Pastor Says Quran Should Be Flushed

May 25, 2005 by Kevin D. Hendricks

The Rev. Creighton Lovelace of Danieltown Baptist Church in Forest City, N.C. says the Muslim Quran should be flushed. And a sign in front of the church broadcasts that message to the entire community.

It’s all in response to a Newsweek story that falsely accused the U.S. military of desecrating the Quran. Newsweek later retracted the story, but not before at least 15 people died in riots sparked by the article.

“I cannot change my position just because it may offend someone else,” Lovelace said. “Our position is that we stand on the Bible—God’s word—and that any other book that teaches a way to God that is not scripture is false. It is wrong. It is not correct,”

Oh boy. I think it’s possible, and probably even beneficial, to stand up for Biblical truth without offending people. Certainly there are times when that may not be possible, but just because you disagree with someone doesn’t mean you need to slap them in the face. Especially if you’re actually hoping to share the Gospel with them, which we’re all called to do. (link via Mike Atkinson)

Update: Mike Atkinson comes through with the story in the first place, and now with the update. Lovelace has apologized for saying the Quran should be flushed.

brand1m
May 25, 2005

Maybe we could flush him.

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Ryan Dickinson
May 25, 2005

I am fervent for standing up for the Bible. That being said, I believe that this sort of thing is simply an attempt to attract attention by being negatively controversial. It’s this sort of mindset that turns the unsaved off, and away from the very Gospel that this Pastor is trying to promote. Is it wrong? I don’t know – but IMHO it’s definitely not a wise strategy to reach the lost.

Gavin Lyons
May 25, 2005

A few weeks ago an OM missionary guy spoken at my chruch about the Islamic world. He told me about a guy who spent over 8 years studing the Koran and became a very respected teacher of the Islamic reglion. One day a Hindi gave him a book in Arabic, as he knew he could read it. He studied that book, that book was the Bible. He now proves to other Islamic teachers how the Bible is the truth. – God is in control, Jesus never insulted anyone, he always took people as individuals.

Adam Bottiglia
May 25, 2005

“Jesus never insulted anyone”
What?

Michael
May 25, 2005

Absolutely. One of the great things about truth is that you don’t have to beat people with it. I agree with Ryan that this was a publicity move…and while I’m glad to see a church finding the need for publicity, it’s too bad he spun it this way.
I do think a pastor could use this event to show what the word of God should mean to us. We toss it in the back seat, tuck it under the bed, and let it collect dust. Maybe we need to set an example and take the lead and respect and uphold the word of God more highly than the Quran.

Will
May 26, 2005

I think that calling people “whitewashed tombs” and “sons of the devil” was probably considered insulting.

kevin
May 26, 2005

It’s probably worth noting who Jesus offended or insulted. Usually it was the religious leaders of the day, right? He wasn’t slamming the Samaritans or the tax collectors or the adulterers–the sinful people who really needed his message.
Of course Jesus can be pretty slippery like that. We like to think he was kind and meek and loving, and then we read the parts about clearing out the temple and such and we see that he did get mad and probably did offend people and maybe did insult them.

robin
May 26, 2005

“the sinful people who really needed his message.” You mean like humanity, all of us are sinners!! Sorry Kevin you hit a nerve.
Too often as church we forget that the religious leaders of the day are just as much sinners as those outside the church.
As for this sign, doesn’t the Bible say “judge not, lest you be judged”? I’d say a statement like the one on the sign seems a little judgmental to me. Don’t get me wrong, the Qu’ran is not the word of God, but it does have some truths in it that could lead to a far more beneficial conversation than this proposed lead in.

Mike Atkinson
May 26, 2005

Follow ups:
Apology:
http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=20858
CT article:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/121/42.0.html

No “but’s” or trying to rationalize what it came across as, just an honest apology, that’s character and integrity. Good to hear thanks for the post Mike.

Eugene
May 27, 2005

I firmly believe we need to defend the Christian values and principles found in the Bible. That said, maybe he should spend more time studying the Bible and less time making a fool out of himself and Baptists. I am a Baptist and from what I have seen in the SBC leadership in recent years about how to treat Muslims, I guess he is now qualified to be leader of the SBC. We get so focused on ourselves that we don’t get to know the very people to whom God calls us to minster. I do aplaud this pastor for realizing his grose mistake and making a public apology (with that apology probably went any chances at being elected to leadership in the SBC).

