Baptist church 'fake pope' sign attracting attention, criticism (Pope Bound for Hell).

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."

"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 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.

So I guess I should be listening to Benny Hinn? I should have followed David Koresh.....Jim Jones perhaps? They prophesied as well. What is the difference between you and them? What is the difference between you and the three children who had "visions" in the village of Fatima. Why are they crazy and yet you are not? You say that Catholics are foolish to listen to such nonsense but they should listen to you and your dreams.

******

Tighty!!!!! I am not sitting in an Apostate system asking for your support or your money. I'm not telling you to buy candles and pray to dead people, nor feeding you anything but straight scripture. WHAT is my agenda? Have I said...Hey Tighty..come here and become a part of my commune...stay the heck where you are!! YOU develop YOUR relationship with God....YOU YOU YOU!! All I am doing is warning....don't do anything...just watch. I'm one little woman sitting on a farm, raising my horses and working a full time job. I'm happy...I don't need your support, I don't need your approval. I only want God's approval and I am sold out to Him. I don't care what you think...listen and watch or don't. "To whom much is given, much is required." I WILL PAY if I misguide you. Do you understand that? I WILL PAY.
Benny Hinn is a witch....and he wants your money.
David Koresh was a control freak and power hungery.
Jim Jones was a control freak and had a death fixation.
All 3 wanted the people with them to receive their worship for themselves and to have power over them.
Stay the heck where you are and don't send me anything!! You find your relationship with God...cause I can't find it for you.
How are you going to see the endtimes deception if you can't identify who the leading players are? Have you even asked God to show you who they are? Cause I have been asking HIM since I was 13 yrs. old and I'm 51. I can be very tenatious.
You are right in your cautiousness of false prophets and yes many will rise...many are here. But they speak the things that tickle the ears of men and the things men want to hear.
Just the fact you want to ring my neck should tell you something!! True Prophets are NOT LIKED and usually killed when ever it can be accomplished ...not flocked after by masses of people. They infurate a religious spirit...a Pharisee spirit...they don't fit in, they are not suppose to, they never have.

You have GOT to read your bible more! Get all the man taught crap out of your head and let the Holy Spirit teach you....!! You should be compareing scripture against mens teachings not trying to make scripture line up with the teachings of men. You think you have the faith for salvation but you have no faith in the very spirit that was sent to teach and comfort us. What is wrong with this picture? THIS IS THE FRUIT OF ORGANIZED RELIGION? what a crock.

You can never fullfill the law, you will fail.

You are right of course. They were told to 'follow the Law' exactly because they COULDN'T!!!!

This was SUPPOSED to make them look for Another answer to luife's problem, but instead, in their pride, they thought they WERE following it. That's why Jesus showed them that it was there hearts INTENT, NOT what they actually carried out, they was their undoing.

NIV Matthew 5:20-48
20. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (WOW! Tough act to follow!)
21. "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'
22. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24. leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
25. "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
26. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
27. "You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.'
28. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

This Law is a standard for human conduct, a perfect standard. Because it was perfect, and we are not, it is impossible for sinful people to keep. It was for this reason that the Law became a stumbling block. It became an obstacle to Man because it is an unattainable perfect standard. The Law, then, brings about the opposite of what it requires. The Law says to be perfect, but shows you where you are not. It says to be holy but condemns you when you are not. Since it is not possible for us to keep the Law and therefore earn our position with God, we then need the holiness of God given to us -- because there simply isn’t any way for us to attain to the standard of God. Therefore, "...the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith," (Gal. 3:24). That is, the Law shows us that we can’t get to God by what we do. We need the grace of God in Christ Jesus manifested in His sacrifice.

Just the fact you want to ring my neck should tell you something!!

That's a little extreme. I'm not sure when the debate turned into me me wanting to get violent.

Since I'm in danger of becoming "violent" - I'll leave it at this:

Someone a few posts back said consistency isn't your best attribute - I'm inclined to agree. YOU condemn Catholics for their beliefs on things that aren't in the Bible and yet here you are. You say you have "prophetic dreams" and we should listen to them. You say it's all in the Bible - I could read the Bible until I go blind and not find your vision in it. And speaking of the few prophetic dreams you've had over the years - are they from God or Satan?

I know you are familiar with the scripture "Judge not, lest ye be judged". You have been extremely judgmental; condeming people for not believing EXACTLY as you believe. You can rain down on me with "It's not my teaching but God's". It's YOU not God judging people for attending church (If you want to please God - get out of that church!), it's YOU not God judging people for having a cross on their wall.

