Manhattan Declaration unlikely to inspire young Christians
Take more than a hundred conservative Evangelicals, mix in a handful of Catholics, and sprinkle in a few Orthodox priests, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a new culture war manifesto. It’s called the Manhattan Declaration, and it is a heady statement seeking to reinvigorate the political alliance of conservative Christians who were a force to be reckoned with during the Bush Administration.
Little new information was offered in this “new” statement, which essentially affirmed the primacy of three historically hot button issues: abortion, gay marriage, and religious liberty. The only thing different about this statement was one of its target audiences: young people. As one of the principle drafters of the document, Chuck Colson, told The New York Times, “A lot of younger evangelicals say they’re all alike. We’re hoping to educate them that these are the three most important issues.”
In: Religion and Politics · Tagged with: evangelicals, Manhattan Declaration, politics, religion
on December 1, 2009 at 8:03 pm
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All indications are that this politically-motivated power-grab by Christian Elitists will only alienate not only Christian youth, but youth in general. Studies have shown that young people are become MORE accepting of others, not less.
The Manhattan Declaration is a heinous embarrassment to thinking Americans. It’s only a precursor to the theocracy that Christian jihadists are salivating over.
on December 1, 2009 at 8:54 pm
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Agreed, This is terrible in the worst sense of the word.
on December 1, 2009 at 9:03 pm
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Having seen the outpouring of support from the “Manhattan Project”, based upon the number of those that have signed in such a short time, using communications mediums overwhelming used by younger adults, I see MD as having brought young Christians of many demoninations together for their beliefs. Acceptance of others is NOT what MD is about, rather it is about standing up for the beliefs they hold dear, beliefs that others would try to supress. Roberts strong negative language only supports and strengthens that unity. Again, not about what others believe, but rather what others would try and force Christians to do contrary to their faith. “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.”
on December 1, 2009 at 9:12 pm
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Where are your numbers? Your evidence?
You guys are creating something that is not there, a fear against the government contrary to Romans 13. It is shameful.
You are free to express your views here – no profanity – uncensored, just as everyone else is.
One thing you are failing to realize, of course, is that the only thing that unites these denominations is the Trinity, and I would put forth that the difference in understanding between the the views would amaze everyone. More than that, though is the view of the Gospel which is wholly different among Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox. I will say this, though, the MD is erasing doctrinal lines, divides, understandings, Tradition, and God for a political statement.
on December 1, 2009 at 9:30 pm
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You mis-interpret scripture. The Manhattan Declaration clearly states the principle that Christians will ungrudgenly follow the laws imposed upon them. We pay our taxes, vote, report crime, stop completely at every stop sign (well… we try anyway), etc. The point is, if an edict from secular authority is in direct conflict with the Bible, the Bible wins! Who can dispute that as a true Christian? Continue your reference forward with Romans 14: 1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.”
In other words, we should not be judging others on their decisions and paths to Christ. Agree or not, that is your choice… but release your hostility towards others that have chosen this path.
on December 1, 2009 at 9:42 pm
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Misinterpreting scripture or the Manhattan Declaration?
No, what is happening is that you are creating an atmosphere of fear against the Government, that the Government will force upon the Church ungodly laws, when that has not happened yet, and is not in the cards. This atmosphere that you are doing is ungodly. Further, you are using the Gospel of Christ for political purposes. That too is most ungodly.
You do realize that you have a very bad understanding of Scripture right and your method of discourse is junior level? While I quote Romans 13, you ignore it and try to throw something else into the conversation?
Romans 14 is speaking about Christians who are still weak in the Faith, not those without the faith. Further, we are told to guard against false doctrine, to use Scripture to correct, and to prove what is sound and true. Yet, you would have us play passive and accept about who claims Christ.
Tell me, are Mormons Christian? Or Jehovah’s Witnesses?
What you are doing is signing a paper saying that anyone who holds those three statements are Christians. You have created a new creed as a test, and dismisses the Gospel of Jesus Christ.