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.
If you're on the straight and narrow like you say you are - I'd think you'd be welcoming it.
*****
Cause I'm not worried about just me. If that were the case, the gospel wouldn't need to be preached or the fact there is sssooo much reference and warnings of endtimes and its deception. Most are ignoring it with a "hey...I'm ok...who cares about everyone else." I do welcome it, but since I am not a rapture believer....I not exactly sure how it will come about, but I think if I had been Noah on that Ark when God shut the doors, and had to listen to the screams of the people beating on it to get in.....cause you know they were, they watched him build it for 40 yrs. and mocked and made fun of him. Rain had never fell from the sky, they mocked him for saying it would. I don't want to hear what Noah must of heard in those screams for help and I have said nothing. Noah preached for 40 yrs. with zero success, I should be just as tenatious. Don't you think?
It is obvious that we are being told something - but, given what I've read, it is still too early for people to bail out en masse. The proper signals have not yet been given, but we know what to watch for.
If you haven't seen it yet, go to www.fatima.org and read the Fatima Prophecies. Add those to the others and it paints a pretty obvious picture.
I could care less whether you're a man, woman, or hobbit.
I could care less whether you're a man, woman, or hobbit.
******
???
Have another drink.
Wow. Her powers are impressive.
And just when I was considering letting her pick my lottery numbers for me...
Well, then you've got a couple of problems! First, when seeking to lead others to Jesus we should be loving and open.
Secondly, you distort the Bible and it's teachings. Example: get out of churches - The Bible says: 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Just because you had a bad experience attending a church doesn't mean everyone else is bound for Hell for going.
Third, you are hypocritical. Like I said, you've spent time on this thread denouncing Catholics for their paganism while at the same time subscribing to some of their views.
Yes, you sound a bit nutty. We all have dreams - I've had a couple of dreams about Orlando Bloom does that mean in the future I'm going to hook up with him? Alas, sigh - probably not. But it would be a little crazy for me to believe I am based on my dream. And for all your lambasting of other religions - I don't think YOU are a true follower of Jesus and His teachings. You need to step back and do some examining. For all you say about how happy you are (and you have to say it quite a bit - like you have to hear yourself) I have to wonder. Because someone who is truly happy and in the grace of God does not act like you. Your hell fire and damnation all the time - smacking down Christians for celebrating "pagan" holidays. That's called life and I enjoy it - does that make me any less of a Christian in Gods eyes? No, there is a difference in celebrating the Easter bunny and celebrating what Jesus did for us on the cross. There is a difference in celebrating Santa Clause and celebrating Jesus birth. It's HOW you do it! Stop belittling people on how they worship and take a look at yourself.
Well said!
Thank you - thank you! Sorry for not getting back to you yesterday. I never heard of that group. But it sounds like get togethers at your place are alot of fun - LOL!
I have a solution to all the hand wringing over what we Catholics do or don't do. Believe or don't believe.
How about all other faiths preach the teachings of THEIR faith. Spend all the time and energy that they use bashing Catholics to shore up their own base. I promise that we Catholics don't spend one second of our mass deriding anyone elses faith.
Regardless, it is "not yet time" and there are many private revelations exhorting people to stick with what they have until it is time, primarily, methinks, because there isn't anything better - yet.
That's how I read things and it is what my gut is telling me. I'll stick with my gut feelings as they are generally pretty accurate. When I get "the signal" then I will act on it, but right now, it is 'too soon' if that makes any sense.
I'll stick with my gut feelings as they are generally pretty accurate. When I get "the signal" then I will act on it, but right now, it is 'too soon' if that makes any sense.
*****
Makes more sense than you know, and more sense than what most have said in this thread. Faith and Holy Spirit led, is not a formula. Takes alot more faith to do what you just said than to go thru any man made rituals.
Everyone's time will be different, some will never relenquish to the truth till they are judged by it.
Blessings
I don't know what to tell you Tighty, I just wish our conversations were one on one and not in this format.
I find the ones that I conflict with like this are my favorite kind of people...and we become good friends.
The conflict is usually due to just having strong personalities and being very much alike.
I've given you alot....maybe to much...my once the same as you sister-in-law says I try to feed people elephants. It is all hard to absorb. Now....after many a conflict, she will call me and tell me what she has seen and where it fits. She admitted the other day, at first she thought I was crazy as a loon. lol She said, my trying to reach people was like telling a 5 yr. old there is no Santa Claus.
I will back off, but I won't forget you....my website is on my personal page, my personal email is there. If you ever need anything....if all of a sudden the seed that has been planted sprouts, or as we move forward you start seeing some of what I've talked about....don't hesitate to get in touch. There is still a CHURCH and the gates of hell will not prevail against it......not just the one you have been programmed is the true one. The true one is spread out all over the world and obvious to no one right now, Blood bought, sold out to a true faith, with One Sheppard who is Christ and will bend her knee to no apostate system or government. We are one, indwelled by the same Holy Spirit and are the true Bride, the body of Christ, ruled by no man-made agendas.
No. Only to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you were full of it. And as a matter of fact, as it turns-out, were the one doing the "Trolling".
Ironic, huh??
WTH are you talking about ? I think you aree a bit psycho myself.
And just when I thought this thread was getting "kinder and gentler"...
Although I am Catholic, I do think that Protestants believe in good works as one is judged by those works once in Heaven and is given their place in Heaven based on those good works.
I would not think your qualified to make an assumption that Pope Ratzinger is teaching a false understanding of salvation. Perhaps your understanding is false? Frankly, what you said is just as offensive as Franklin's sign. And no, Catholics do not believe people are bound to hell because they worship incorrectly. It's easy to have a one-to-one conversation with God and ask for his forgiveness. Now, try telling your sins to another human being. Little harder and your repentence is all that more sincere. That's the entire basis for confessing to a human being. It's hard. Geez. You are a little too opinionated to be taken seriously.
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