A billboard along the Dallas North Tollway proclaiming that "America is a Christian nation" has been removed.

The advertisement at the Lemmon Avenue exit promoting a celebration of Christian patriotism Sunday at First Baptist Dallas had drawn criticism and been labeled divisive. The downtown megachurch's senior pastor Robert Jeffress defended the billboard and said its removal was unduly influenced by the media and Mayor Mike Rawlings.

Jeffress said that the billboard company, Outfront Media, cited a Dallas Morning News column in its decision to revoke its approval for the advertisement.

Outfront Media said in an interview Monday that neither The News nor Rawlings had anything to do with the billboard's removal.

The pastor could not be reached for comment on Monday, but told Fox News that the "Christian nation" sermon — named for a quote by Founding Father John Jay — is "simply my recounting the historical evidence for the Christian foundation of our country."

.@robertjeffress: "Liberals are the most intolerant people of all when it comes to ideas they disagree with." #TheStory pic.twitter.com/JYLLgAbCWG — Fox News (@FoxNews) June 19, 2018

The News column, posted online June 7, argues that the billboard's message doesn't reflect a city that embraces all its residents.

"Consider this your semi-regular reminder that Jeffress, Fox News' go-to religious authority, is among this city's most divisive voices," Robert Wilonsky wrote. "Nothing he says shocks me anymore. I mean, this is a preacher — a follower of Christ — who actually said, 'America is not a church where everyone should be welcomed regardless of race and background.'"

During Monday's Fox News interview, Jeffress also was critical of the Dallas mayor, who was quoted in the column.

"He does not have the right to weigh in on this, to disparage our church and to directly or indirectly influence the billboard company," he said. "We think Mayor Rawlings has been hostile" to First Baptist Dallas.

Rawlings is quoted in the column as saying that Dallas' faith-based community makes it a city of love, not a city of hate.

"That is not the Christ I follow," Rawlings told The News earlier this month about First Baptist's billboard.

"It's not the Dallas I want to be — to say things that do not unite us but divide us. I never heard those words, that voice come out of Christ. Just the opposite. I was brought up to believe: Be proud of yours, but do not diminish mine," he said previously.

Jeffress said that billboard company called the church the day after the column was published to say it was taking down the advertisement.

"I want to make it clear: We respect the right of the billboard company not to propagate a message they aren't comfortable with," he said Monday.

Outfront Media said a flood of complaints about the "divisive" message led the company to pull its approval. In the past, similar considerations have been taken regarding signs posted by Muslim groups, Scientologists, abortion opponents and abortion-rights supporters, a company spokeswoman said.

Although the company's contracts dictate that signs that elicit complaints be removed at the advertiser's expense, a First Baptist representative said Outfront offered the church a full refund.

First Baptist said it invites people of all faiths to attend Sunday's event. Executive pastor Ben Lovvorn said the sermon will cover “the Christian values that have guided our country over time.”

He also said the church has negotiated a contract with another billboard company to advertise on 20 digital billboards throughout Dallas.