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.
Throw a little racism in with the insanity.
*****
There is the card that will be thrown if you defy this one coming. It's been played twice on this thread already, and he isn't even set into power yet.
the Papacy doesn't exist according to the Bible
****
I never said that...Oh it exists and its against Christ.
While we're on the topic, why not tell us how many the Protestants murdered or how many so-called "witches" they burned at the stake or how many CATS they killed?
Here's a hint: Over 500,000 in Germany alone, over 50,000 in the American colonies, and most of the cats in Scotland. The Kirk recently apologized for the cats and the witches burned in Scotland during their insane witch-hunting season.
Suffice it to say enough blood has been spilled that it is safe to say that fanaticism is an evil to be avoided.
Here's a hint: Over 500,000 in Germany alone, over 50,000 in the American colonies, and most of the cats in Scotland.
LOL! That's what I'd like to know - why don't you try making it?
All I can tell is that you evidently have a problem with Catholics, and it appears your problem stems from centuries-old history. How exactly that relates to the modern church is beyond me. Feel free to enlighten us all.
If us Catholics are not allowed to extrapolate doctrine from teh Bible, then you can't either.
*****
I'm not extrapolating lies to lead people astray and take their souls. I'm warning about the one coming who will. You think the world and the world leaders flocked to this last one...you haven't seen anything yet, and you will support him....your time is short.
No digging required. Its common knowledge around here. The point, however, is that fanaticism leads to death, bloodshed, and nastiness. I am certain even you can agree with that.
1 Cor 11
23
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread,
24
and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
25
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
26
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
27
Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord.
28
A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup.
29
For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.
Jesus said "This is my Body" ... "This cup is the new covenant in my blood."
Cite the chapter and verse mentioning the African Pope and End Times. Place the cite here ------>
The point, however, is that fanaticism leads to death, bloodshed, and nastiness
*****
I know...that is why I can't believe what people actually think is christian. Just be careful...God's people are not spineless, they are meek (which means teachable, not soft.)
They will defend truth and much like Christ whip the money changers out of the temple if necessary or take on a Pharisee or two, here and there. But always merciful, and forgiving. They lead, they don't manipulate for control, and they always lead to the Father. Always...just as Christ did. God's people have no personal agenda for power. Don't confuse correction with nastiness. :) Lord knows the teachings of doctrines of devils is almost overwhelming sometimes...things are just as He said they would be. Everyone is looking way out in the future for prophetic events and they are sitting in them as we speak.
Cite the chapter and verse mentioning the African Pope and End Times. Place the cite here ------>
******
I don't need to...he will be here soon enough. That's the same thing the Protestant preacher asked me when I said God was bringing judgement on his church and he had better turn and walk away. He didn't. Unfortunately...I had no chapter and verse but that didn't make his young wife any less dead 3 weeks later. The church went down, just like God said it would.
Soon the defense of your harlot system will no longer hold true, attack me all you want, God is going to destroy her.
Your time is short.
You just don’t understand. The RCC controls Amazon.com. Do you think it its any coincidence it is named for a river in Brazil, a mostly Roman country? If you attempt to order the Didache your name gets on a list. You will eventually receive the Didache, but the upper section of the pages will be marked with a quick acting poison and you will be killed. [sarcasm off]
At first I did not think it would be necessary to add the “sarcasm off” at the end up there, but then I read some of the other posts, and what I said is actually mild in comparison.
I guess you'll use THEIR 'reasoning' then.
It is a little over the top, but the basis of Protestant and Baptitst beliefs rejects the papacy. Our belief is that following the pope is no different than following Sung Yung Moon.
Well, there is a difference. Following the Pope, you might be inclined to read the Bible and stumble on the fact that salvation comes only from Jesus.
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