M.SIGGA Posted October 29, 2003 Share Posted October 29, 2003 I'm from the South and I don't know if this is nationwide, but I've been a little confused why so many Protestant denominations without hierarchal structures are calling themselves bishops and archbishops. This question/observation isn't meant to include the mainline protestants, but non-denominationals and Baptists in particular who are calling themselves bishops now. There are dozens of giant Baptist Churches in New Orleans whose pastors are bishops all of the sudden, and they even where robes like Catholic and Anglican bishops and they call their churches Cathedrals. One church even gives out holy water and annointing oil. I thought they left the Catholic church to get away from hierarchy and ''tradition.'' The most sketchy thing I saw today which actually made me post this topic was the ''Coat of Arms'' of S.Baptist Bishop Darrel Bristor at Beacon Light International Baptist Cathedral in New Orleans - why is there a miter and crosier? He also wears the cloth that bishops do around their neck, I think it's called a palium. His church is extremely huge, in 3 locations around the city, and most of his congregation are ex-Catholics. His Church does do a lot of good in the community, but I think it is a little deceving. Why are they copying the Faith they are so desperate to condemn and get away from? check out the link: baptist coat of arms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marielapin Posted October 29, 2003 Share Posted October 29, 2003 If they don't accept Peter as first Pope, why do they have his keys on their shield? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Huether Posted October 29, 2003 Share Posted October 29, 2003 Yeah, and he'd have no idea what that papal hat (sorry don't know the name) looked like if it werent' for the Catholic Church. It isn't "in the Bible". LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katholikos Posted October 29, 2003 Share Posted October 29, 2003 This is my email to the link. The subject line was, "Is imitation the highest form of flattery?" "What gives with you Baptists imitating Catholics? What kind of Baptists are you? (By that I mean, what denomination?) Or are you Independent Baptist? Thanks." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLAZEr Posted October 29, 2003 Share Posted October 29, 2003 I think its one of two things: Either they are playing on the heavily catholic Lousiana thing . . . so they are using symbols that most Louisianers would be comfortable with or They are dumb. (naw, just kidding!!) I think the other option might be that they have researched and found that the EARLY Christian leaders did in fact wear that hat and have those crosiers (shepherd's crooks) and that they used the Symbol of the Keys of the kingdom . . . and if that's the case why doesn't it logically lead them somewhere, to like . . . "Hmmm . . . I wonder what Church never stopped doing what the Early Christian's did? . . . . I wonder what Church still uses crosiers, and pointy hats, and Keys" . . . It's not that I think protestants don't know anything . . . it's that they don't follow truth to its logical end . . . they just stop and say "Well, Hells bells, all signs point to Rome, but I guess that's like those Catholics . . . but they've distorted Christ, so I can't possibly look there!" Never mind that all the signs point there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.SIGGA Posted October 29, 2003 Author Share Posted October 29, 2003 They are dumb. (naw, just kidding!!) I think the other option might be that they have researched and found that the EARLY Christian leaders did in fact wear that hat and have those crosiers (shepherd's crooks) and that they used the Symbol of the Keys of the kingdom . . . and if that's the case why doesn't it logically lead them somewhere, to like . . . I forgot to say that this pastor also has A Beacon Light Addition of the New KJ Bible where he includes his picture and an introduction to reading and understanding and studying Sacred Scripture. I think it would be great if he completely copies Pope Paul VI and includes an Indulgence The other huge Baptist Cathedral is Greater St. Stephen's - linked to Beacon Light, also in 3 locations; their website speaks for itself. The intro discribes Bishop Paul S. Morton as being almost like the Pope. There is even a ''Royal Priesthood Ministry.'' Bishop Morton also apparently 'annointed' Bishop Bristor. The only reason I brought this up is b/c these aren't little roadside churches; they are huge pentecostal-acting southern baptist churches with congregations in the thousands that are pulling catholic folks in! Greater St. Stephen's Beacon Light Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PedroX Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 I have two questions. One is are the Southern Baptist, as in part of the denomination, or Baptist churches in the South? Second, are these African American churches? many African American Church pastors call themselves Bishop Lastly, it wasn't really the Papal Tiara, which has three parts, it was a standard Bishop's miter. Just getting technical again. Sorry... peace... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.SIGGA Posted October 30, 2003 Author Share Posted October 30, 2003 Beacon Light is predominantly blk and Greater St. Stephen is well mixed. Beacon Light spawned off Greater St. Stephen's which is Southern Baptist. They each have a great emphasis on pentecostalism. They have gone further than just calling themselves bishops; they've adopted a Coat of Arms w/ a miter, crosier, and key; and they are even dressing like bishops in churches that have hierarchy structure. What doesn't make since in that they are Baptists, which means their doctrine teaches there can be no episcopal heirarchy b/c every believer is already annointed and ordained and are successors of the apostles - plus they are not supposed to like all that Catholic stuff anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norseman82 Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 Maybe they just discovered 1 Timothy 3:1-12 and Titus 1:5-9 and all of a sudden realized that in order to be biblical they need to have a hierarchy like us???? Next step: they will discover a little verse that says "You are Peter, the Rock upon which I will build My church...I entrust to you the keys to the kingdom...what you declare bound on earth shall be bound in heaven..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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