Posted on 04/25/2005 7:59:46 AM PDT by NotchJohnson
Cites concerns about Roman Catholics, other faiths
KEN GARFIELD Staff Writer
One of Charlotte's best-known churches has withdrawn support for a food pantry that serves the needy because the pantry works with Roman Catholics.
Central Church of God explained its decision in a letter March 1 from minister of evangelism Shannon Burton to Loaves & Fishes in Charlotte: "As a Christian church, we feel it is our responsibility to follow closely the (principles) and commands of Scripture. To do this best, we feel we should abstain from any ministry that partners with or promotes Catholicism, or for that matter, any other denomination promoting a works-based salvation."
Loaves & Fishes isn't the only ministry with which the Sardis Road mega-church has cut ties, and Catholics have not been the only reason they've given.
The Rev. Tony Marciano, executive director of Charlotte Rescue Mission, said Burton told him the church could no longer support the agency after it allowed three Muslim students from UNC Charlotte to help serve a meal at the uptown ministry in November. Founded in 1938 by eight businessmen, including Charlotte-born evangelist Billy Graham's father, Charlotte Rescue Mission offers Christ-centered residential care for people fighting drugs and alcohol.
Doug Hartjes, director of development for Crisis Assistance Ministry in Charlotte, said Central Church of God told them it will not provide financial support this year. Crisis Assistance provides emergency financial aid and other help to people. Hartjes said 200 congregations representing Christian, Jewish and other faiths donate money and volunteer time, as do people with no religious affiliation.
The church also ended funding for Love Inc., which provides services for the poor, elderly and disabled in Mecklenburg County.
The decision by Central Church of God isn't likely to cripple the ministries. Loaves & Fishes executive director Beverly Howard said the church has donated a total of $36,000 the past 11 years, plus volunteers and food. Marciano said the church gave Charlotte Rescue Mission $5,500 in 2004 -- a small part of the mission's annual budget of $3 million. Hartjes declined comment, citing the policy of honoring the privacy of donors.
But whatever its practical impact, the Central Church decision is likely to provoke debate over ecumenical cooperation, or the lack of it, in a city that prides itself on its many vibrant congregations -- and the notion that they generally get along.
Anna Burton, a spokesperson for Central Church of God and the minister's wife, said church leaders decline comment, letting the letter speak for itself. She said there was no animosity toward any of the organizations.
Howard said Loaves & Fishes receives support from 100 to 150 congregations each year, and that Central Church of God is the only one to pull out over the food pantry's partnership with other congregations. Jewish and Muslim congregations help, as do 10 to 15 Catholic parishes to which Central objected.
"It absolutely did shock us," Howard said. "We had no idea Central Church felt that way about ecumenical ministry."
Howard said Loaves & Fishes last year gave away a week's worth of food to 70,000 recipients. She said that's a mission all people should embrace.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte released a statement to the Observer Friday, saying, "This apparent attempt to divide the faith community is most unfortunate."
The statement sought to explain the Catholic position on what it means to be saved:
"As Catholics we firmly believe that Salvation for the world came through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through his Passion, Jesus Christ has already completed the work of salvation. Jesus calls us to love one another and that love must demonstrate itself in good works. Engaging in good works is putting your faith into action. We earnestly hope that we can sit down with fellow Christians at the Central Church of God and clarify our mutual understanding of God's word as put forth in the Scriptures."
The Rev. Conrad Hoover of St. Ann Catholic Church in Charlotte stressed that you are not saved solely by good works.
"Catholics believe it is indeed by faith in Jesus Christ," Hoover said. "We really are biblically grounded."
With some 6,000 members -- and often more than that packing Sunday morning services -- Central Church of God on Sardis Road is known for its huge crowds and electrifying sermons by the Rev. Loran Livingston. Crowds are so big at one of the nation's largest Church of God congregations that buses drive people to worship from the parking lot at Providence Day School and Charlotte Country Day.
In the letter to Loaves & Fishes, obtained by the Observer, Central's Burton tried to end on a positive note:
"I hope and pray you receive this as intended -- in love," Burton wrote. "Thank you in advance for your understanding in this matter, and if you should have any questions, feel free to give me a call."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reach Ken Garfield at (704) 358-5094.
Stupid is as stupid does.
You think wrong. I know atheists, but I don't know any who are so insulting that they think believers would listen to their proclamtions from on high. He's playing you for a fool. He's toying with you.
He's wayyyyyyyyyy smarter than you, he's enlightened, he knows there is no God, he knows it's stupid to worship a deity that doesn't exist. Anyone who does such a thing would be a moron, or a childish person. But he thinks you don't notice that the most important thing that he wants to tell you about himself is that he doesn't believe in God. It's his tag-line. It's the one thing he wants you to know about him. The next thing he wants you to know, is that you foolish little minds can't even get along without input from someone who thinks you're dumb. Amazing.
The Epistle of James starting in Chapter 1:
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Chapter 2:
13 For he shall have judgment without bmercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
These are the foundation stones of my religion: Faith in Jesus Christ and whatever works I am capable of doing as an offering unto Him.
You're projecting.
You're making a mistake if you think that anyone in their right mind who was a believer would care what an atheists "understanding" of the bible was.
The main thing they "understand" is that it's BS, and only the simple minded would believe it.
Define "Papist Heresy", please.
Is that good or bad? Projecting what?
"Go here http://www.loavesandfishes.org/donate.htm if you think it's more important to feed hungry people than to stifle the Papist heresy."
????????????????????????????????????????
Kinda like going to the zoo or a museum eh?
Following that logic, a Jew could not be an expert on the New Testament. A Hindu couldn't be an expert on the Koran. And no one could be an expert on dead religions since they themselves do not practice those religions.
Whatever you do, don't take Protagoras seriously. He trolls for fun.
If you look up the name Protagoras, you will find he was a Greek philosopher, and was considered the first Sophist.
If you want sophistry, Protagoras is your man.
Goodness! Please do me the courtesy of including my name in the To: line if you are going to discuss me in your post. I'd appreciate that.
If these misguided people want to really make a statement, they would end all co-operation with anything attached to the World Council Of Churches ... that Whore Babylon.
I'm not rattled all that much...I guess it's because I'm not convinced that atheists really exhist...We just need to pray a little harder for those folks...
Heck no. I don't mind them, I feel sorry for them. I pray for them.
I wouldn't even ban them from this thread, but I sure as heck reserve the right to expose them for coming on to a thread about how Christians should interact with each other and quote scripture they don't believe in as a way of mocking believers.
You are correct about that.
Special prayers for people who purposefully insult believers.
"Kinda like going to the zoo or a museum eh?
"
No, not really. Some of the best music ever written was written for the Christian liturgy. I have been a professional musician in my life, and have played many such pieces. It's only natural that I would enjoy hearing them in the setting for which they were written.
I speak Russian, albeit haltingly now, so it is very interesting to hear Church Slavonic, a predecessor to the Russian language. It's kind of like listening to Latin, the predecessor of all the romance languages.
Agreed, Russian Church music is some of the most beautiful in the world.
Goodness? How does that work for a believer in nothing. No good or evil is possible in your religion.
And,, I thought you didn't want to be involved at all, that's what you claimed.
Guess what, you are THE only thing I have commented on on this thread. So if you see me post on this thread, it will be about you and any other non believer telling the stupid little Christians how to interact with each other.
Yes, I pray often for all you protestants and catholics. I pray that someday you can come to Christ.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.