Halloween Book Burning at Baptist Church to Include Copies of the Bible

@enola1692 (3323)
United States
October 24, 2009 4:15am CST
I thought that the days of churches burning books were long gone, but the Amazing Grace Baptist Church in North Carolina is proving me wrong by hosting an annual event that they call a “Halloween Book Burning.” (see also this story from KWTX.com.) (As an aside, it’s purely coincidental that both this post and my last had to do with events occurring in North Carolina, lest anyone think I have it in for that particular state.) If I were to venture a guess as to what might be included on the list of barbecued books, I would probably list the usual suspects - Harry Potter, The Golden Compass, Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, etc. And while I’m sure the Amazing Grace Baptist Church would be happy to burn those, it’s also burning books by well-known Christian authors, whom the church’s website declare “heretics.” (see also this story from myfoxdc.com.) Heretics like Billy Graham, Mother Theresa, Rick Warren, Charles Swindoll, James Dobson and John Piper, among others. But the biggest shocker? They’re burning copies of the Bible. Or to be more specific, copies of the Bible that aren’t the King James version, which they consider the end all and be all of Bible translations. NIV? ESV? NKJV? Satan’s bibles, according to the church website - perversions of God’s word. The church claims that the Scriptural Basis for the book burning can be found in Acts 19:18-20, which states, And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. (Yes, I quoted from the King James version) The accompanying notes found in the ESV Study Bible (which many Baptists I know use and like, for the record), state The Greco-Roman world put great stock in magical incantations and spells, often collecting them into books that sold for large sums. Converts in Ephesus brought these relics of their pagan past and held a massive book burning. This I understand - When one enters into a relationship with Christ, they choose a new way and leave behind their old. Taking into account the time and place, I can see this event in Ephesus as a powerful and appropriate gesture. But I think it’s a stretch to apply that verse to the actions of the Amazing Grace Baptist Church. I also can’t help but think that something like this does much more harm than good to those trying to spread the gospel of Christ, if it does any good at all I can't in this time an age they still burn books thak god they can't come to my house 90% of my books would be burning how dose book burning make you feel
3 responses
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
26 Oct 09
Amazing! There are so many things I could say about this, but I think I will just stick with amazing.
@enola1692 (3323)
• United States
27 Oct 09
I know right I guess they didnt get the memo that this is 2009
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
28 Oct 09
Yeah, I guess not!
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
24 Oct 09
Personally I find it amusing. To burn these books their going to have to BUY them first. This would increase sales, revenue & the likeliness that the publisher would produce even MORE of the books. Seems kind of counterproductive doesn't it? Of course they could just steal them but isn't that against a commandment & just going to earn them even more bad press ( plus a first class ticket straight down if they haven't already got one ). Would someone like to point out to these people how retarded this makes them look?
@enola1692 (3323)
• United States
25 Oct 09
I know the Mother theresa book they are talking about I have they would have a blast in my home I guess you can say acordding to them i am heading downstairs I have all the Harry Potters , Twilight, a Bible oh yea an dont' forget alot og wicca book an a book of shadows oh I just rellized I am going to burn I have alot of Stephen King lol I think some of my friends will go there that night an see if we can get some good books to read
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
25 Oct 09
They'd probably just insist on lighting my whole house....
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
27 Oct 09
So this is would be considered a traditional halloween thing in this part of NC? I suppose it'd help keep the bookstores in the area going until Christmas comes around and they can get their choice from the top 10 bookburners chart as a gift..
@enola1692 (3323)
• United States
27 Oct 09
no just this one church I still don't believe they are even going to burn the bible the would have a feild day in my house with all the books I have of course first they have to get in my house my pentagram near my door might scare them away oh oh they might try burning me to