Now, I want you to hold on tight to your chair because I'm about to do some sinning myself this morning! You ma'am are a hypocrite and one of the worst kind. You come on to these threads and toss out charges under the umbrella of the Word of God. You're kind are dangerous. You mix Truth with deceit and I hope people do just what you have accused them of - turning their ears.

*****

Well at least your honest, but there is no deceit mixed in with the truth of what I have said. You just don't understand.
I can't help it if don't have dreams or visions.....and since I quoted you the scriptures where He said we would have them, what do you suggest I do with them? Do you think He will send them to His people so we will just shut up?
You also have to understand HOW DIFFICULT and how much courage it takes to step out and say these things for the simple reason...1. Nobody likes to be branded a nut, especially if you aren't one. 2. WHAT if I had eaten to much pizza!! 3. WHAT if I misunderstood and interpreted the dream wrong.

All the above scares the crap out of me!!! It scared me, to face 8 cardiologists in Walter Reed Medical Center and tell them the Lord told me NOT to take the mechanical heart valve that I was being told to take but the pig valve. I laid my life on the line....literally...do you understand? MY LIFE. That decision was AGAINST everything their knowledge and schooling and tests said I should do. I was told I would not have 3 kids...NEVER...not possible, abort them. I have 3 kids and 4 grandchildren.
I have the same feeling in the pit of my stomach right now, that I had when I laid MY LIFE down for what I felt was from the Lord, and went against teams of doctors....(looking like a nut.....tell a medical doctor the Lord told me to do this and you can come pretty close to being locked away!! and what IF I'm wrong, and the Doctors are right, what IF I misunderstood what the Lord has told me...I'll DIE.) And here I am again, standing, praying, not wanting to misunderstand my Father or what He wants me to warn about. All I can do is wait and watch....problem is...if I wait till after it happens then how will the Lord confirm everything else I have told you to be true? He said "He would confirm His word." But only His true word, not man's interpretation.

You seem to think speaking this is an easy thing to do...you have NO IDEA what this feels like or how much faith it takes to step out and speak it!!!

All I can ask....tearfully...is, if I'm wrong, I will take whatever you say and deserve it. But IF you see a pope emerge out of Africa, PLEASE listen to me, I am not trying to lead you astray in any shape nor form.

Oh... my 3 children are very happy I listened to the Lord. They are happy to be alive, I had no agenda with them either, other than life.

And I don't celebrate Easter (which is basically a pagan fertility holiday branded christian), so you completely threw me off there. Explain to me...remember the scriptures and how Passover occured 3 days before a pagan holiday that wasn't in the scriptures.

You are correct in saying that 'EASTER' is not in Scripture, but the FACT of it is.

Matthew 26
1. When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,
2. "As you know, the Passover is two days away--and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

NIV Matthew 26:16-18
16. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
17. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
18. He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, `The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'"

NIV Matthew 26:19-32
19. So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
21. And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."
22. They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"
23. Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
24. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
25. Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."
26. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27. Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
28. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
30. When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31. Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: "`I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
32. But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

NIV Matthew 28:1
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. (This is our SUNDAY; check yer calendar ;^)

NIV Luke 24:5-7
5. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?
6. He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
7. `The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"

Remember the details of the PASSOVER?

NIV Exodus 12:3-27
3. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
4. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.
5. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.
6. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.
7. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.
8. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.
9. Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire--head, legs and inner parts.
10. Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.
11. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover.
12. "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn--both men and animals--and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
13. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
14. "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD--a lasting ordinance.
15. For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.
16. On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat--that is all you may do.
17. "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.
18. In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day.
19. For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel, whether he is an alien or native-born.
20. Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread."
21. Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb.
22. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning.
23. When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.
24. "Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants.
25. When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony.
26. And when your children ask you, `What does this ceremony mean to you?'
27. then tell them, `It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.'" Then the people bowed down and worshiped.

It was no accident; no happenstance, no mere 365 to 1 odds that Jesus died at PASSOVER.

He was "The Lamb of God" who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

The Exodus story is a model of end time judgement: Does Chist's blood cover YOU? Then the plague will NOT fall on you.

Matthew 26

26. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27. Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
28. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

HE was illustrating that HE was the "LAMB" that GOD had prepared for redemption of sin!!!!

The 'meal' pointed to the future Messiah that would break Pharoh's (Satan's) grasp!

As for 'celebrating' Easter, my guess is that since the Jews were told to 'celebrate' Passover FOREVER, we, as Christians, have applied the same reasoning to EASTER, since we do NOT celebrate PASSOVER.

The Bunny and Egg trappings that the World has glommed onto OUR celebration of Christ's (Messiah's) resurrection, is something we can not do too much about. The world wants the 'fun' of a holiday (HOLY day) without the worship. sad.....

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