A diverse group of Christian leaders joined together Nov. 20 to declare a commitment to defend the sanctity of human life, biblical marriage and religious liberty without compromise.
In a 4,700-word statement named the Manhattan Declaration, about 150 evangelical, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox signers said they were coming together to “embrace our obligation” to speak and act in support of the dignity of all human beings, marriage as the union of a man and a woman, and the freedom to express religious convictions.
“[W]e will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act,” the statement says, “nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God’s.”
The drafters and other signers of the Manhattan Declaration unveiled the statement at a Washington news conference. The document gets its name from the location of the first drafting committee meeting.
Nov 22 2009
November 22nd, 2009 1:22 pm
YEAH! This is the thing I was talking about.
Scary, ain’t it?
November 24th, 2009 12:26 pm
what’s scarey about it?
November 24th, 2009 12:27 pm
sigh.. Joel’s inability to spell has rubbed off on me.
November 24th, 2009 2:57 pm
It’s called Joel-itis.
Wb, regardless of the content – which admittedly, I have yet to read due to my weekend away – but Ken Silva who is a respected pastor is worried as well –
http://apprising.org/2009/11/the-manhattan-declaration-of-christian-conscience/
November 24th, 2009 4:22 pm
his complaint is whether to work with Catholics and/or Orthodox because of what is the gospel….
There are plenty who do not think Protestants and Catholics and Orthodox should work together. There are others who question whether believers should work with nonbelievers on issues.
But my question is why Robert thinks its scary.
November 24th, 2009 6:09 pm
Wb, I got a different feeling from Ken, but I can understand your point. For some, this feels like an edict which is what the Papacy used to issue. If you look at it this way – that the mass of Christianity put forth an edict, then yes, it is scary. But, if you look at it as groups of Christians working together on common moral issues, then that in of itself is admirable.
November 24th, 2009 4:27 pm
oh, Mohler signed it – not that I necesssarily agree/disagree with him, or even the declaration (
http://www.albertmohler.com/2009/11/23/why-i-signed-the-manhattan-declaration/ ).
November 24th, 2009 6:12 pm
I saw that. Not a fan of Mohler, as you might guess – although I agree with him from time to time. Reading what he has pointed out, I have a few issues with it, especially with the lack of focus on a few areas. I’ll try to get something up a bit later.
November 24th, 2009 11:35 pm
This is just more of an attempt to create a cultural mandate and blur the division between the two kingdoms. If you want to change the culture espouse the gospel and allow it to change the people then the culture will also change.
November 25th, 2009 12:26 am
R.K., I just posted on this, my view on it.