Posted on 05/24/2005 8:17:58 AM PDT by BigFinn
FOREST CITY -- A sign in front of a Baptist church on one of the most traveled highways in the county stirred controversy over religious tolerance and first-amendment rights this weekend.
A sign in front of Danieltown Baptist Church, located at 2361 U.S. 221 south reads "The Koran needs to be flushed," and the Rev. Creighton Lovelace, pastor of the church, is not apologizing for the display.
"I believe that it is a statement supporting the word of God and that it (the Bible) is above all and that any other religious book that does not teach Christ as savior and lord as the 66 books of the Bible teaches it, is wrong," said Lovelace. "I knew that whenever we decided to put that sign up that there would be people who wouldn't agree with it, and there would be some that would, and so we just have to stand up for what's right."
Seema Riley, a Muslim, who was born in Pakistan and reared in New York, was one of those upset by the sign.
She moved to Rutherford County for the "small town friendly" atmosphere, she said. When she saw the sign on the side of the highway Saturday she felt angered and threatened.
"We need a certain degree of tolerance," said Riley. "That sign doesn't really reflect what I think this county is about."
She said that according to Islamic faith, a follower does not even touch the Koran without going through a ritual cleansing. Muslims believe the physical book to be a sacred item that is treated with respect and reverence, much like the image of Jesus in Christianity, according to a report on National Public Radio.
"For someone to put that sign up -- the person just didn't understand -- didn't take into consideration what putting up that sign means," said Riley. "I don't think it should be posted on a sign in public viewing on the highway to create a hostile environment for me."
The appearance of the sign follows a national news story from last week. Newsweek magazine retracted a story reporting that military guards at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay flushed a copy of the Koran down the toilet during interrogation of a detainee. The Newsweek story sent Washington in a frenzy and was blamed for igniting Muslim riots and deaths abroad, including a particularly violent outburst in Afghanistan.
"Our creed as a Christian, or a Protestant, or a Baptist church -- of course we don't have a creed but the bible -- but we do have the Baptist faith and message that says that we should cling to the 66 books of the Holy Bible and any other book outside of that claiming to know the way of God or claiming to be God's word is automatically written off and is trying to defeat people from the way of true righteousness inside of our viewpoint in how we view the word of God," Lovelace said.
"Putting such a sign in a public place is an un-American example of intolerance, of aggressive disrespect for other citizens' deeply held views," said Donald Searing, Burton Craige Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "This is the sort of attitude and action that seriously endangers the liberty which lies at the heart of our democracy. It is also a good reminder that just because one may have the legal right to say something, doing so may not be morally, socially or politically desirable."
When Lovelace was asked whether he considered before he put the sign up that there may be some consequences or that some people may be angered, he said he was aware of the likelihood of angering some people.
"Well, I thought about it and I said there may be people who are offended by it but the way I look at it, Jesus told his followers that if the world hates you, don't feel bad because they hated me first," said Lovelace. "If we stand for what is right and for God's word and for Christianity then the world is going to condemn us and so right away when I got a complaint I said 'well somebody's mad, somebody's offended, so we must be doing something right.'"
Danieltown Baptist Church belongs to the Sandy Run Baptist Association and the association's Director of Missions the Rev. Jim Diehl said that Lovelace's opinion does not necessarily reflect that of that organization.
"Each of the churches of the Sandy Run Baptist Association are autonomous bodies," said Diehl. "Each church can develop a stance on doctrinal issues and can develop its own stance on moral issues."
The Rev. Billy Honeycutt, of the Green River Baptist Association said that he hopes that those who see the sign keep tolerance in mind.
"Respecting religion is important and respecting other people is important," said Honeycutt. "Hopefully, a lot of people will have that thought when they see the sign."
Following the religious controversy at a church in Waynesville where several members were asked to leave in what was termed a dispute over politics, several groups threatened to boycott the entire town due to the actions of one preacher.
Director of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Bill Hall said he does not think that the Danieltown sign will have a negative impact on the county's tourism or economic vitality.
"It is unfortunate that things like that happen and it certainly doesn't represent Rutherford County," said Hall. "I think that most people will understand that that is not a common attitude in this community."
Lovelace said he felt it was the work of God to display the sign and that no one in the church has spoken up against it to him.
He said the church has 55 members on the roster and he has only received one angry phone call since the sign was posted.
"We have a good group of people," said Lovelace.
Lovelace said the sign changes every week.
"About Friday or Saturday we will have a new sign," he said. "It should state to some effect 'Where are your treasures? Are they at the flea market or are they in heaven?'"
Lovelace said that he does not have anything against the flea market that recently opened up down the street from the church.
"I enjoy a good flea market, but if people can be down there at eight o'clock why can't they be at church at 11," he said.
Yes it did. The message was loud and clear.
Avoid holier than thou baptist assholes.
"You don't win converts to Christianity by going into attack mode."
What the Koran says:
[9.29] Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.
[9.30] And the Jews say: Uzair is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!
Responding verbally to a verbal attack is not an attack.
But here are just a few choice quotes from Jesus Christ:
Matthew 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Matthew 12:34
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Matthew 23:33
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Luke 3:7
Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Just queried on "vipers". No attacks there.
The Koran is a dangerous rag that belongs in the toilet.
Agreed
But something tells me that they could get rid of a bad guy if they wanted to. If he started marrying men and men, the church would find a quick way to get him out.
No. They could refuse to seat the delegates to the convention, but that is all. There was a pro-gay Baptist church that was treated that way by the SBC several years ago, but the SBC had no control over the preacher nor the congregation. All they can do is refuse to accept their money and refuse to let their messengers into the annual convention.
Recall when the SBC tried to confront Bill Clinton's church in Little Rock. The folks in Arkansas rightly ignored the effort.
But then some liberal prosecutor would drop the charges or some liberal judge would dismiss the case against the ROP(tm) member becasue they were oppressed by the evil church.
Some might think quite the contrary...
No, but you can buy him a Dr. Pepper. :-)
You ought to send that to the minister - it could be his next sign:
Jesus is Lord!
Mohammed is irrelevant!
Yah, like Muslims treat Christians worldwide with any respect and reverence.
Jesus said a lot of unpopular and controversial things.
So I ask, WWJD?
Sounds like a good way to make some money off an insurance policy. Take out a BIG policy, then post a sign out front stating truthful things about mohammed, like the fact that he was a child molester. A gign saying you have koran toilet paper for sale should help seal the deal.
>>Do you believe that you have to tear down other religions to preach the Gospel?<<
Well, Jesus did:
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus didn't put out a sign that said, "9 out of 10 of you are going to hell."
What did he do?
He ate dinner with the IRS agents and other sinners.
I seem to recall an incident involving money changers...
He'd go "All In" with Big Slick suited.
Maybe even Big Chic if he was on the short stack.
Yes, and how about when jesus healed the man by saying "your sins are forgiven," for the express purpose of riling up the "teachers of the Law" in Matthew 9.
That is exactly the spirit of what this man did. If anyone sincerely asks him "how could you say such a thing," he has a darned good answer for them. The answer is the Gospel.
I think this is vulgar. If the pastor felt the need to send a message about Islam, he could have put "Islam is a dangerous, false religion," on the sign. It would still be hostile (and of benefit to ... whom?), but it wouldn't be trashy.
Yep, Jesus called the false religious prophets that "sons of satan". C'mon, Jesus, that's not very nice of You, is it? ;) Jesus was strong and true.
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