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.
I have learned much on the FR threads as to what Catholics really believe (or are supposed to believe). However, we will have to agree to disagree as to the Immaculate Conception. I give great honor and respect to Mary, but I can't go the rest of the way. To all on this thread: let's be respectful to each other.
Explains a lot, no?
Ya gotta watch out for those 'darkies', you know. ;-)
Given Catholics' immense power, I wonder why they just don't decree your Fightin' Irish are to be the national champs every year, and BC runners up?
"Eucharist is not found in the bible"
You are correct. The word, "eucharist" is not found in the modern day english version of bible (nor in the King James Version, for that matter). But the word originates from the earliest Christians (100 AD or so--several hundred years before the Bible was formed) to define the act of "breaking bread and drinking wine" that Jesus asked us to do in rememberance of Him.
"By some sort of ridiculous witchcraft, you think you turn the Eucharist into Christ and you are actually EATING HIM."
What is happening here is what Jesus said.--"Take this, eat it. This is my body which will be given up for you. Do this in rememberance of me."
Said Jesus, "Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you."
No witchcraft there that I can see or hear. Just Jesus' words. Same holds true with the wine.
"What the heck is with this round thing that gets laid on the tongue, where did that come from. "
This round thing is unleavened wheat bread, not unlike the bread Jesus broke with his disciples during the last supper. It certainly doesn't look like the Wonder Bread that we modern day Americnas are used to, but it is bread. It is also a small portion, not the supersized.
"If I made you a sandwich out of that thing you call bread you would starve to death."
No doubt. That's why Catholics have Pancake Breakfasts and doughnuts after Mass. :-)
hatred existed toward Catholics.
*****
No one hates catholics....do you not know your own history, your sitting in it. We know how dangerous she is, because we have seen the slaughtering that she can do. She has done it before, what makes you think she won't do it again, she will do it again.
First the African Pope, and THEN the national championship...
...in EVERY sport.
MUUUHAAAHAAAHAAA!!!
Ya gotta watch out for those 'darkies', you know. ;-)
******
"Already" we are playing the race card.....and so it begins.
Lemme guess, consistency isn't one of your strengths?
She? I have no idea what you're talking about...why don't you elaborate and I'll reply later. I need to leave for a while for a "*jog".
(*Secret meeting to plan how we'll dominate the world this week. First order of business, of course, is the election of an African pope.)
And all this time we've been dominating the world!
******
Not yet....it's coming.
Uh, YOU were the one that brought up, completely out of the blue, "The Pope that rises out of Africa".
I don't even know where that came from.
Remember, it's your turn to bring the doughnuts. You forgot last time and Cardinal Arinze sat in the corner and pouted the whole meeting.
Oh, and don't forget your secret Catholic decoder ring this time!
Lemme guess, consistency isn't one of your strengths?
*****
I don't hate rattlesnakes but I won't pick one up. I think I am being pretty consistent here. I don't hate catholics...they are people and some will come out of her, I hate the system that deceives people, in the name of God. I hate a corrupt government, but I don't hate the people. Is it really all that hard to understand?
Don't heed my warnings....call me a kook, or nut, that is fine. I promise not to say I told you so.
First order of business, of course, is the election of an African pope.)
*****
Remember that....roflol...cause you have no idea how right you are.
Okay, I understand THAT.
Sinfulness must be addressed, and I agree with that. Jesus was right in calling the Pharisees and the religious leaders of His day 'hypocrites', 'blind guides', and 'a brood of vipers'...because that's what the majority of them were.
BUT...unless I can have concrete, God-spoken TRUTH that says "ALL Catholics are going the Hell", I cannot believe that's the case....and I don't find that in my Bible.
I believe the love Jesus has for ALL of us goes much, MUCH farther and deeper than we can possibly fathom. I also believe that same love can blow large holes in the "traditions of men" and their doctrines...no matter who or what they are.
I am quite aware of "the system", and I believe in it, even after reading the reasons given why I shouldn't. Therefore, you also must hate me, and many other Catholics.
Either that, or you think I am so stupid as to not see the evil you say exists in the Church.
you think I am so stupid as to not see the evil you say exists in the Church.
****
Has nothing to do with stupid, being deceived does not make one stupid, just deceived. sigh. God said He would SEND a strong delusion on the earth and people would believe it...because they choose to believe it. Do you choose rightly TomB? Do you even question WHAT you choose? Your soul depends on it!!
So I've been reading along here for a while - enjoying your posts. Sounds like you are neither a protestant nor a Catholic. Good for you. There are better things to do with faith, eh?
btw - I think you are writing sound words for those who have ears to hear.
****
My goodness...there are none so blind as those who will not see!! And you are right, I am neither catholic or protestant....I don't have a title, other than just a believer. The Lord is my Sheppard. I can only hear him, and I guess that makes me.......weird? LOL Oh well....God said His people were a peculiar people.
I feel like I'm standing in a crowded burning building screaming fire and everyone is oblivious to the flames!!
No, I have had you and many other "Christians" on this website over the years explain exactly why, as a Catholic, I am bound for hell. I have examined those explanations, in detail, and have elected with my eyes wide open, to continue in the Church. Not only that, but since I've been involved in these discussions, with my help and encouragement, my wife and close friend have both converted to Catholicism. So, as you can PLAINLY see, there is no deception here.
Now, what makes you smarter, or more in touch with the Lord than me?
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