of their mortgage, and their boat payments, and that last trip to Europe. How else are these paid entertainers gonna make ends meet?
I don't remember being taught that Mary was sinless. Just a vigin. And then "Holy" (After giving birth to Jesus, I guess? Or maybe before...And that's why she was chosen by God?)
Anyway...I don't remember anything about her being without sin.
??
bump
What 6 years did you attend? I went for 12 years, from first through 8th grade we had religion class daily, talked about the Bible, focusing on the New Testament. They handed out books called "The Good News" -- when we hit highschool we studied the Bible indepth, book by book for 4 years, plus additional religious instruction. I'm so sick of hearing, "those dang catholics never read the Bible" Plus the fact we read the Bible at every Mass. Whatever.
"My Jesus is better than your Jesus!"
Great point. It apparently hasn't occurred to them that all Christians better hang together or the TROP will hang us separately.
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