{"id":4005,"date":"2023-10-25T00:16:26","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T00:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailynewsintime.net\/?p=4005"},"modified":"2023-10-25T00:16:26","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T00:16:26","slug":"alabama-church-sign-sparks-outrage-critics-say-its-offensive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailynewsintime.net\/index.php\/2023\/10\/25\/alabama-church-sign-sparks-outrage-critics-say-its-offensive\/","title":{"rendered":"Alabama Church Sign Sparks Outrage, Critics Say It\u2019s \u2018Offensive\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>One Christian church in Alabama was at the center of controversy over a phrase posted on a large sign. Critics claimed it was too offensive to certain members of the community while others agreed with the pastor who said it was a biblical message.<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_91352\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-91352\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-91352\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carters Grove Baptist Church put a controversial message on its sign. (Credit:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=MHAC9lU4E0g\">YouTube<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>What began on social media sparked uproar in an Alabama community. A Reddit user\u00a0commented\u00a0on the welcome sign message presented by Carters Grove Baptist Church in Hazel Green. The sign stated, \u201cPride month sounds about right.\u201d Underneath that phrase was a verse from Proverbs 16:18, \u201cPride goeth before destruction.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-g-rec td-g-rec-id-content_inline tdi_15 td_block_template_1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-16\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-9\"><\/div>\n<p>The user who made the original Reddit post noted how this could upset members of the LQBTQ+ community, particularly those who are too\u00a0afraid to come out. One user\u00a0commented,\u00a0\u201cLook at it from another perspective. At least you know what to expect from that congregation, and you can make a decision based on the advertising they provide on the marquee. I had a hard time staying in the denomination I grew up in for the same reason, but none of the churches I attended were as blatant about their stance.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Controversial church sign in Hazel Green sparks community outrage\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MHAC9lU4E0g?feature=oembed\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\" data-width=\"640\" data-height=\"360\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Others, on the other hand, didn\u2019t seem to think anything was wrong with the sign. \u201cIt makes me feel like the community is coming together and people are seeing different points of view from everybody else, and I feel like the church is being very supportive towards the pride and LQBTQ+ community,\u201d one person said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-16\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-9\"><\/div>\n<p>Pastor Jim Weaver of Carters Grove Baptist Church was contacted by\u00a0Fox 54. He held firm in the decision to post the message on the sign. Weaver stated that he wants to discourage individuals from pursuing \u201can unhealthy lifestyle\u201d as defined by the Bible. \u201cI believe, scripturally speaking, promoting a lifestyle that the Bible calls sinful will bring a country down. It\u2019s not bigotry, it is actually loving a person to tell them that things are not right in their life,\u201d Pastor Weaver explained.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_91353\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-91353\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-91353 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/composite_16895463913266-640x386.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/composite_16895463913266-640x386.jpg 640w, https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/composite_16895463913266-550x331.jpg 550w, https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/composite_16895463913266-768x463.jpg 768w, https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/composite_16895463913266.jpg 800w\" alt=\"Carters Grove Baptist Church\" width=\"640\" height=\"386\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-91353\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">David Cleland spoke about the Carters Grove Baptist Church sign. (Credit:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=MHAC9lU4E0g\">YouTube<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pastor Weaver initially put up the sign in the month of June in response to Pride month. Weaver claimed he does not believe there should be a month-long celebration of what the church says is an \u201cunscriptural lifestyle.\u201d David Cleland, who was a member of the board of directors for Rocket City Pride at the time, also weighed in. \u201cI can definitely see both sides,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, the way I first read it was honestly, thinking that they were in support of pride.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-16\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-11\"><\/div>\n<p>This wasn\u2019t the only church sign that caused offense within a community down South. One gay couple in Montgomery, Alabama, was driving by the Wares Ferry Road Baptist Church when they noticed a\u00a0sign\u00a0that stated, \u201cGOD DETESTS PRIDE.\u201d The couple was so offended that they pulled over.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_91354\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-91354\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-91354 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/composite_16895465065151-640x386.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/composite_16895465065151-640x386.jpg 640w, https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/composite_16895465065151-550x331.jpg 550w, https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/composite_16895465065151-768x463.jpg 768w, https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/composite_16895465065151.jpg 800w\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"386\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-91354\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Wares Ferry Road Baptist Church sign (Credit:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lindseydukeminie\/posts\/pfbid0cEqQFLUu15pWmiLmmWQoHosCus2gnPKpwMVckk87qwKoJ9u2bw4TAhNM8gxKumUQl\">Facebook<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWe were very disappointed that during pride month of all months this church had a sign up like this,\u201d Lindsey Dukeminier said. Lindsey and her partner approached the sign and hugged, according to\u00a0CBS 42. On social media, a photo of their kiss with the church sign by their side has received dozens of likes, shares, and comments. \u201cDetest this,\u201d the caption said<\/p>\n<p>However, the church\u2019s pastor claims it was all a big misunderstanding. Wesley Whitworth, pastor of Wares Ferry Road Baptist Church, stated that the sign was not intended to target members of the\u00a0LGBTQ+ community. The man who changes the sign, Whitworth explained, was referencing \u201cpersonal pride \u2014 pride and arrogance, things of that nature.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_91366\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-91366\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-91366\" src=\"https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/289725396_5621887057851056_6816521555142263398_n-640x640.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/289725396_5621887057851056_6816521555142263398_n-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/289725396_5621887057851056_6816521555142263398_n-550x550.jpg 550w, https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/289725396_5621887057851056_6816521555142263398_n-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/289725396_5621887057851056_6816521555142263398_n-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/taphaps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/289725396_5621887057851056_6816521555142263398_n.jpg 800w\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-91366\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lindsey Dukeminier and her partner kissed beside the Wares Ferry Road Baptist Church sign. (Photo Credit:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lindseydukeminie\/posts\/pfbid02g6H7S1QirSAeGWKsaGsgdD4f73Qxf2RsQo1FSztJYNdPFeMHzzcnB663Z4pUKe1Yl\">Facebook<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cAnd it just coincided with pride month,\u201d Whitworth said. The pastor stated that when he initially saw the sign after it was put in place, he mistook it for a reference to\u00a0Pride Month. He inquired of the individual in charge of the sign if this was the case. The preacher believed the man when he said it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was not the intent to put that up just to spark controversy,\u201d Whitworth said. Nonetheless, the pastor stated that the Bible is unequivocal about\u00a0homosexuality. \u201cThey\u2019re being disingenuous if they think that most mainstream churches would not have a problem with that,\u201d he said, referring to Dukeminier and her partner. \u201cObviously we disagree on that. They\u2019ll have to stand before God for what they do. It\u2019s not my job to go around policing the actions of everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One Christian church in Alabama was at the center of controversy over a phrase posted on a large sign. Critics claimed it was too offensive to certain members of the community while others agreed with the pastor who said it was a biblical message. Carters Grove Baptist Church put a controversial message on its sign. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4005","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-daily-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsintime.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4005"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsintime.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsintime.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsintime.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsintime.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4005"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsintime.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4007,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsintime.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4005\/revisions\/4007"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsintime.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4006"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsintime.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsintime.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsintime.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}