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Baptist church 'fake pope' sign attracting attention, criticism (Pope Bound for Hell).
Knoxville News-Sentinel Co. ^ | April 13, 2005 | JEANNINE F. HUNTER

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.


TOPICS: Front Page News
KEYWORDS: agitator; apostacy; apostasy; apostate; apostolicsuccession; baptist; bigots; bornagainbigots; cary; catholic; catholicism; catholicpriest; dedmundjoaquin; fundamentalism; fundamentalist; gahenna; hades; hateonparade; hatingforchrist; hell; heresy; heretic; heretical; hypocrisy; hypocrites; idiotsonparade; kittychow; kkk; livinginthepast; magisterium; maryworship; newbie; nutcase; nutjob; papacy; pope; popery; popishheresies; priest; priesthood; purgatory; rc; romancatholic; romancatholicism; talibaptist; talibaptists; transubstantiation; trollrus; wacko; whackjob; whoburntanabaptists; zotbait
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To: OkieAcres
How anyone could think that an innocent newborn infant is born with sin is beyond me

Then when, in your opinion, does a child go from being ;innocent' to being a 'sinner'?

761 posted on 04/15/2005 2:27:15 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: Thorin

Just WHY did Martin Luther tack those 95 things to the doors anyway??


762 posted on 04/15/2005 2:30:53 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: nickcarraway
At baptism, you are born again.

What? Nope...

763 posted on 04/15/2005 2:31:29 PM PDT by LowOiL ("I am neither . I am a Christocrat" -Benjamin Rush)
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To: Elsie

When a person knows right from wrong and chooses wrong it is sin. Adam and Eve had to know what was forbidden before they could become sinners. So must we. An infant cannot determine good/evil therefore is sinless.

Jesus said the kingdom of heaven belongs to ones such as these(children). Matt 19:14


764 posted on 04/15/2005 2:34:00 PM PDT by OkieAcres
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To: Matchett-PI

Well that certainly took alot of work and thank you. Matchett you can't ask me to deny what I know, because to me you sound no different than soooo many in my lifetime, who tried to fight me on what I have known.

I had rhumatic fever when I was 3yrs. old...my first open-heart when I was 11 yrs. old (one of the first ones done in the country), the little girl, same age as me in the bed next to me, had the same procedure, she died. (My Father told me I would be fine.)

At 16 I was told I would have no children, my heart couldn't take it......I had 3 children and every cardiogist
I came in contact with for each of the 3 told me I would die. (My Father told me I would be fine.) No complications with any of them.

At 28, I had my tubes tied after 3 children, the Lord had told me I would have 4 preg. 2 yrs. after having my tubes cut, burned and sewn, I had my 4th pregnacy and lost that one.

At 30 yrs. old I had my second open heart, was given a choice between 2 valves, a mechanical and a pig valve. Mechanical would last 400 yrs. and the pig 2-10 yrs. Each surgery my odds of getting thru it were less. My Father told me to take the pig....much to the dismay and anger of some of the top cardiogists in the country.

2 yrs. later the mechanical one was failing and people were dropping dead and there was a recall on the valve. My pig valve went for 15 yrs. My Father also told me He would give me a human valve. My pig valve lasted long enough for the advancement of the technology to place a cadavier valve in its place, and I was the 33rd one in the country to have it done. That was nearly 5 yrs. ago.

I take no meds. I am healthy and active and I have a human valve now.

WHY would I not listen to His warnings now? WHY after a lifetime of guidance would I all of a sudden shut my ears to the very voice that lead me thru so much?

Sorry Matchett....I'm not that vain nor stupid, call me what you must.


765 posted on 04/15/2005 2:36:15 PM PDT by BriarBey
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To: BriarBey

I have no familiarity with pagan practices, but I can spot an urban myth spun from exagerated tails based on a kernal of truth --- such as how they used to check if someone was dead in Italy.

You believe this trype because you are a bigot.

You make me ashamed to be a Protestant.


766 posted on 04/15/2005 2:38:43 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan
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To: All
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: Dean Baker

Only God knows for sure. All we mortals can do is speculate. These so-called "Christians" should mind their own business and shut up. All they are doing is making fools of themselves.


