At least this Southern Baptist minister had the good sense to apologize....
A Southern Baptist pastor apologized for posting an anti-Muslim sign at his church in North Carolina, following criticism by leaders in the Muslim-American community.
Creighton Lovelace said he regretted posting a message that read, "The Koran needs to be flushed," according to a Wednesday (May 25) report by Baptist Press, the news service of the Southern Baptist Convention, which quoted a written statement made by Lovelace.
His excuse?
Lovelace, pastor of Danieltown Baptist Church in Forest City, N.C., said he was unaware that the Qur'an was so highly valued and "that devoted Muslims view it more highly than many in the U.S. view the Bible."
What is being taught at Southern Baptist seminaries? Sadly, bad theology.
It is no wonder that Lovelace pleads ignorance of Islam. It was just in 2002 that The Rev. Jerry Vines, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, told members of his denomination that:
"Some would have us believe that Islam is just as good as Christianity," said Vines. "Christianity was founded by the virgin-born son of God, Jesus Christ. Islam was founded by Muhammad, a demon-possessed pedophile who had 12 wives, the last one of which was a nine-year-old girl." In addition, Vines said, "Allah is not Jehovah either. Jehovah's not going to turn you into a terrorist that'll try to bomb people and take the lives of thousands and thousands of people."
Lovelace should be thanked for apologizing. But there is something rotten at the core of a church whose leaders make such statements.
Not all Christians believe in the Southern Baptist view of Islam. The United Church of Christ has adopted a statement calling for better relations between Christians and Muslims.
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