Someone recently asked me what I thought of the Manhattan Declaration. For those who don’t know, the declaration I’m referring to links Catholics, Greek Orthodox, and Protestants together under the banner “Christian” to stand for life and traditional marriage in our culture. It’s an attempt to stick together as Christians in our opposition to these increasingly abandoned values in our culture.
Here is my response. I understand good Christian leaders to be with me against the declaration, and others have signed it in their desire to stand for life and for transforming the culture. I haven’t really read the arguments or taken a side necessarily. But here is my perspective.
I can appreciate it for what it is, but 2 things keep me from signing.
1) It seems to single out a prizing of life and heterosexual marriage as being what Christianity is all about. I don’t think it is the role of the Church specifically to be legislating morality, as that doesn’t work due to fallen human nature. Instead we need to proclaim the gracious gospel of Christ.
2) It joins hands with Catholics and Eastern Orthodox in what could easily blur the distinctions between them and traditional Protestants. Again the gospel of salvation by grace through faith is what differentiates us from these other groups who claim the name Christian. That is an important difference that shouldn’t be obscured.
Still, I don’t think the declaration necessarily requires understanding it this way. It is just a declaration in one sense, so I can understand those who sign it. But the need of our country isn’t a united defense and legislative protection of marriage and preborn children, it needs the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is not to say that life is a small cause that we shouldn’t fight for. It is to say that heterosexual only marriage (in my view), isn’t such an important cause.
For more on what I’m getting at in point 1 above, check out my post: America — A Pagan Nation? My pal Jason Skipper over at Fundamentally Changed agrees with my assessment that this declaration represents a compromise with the gospel.
But what do you think? Why or why not do you support this declaration?
Hey brother, just to let you know, I attended Hyles-Anderson College for over 2 years and eventually graduated from a Fundamental Baptist Bible College in LA. I now embrace the Doctrines of Grace and our church is reforming daily. As to your response on the declaration, I am like you on my knee-jerk reaction. (that is what I call any reaction before I have had time to analyze the document) and you did admit you have not “really read the arguments” and neither have I. Something from my fundamental roots just shouts out, “Beware” when you see the little pointy hats of catholicism and the Greek orthodox fellows rubbing shoulders with the protestants. (They are called protestants for a reason, I thought.)There is common ground with a crocodile and a frog, but eventually, one will eat the other. Thanks for your thought provoking blogs…
Thanks Daniel. You’re right, it is basically a knee-jerk reaction. But I feel somewhat like Douglas Wilson, who said: “I want to take the odd stance of applauding and supporting something that I could not sign.”
Thanks for reading, many blessings to you…
Bob Hayton
While I agree with your take in principle, it raises a concern similar to the fighting of foreign wars…
America, since giving up an isolationist policy has subscribed to fighting the enemy on their borders before they can become a danger to ours. Seemingly small skirmishes can escalate into problematic situations that deplete resources or they can avert clear and present dangers that threaten our freedom to openly proclaim the glorious gospel of Christ.
I’m not entirely following you, Nancy. I do think it is a double-edged sword. There are advantages and disadvantages of the approach the declaration takes. I don’ see it as truly all that necessary. Instead, it seems to have a greater potential to sidetracking the Church into other concerns that aren’t central to the Church’s mission.
I guess what I said was a poorly stated ramble about picking our battles and making them count…*: )
Hey, no problem Nancy. Thanks for interacting!
I am leary because it seems that the underlying message to all of this is that we can no longer trust God to take care of these issues through seeking Him in prayer so we must band together (a la Babel) and try and do what God either can’t or refuses to do.
Where are the people who are seeking the Lord through prayer because we believe that He is sovereign? Why are we not expending as much effort in prayer as we are in creating organizations?
BTW, I am a former IFB whom the Lord reformed. It is funny how if you take the bible as an IFBer then you almost invariably come this direction.
Thanks for dropping by, David. Good thoughts, and you’re right about IFBs moving in a Reformed direction, often.