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Now, this is one of the things I dread seeing.

I've been a Christian since 1987. In the time since, I have seen great examples of how the Christian life is supposed to be lived...and I've seen some really bad examples of how NOT to show an unbeliever what Christians are like. The pastor of the church in question is just such a one of those bad examples.

One of the attitudes I have encountered in my dealings with people is the notion that Christians in general are dumb as a stump. Not only that, but of all Christian denominations, Baptists (specifically Southern Baptists) are the very stupidest. Being that I happen to belong to a Southern Baptist church, this is quite disturbing to me.

Unfortunately, the actions (the sign) and words from this pastor are reinforcing this attitude.

If one is truly following the teachings of Christ, and doing the best they can to follow the Great Commandment (Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself), then people like this pastor wouldn't be making these statements. It is NOT our job to judge people from another denomination. If we (as Christians) believe the person in question is not a member of the Body of Christ (which spans denominational lines, no matter what we might think), then we need to pray for that person to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. What we DON'T need is for someone to make inflammatory statements in public that alienate a large section of society (i.e; Catholics).

As for me, I believe Karol Woytjla was a godly man who trusted Christ as his Savior, and is basking in His glory in Heaven as we speak.

Jesus didn't found His church on Earth so we could tear each other down. This pastor needs to learn that.
767 posted on 04/15/2005 2:42:55 PM PDT by hoagy62 (The reason for the Second Amendment is in case all the others fail.)
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To: hoagy62
What we DON'T need is for someone to make inflammatory statements in public that alienate a large section of society
 
 
Yeah!  We SURE don't want to do THAT!!!
 

NIV Matthew 11:21-22
 21.  "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
 22.  But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
 
NIV Matthew 23:13-36
13.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
 15.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
 16.  "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, `If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'
 17.  You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
 18.  You also say, `If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.'
 19.  You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
 20.  Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
 21.  And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.
 22.  And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.
 23.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
 24.  You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
 25.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
 26.  Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
 27.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.
 28.  In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
 29.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.
 30.  And you say, `If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
 31.  So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.
 32.  Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!
 33.  "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
 34.  Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.
 35.  And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
 
 
 
 
 

884 posted on 04/16/2005 7:06:48 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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