Chris
June 4, 2005

Read QURAN … understand it … then Judge

Elder A. McCoy
August 26, 2005

I must agree this sort of thing is simply an attempt to attract attention by being negatively controversial. The Rev. Creighton Lovelace of Danieltown Baptist Church in Forest City, N.C, needs to step down out of his position as pastor, or preacher…He needs to be taught…For I can see he has not done any studies with the Koran, He is not looking for truth, he is looking for fault, He is a person who says that they are the right way to go, a person who teaches that all you must do is believe…If I am correct, he teaches that you are not under the law of God…These are what the Scriptures call false teachers or as Peter would call them “Dogs” and you know we have been taught to not give that which is holy to the dogs…Now I must say this that the Koran does not teach different from the Bible and if one studies the Koran they will be able to see Christ as the one the Koran tells them to follow…However as the Scriptures tells us, false teachers have work their way into our assmeblies and have began to teach lying doctrines to our brother and sisters…If you or anyone would like to be shown the truth in the Koran and how it goes along with the Bible, then please email me @ the email address above or visit our site http://www.peopleoflove.says.it/ and click on the email button to your left, we will come to your church or your studies, if you don’t attend one then we will email you the Scriptures which show you that they are inline with one another… Please don’t talk against the Scriptures, Ro 15:4 Whatsoever things, in fact, were written aforetime, [[all]] for our own instruction were written,––in order that, through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have their hope.
Ga 3:8 And, the scripture, foreseeing, that, by faith, God would declare the nations righteous, fore–announced the good news unto Abraham, saying, All the nations shall be blessed in thee.
Heb 3:7 ¶ Wherefore,––according as saith the Holy Spirit––Today, if, unto his voice ye would hearken, do not
Heb 4:12 For, living, is the word of God, and, energetic, and more cutting than any knife with two edges, and penetrating as far as a dividing asunder of soul and spirit, of joints also, and marrow, and able to judge the impulses and designs of the heart;
2Pe 1:19 ¶ And we have, more firm, the prophetic word; ––whereunto ye are doing, well, to take heed,––as unto a lamp shining in a dusky place,––until, day, shall dawn, and, a day–star, shall arise in your hearts:––
2Pe 1:20 Of this, first, taking note––that, no prophecy of scripture, becometh, self–solving;
2Pe 1:21 For not, by will of man, was prophecy brought in, at any time, but, as, by Holy Spirit, they were borne along, spake, men, from God. Every scripture, is God–breathed, and profitable––unto teaching, unto conviction, unto correction, unto the discipline that is in righteousness—Ro 15:4 Whatsoever things, in fact, were written aforetime, [[all]] for our own instruction were written,––in order that, through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have their hope.
Ga 3:8 And, the scripture, foreseeing, that, by faith, God would declare the nations righteous, fore–announced the good news unto Abraham, saying, All the nations shall be blessed in thee.
Heb 3:7 ¶ Wherefore,––according as saith the Holy Spirit––Today, if, unto his voice ye would hearken, do not
Heb 4:12 For, living, is the word of God, and, energetic, and more cutting than any knife with two edges, and penetrating as far as a dividing asunder of soul and spirit, of joints also, and marrow, and able to judge the impulses and designs of the heart;
2Pe 1:19 ¶ And we have, more firm, the prophetic word; ––whereunto ye are doing, well, to take heed,––as unto a lamp shining in a dusky place,––until, day, shall dawn, and, a day–star, shall arise in your hearts:––
2Pe 1:20 Of this, first, taking note––that, no prophecy of scripture, becometh, self–solving;
2Pe 1:21 For not, by will of man, was prophecy brought in, at any time, but, as, by Holy Spirit, they were borne along, spake, men, from God.
Love always,
A follower of the faith

me
October 11, 2005

THE quron IS DIFFERENT THAN THE BIBLE AND IT DOES TEACH HATE, THAT IS WHY MOST muslims ARE VIOLENT AND HAVE MORE PRIVILAGES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES THAN CHRISTIANS AND THEN YOU WANT TO PRACTICE AND PREACH LOVE AND PEACE HAHAHAHAHA

Matthew
February 13, 2006

O.M.G.
Has anybody else out there actually read the quran? I bet you didn’t get it! You need the Hadith’s to make sense of it. Even then it is so contradictory and contentious that you need to get a ruling from an Iman before you can know if the way you are interpereting it is orthodox. How can any Christians support he validity of a book the exhorts muslims to kill infidels (primarily Jews and secondarily Christians, and after that anyone that is not willing to submit to the teachings and dictums of their prophet). Sure there are other places in the quran that require muslims to respect “the people of the book”, but this just demonstrates what a confused piece of literature it is.
The sign at the church was stupid. But even an intelligent expose of Islam will earn you the death sentence, so whats the difference?