768 posted on 04/15/2005 2:44:32 PM PDT by BnBlFlag (Deo Vindice/Semper Fidelis)
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To: Tao Yin
The doctrine that Mary was without sin at conception goes way back, long before the 1800s. The Greek fathers are much more explicit than the Latin fathers. She is by many fathers compared to Eve (prior to the Fall, immaculate and without sin, a tabernacle for the Christ). Pius IX didn't just pull this out of the blue. He made explicit what had been implicit. We already knew that the prophet Jeremiah and John the Baptist were sanctified in the womb. Mary's sanctification had to be greater than that of John the Baptist, for her role as theotokos was greater.

Your arguement about Mary needing to be sinless sounds like the human mind struggling to understand God; placing limits on God. This same type of reasoning resulting in Arian Heresy. "Sounds like" and "same type" are arguments from analogy, one of the weakest sort of arguments there are. Falsehood of the most convincing sort often "sounds like" certain truths; that's the only way the falsehood can be convincing. The only way to refute a claim is to show that it is false. Any true claim or sound argument can be said to "sound like" some false claim or unsound argument. So, "sounds like" proves nothing.

Go read Newman's An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine. Every Protestant should read that book.

-A8

769 posted on 04/15/2005 2:45:26 PM PDT by adiaireton8 ("There is no greater evil one can suffer than to hate reasonable discourse." - Plato, Phaedo 89d)
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To: Elsie
So what does boiling water have to do with the Incarnation?

"Seems like there's a lot of ASSUMIN' goin' on here!!!!"

No assuming. Just reasoning. If it is false, refute it. If it is true, believe it.

-A8

770 posted on 04/15/2005 2:48:28 PM PDT by adiaireton8 ("There is no greater evil one can suffer than to hate reasonable discourse." - Plato, Phaedo 89d)
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To: MeanWestTexan; BriarBey
You believe this trype because you are a bigot
771 posted on 04/15/2005 2:48:53 PM PDT by D Edmund Joaquin (Mayor of Jesusland)
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To: D Edmund Joaquin

Although I have had some past run ins with Briar Bey, I dont believe that she is a bigot. Those are harsh words


772 posted on 04/15/2005 2:50:05 PM PDT by D Edmund Joaquin (Mayor of Jesusland)
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To: D Edmund Joaquin

That's sweet coming from someone throwing around "Troll" yesterday.


773 posted on 04/15/2005 2:51:15 PM PDT by TightyRighty
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To: Dean Baker
Religion is oftentimes quite a good thing...

... taken in moderation.

774 posted on 04/15/2005 2:52:54 PM PDT by The KG9 Kid (Semper Fi!)
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To: cripplecreek

The Pope was in charge during all the priest molestations & he helped cover it up. I do hold him responsible along with the perps.


775 posted on 04/15/2005 2:53:14 PM PDT by Feiny (The tears of unfathomable sadness...Yummy...yummy.)
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To: TightyRighty

Well, he has yet to answer some questions not only I, put one or two others asked him. He's getting just what he wanted, Christians fighting. Let's see if he posts an anti Catholic thread just to balance out the equation


776 posted on 04/15/2005 2:53:39 PM PDT by D Edmund Joaquin (Mayor of Jesusland)
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To: feinswinesuksass

So why tell me about it. Tell everyone.


777 posted on 04/15/2005 2:54:49 PM PDT by cripplecreek (I'm apathetic but really don't care.)
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To: BnBlFlag
These so-called "Christians" should mind their own business and shut up. All they are doing is making fools of themselves.

LOL... calling people foolish are you...

778 posted on 04/15/2005 2:55:11 PM PDT by LowOiL ("I am neither . I am a Christocrat" -Benjamin Rush)
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To: LowOiL

Yes. See John 3:3 and 3:5. (also:Rom. 6:3–4; Col. 2:12–13; Titus 3:5)


779 posted on 04/15/2005 2:57:28 PM PDT by nickcarraway (I'm Only Alive, Because a Judge Hasn't Ruled I Should Die...)
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To: BnBlFlag
All they are doing is making fools of themselves.

This thread is Exibit 1 of why religious topics are moved to the Backroom.

A lot of my favorite Freepers are arguing against each other, and perhaps hurting each other. I'd rather see them join ranks to defeat our common enemies.

780 posted on 04/15/2005 2:59:32 PM PDT by george wythe
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