A Baptist church's roadside sign that says Islam approves of murder has been denounced by church leaders representing worshippers around the state.
The marquee-type sign outside the First Conservative Baptist Church reads: "Jesus Forbade Murder. Matthew 26:52. Muhammad Approved Murder. Surah 8:65."
Muslims say the verse cited is not an endorsement of murder, but rather says those who believe and are steadfast in battle will overcome much larger armies.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations last week called on religious groups to condemn the sign.
On Monday, the Rev. Fred Morris, executive director of the Florida Council of Churches, which represents 3,500 congregations statewide, called Islam a sister religion and repudiated "expressions of hatred toward any person or group."
The Rev. Tom Borland, president of the Interfaith Council of Jacksonville, also rejected the message.
"As a Christian, I am disappointed at this unchristian effort to disparage Islam," Borland said in statement. "Jesus never attacked other faiths."
First Conservative's pastor, Gene Youngblood, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Youngblood, who also leads the Conservative Theological Society and Conservative Christian Academy, has said he's used the sign to express the church's opinion for 15 years and has no plans to remove the message.