My Take on Things - Manhattan Declaration - The Church Awakens (but has it revived?)

[ Updated: 12/04/09 ]

Following literally decades of empty threats of common action, and endless rants against the worldliness of the society in which we live, the Church has at last been moved to action. And the catalyst - persecution. For years I have said, this would be the motivating element for unified action, and I am sorry to say... I was correct! Nevertheless, we have finally come together - to a greater or lesser degree - over some of the more critical moral issues of our day - the protection of human life (abortion, euthanasia, etc.), the protection of natural (aka traditional) marriage between one man and one woman, and the freedom to express ones Christian faith without fear of castigation, rebuke or reprisal. This document - the Manhattan Declaration - is that common-ground upon which we can now stand, united. And this is a good thing!

However, the question now is - what next?

Our declared stand will be tested. Of this there can be no doubt. So, will we stand fast? How united is our stance - how strong our resolve in the face of concentrated (and in many ways, ensconced), opposition? Well brothers and sisters, the answer lies within the heart and soul of each of those who have affixed their name to this document. It is not simply the drafters and original signers who can move this forward, but those who have declared their support by putting their names to this document out of honest, heart-felt conviction. But, will it prevail? Can it prevail? As Christians, our desire is to live in peace. Our Foundation Stone is the Author - the Prince - of peace, and promises peace to all who will trust Him, obey His commands and follow His example. It is part of our spiritual heritage as children of God. But, as Ecclesiastes so wisely announces, there is a time for peace, but also a time for war. And, though this is by no means a call to 'arms' (at least in the physical sense), it IS a call to battle stations. Thus, the question remains - are we both willing and able to support this document? Are we willing to give up a degree of our earthly peace (comfort) to achieve a commonly recognized degree of righteousness within our nation? We CAN afford it - but, are we willing to pay the price? The test will come all too quickly. Our antagonists are still recovering from the shock of this declaration. But, be fully aware... the battle has not been won simply because we have signed a document. As Jesus warned His disciples on the day of their greatest testing, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: [for] the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." So, the question remains to be answered. The Church has indeed awakened from its coma! But... will it fully recover? My prayer is for a recovery that returns the Church to its New Testament vigor!!! [ to be continued ] ~ BlackRobe

THE DOCUMENT: "We are Christians who have joined together across historic lines of ecclesial differences to affirm our right—and, more importantly, to embrace our obligation—to speak and act in defense of these truths. We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in its fullness, both in season and out of season. May God help us not to fail in that duty...

Because we honor justice and the common good, we 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; 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 preceding are excerpts from the Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience, Released November 20, 2009

The following links have been added to provide information sources concerning both sides of the discussion on this historic document. Since the declaration was issued by Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Evangelical Christians, these 'parties to the document' will be given preeminence in any and all subsequent discussions:

Manhattan Declaration
WorldView Times

VIDEOS: The Manhattan Declaration continues to gain momentum (over 390,000 signatures since its release), and the media is taking notice [see: Fox News]. The following dialogues between Mike Huckabee and Chuck Colson, as well as the exchange between Bill O'Reilly and Ann Coulter offer a hint of the conversations that will undoubtedly follow.