Mohler and the Manhattan Declaration
Posted by RyftNov 24
Click here to read Dr. Albert Mohler’s explanation for why he chose to sign the Manhattan Declaration. In my estimation, it was a powerful testimony of the necessity, passion, and courage of this document which addresses three central issues that threaten the very stability of contemporary society. The thoughts which Dr. Mohler closed his article with were especially strong, which I have included here in the hopes that it compels you to read the full article.
Finally, I signed The Manhattan Declaration because I want to put my name on its final pledge—that we will not bend the knee to Caesar. We will not participate in any subversion of life. We will not be forced to accept any other relationship as equal in status or rights to heterosexual marriage. We will not refrain from proclaiming the truth—and we will order our churches and institutions and ministries by Christian conviction.
There will be Christian leaders, pastors, seminaries, colleges, universities, denominations, churches, and organizations that will abandon the faith on these issues. They will bend the knee to Caesar. Far too many already have. The signatories to The Manhattan Declaration pledge that we will not be among them.
I want my name on that list. I surrendered no conviction or confessional integrity to sign that statement. No one asked me to compromise in any manner. I was encouraged that we could stand together to make clear that to come for one of us on these issues is to come for all. At the end of the day, I did not want my name missing from that list when folks look to see just who was willing to be listed.
PDF 
3 comments
Comment by Mathew on 25 Nov 2009 at 17:32
I also caught that article on Mohler’s site, after first hearing about the Declaration from Dr. Roback-Morse on Facebook. (At least I think that’s where it came to my attention!)
The three issues Mohler mentions that are at stake—religious liberty, sanctity of life, and the integrity of marriage—are three issues that I’ve become quite impassioned about in the last several months. You may have picked up on that from articles on my blog, Facebook discussions, and the stories I share on Twitter!
My Christian world view compels me to campaign and speak out on these three issues; further, I believe my Christian world view enables to me argue the case for these issues without relying solely on my Christian faith. Christianity teaches that our world is corrupt, that we reap what we sow, that sin (and folly) has its consequences. As such, if I believe as a Christian that life is sacred, that marriage is created by God to be between a man and a woman, and that personal liberty is an inalienable right, then it follows that should any of these be compromised we will see visible, empirical effects. This is God’s law.
In the secular sphere, its these empirical effects that I, and others like me, can use to argue in defense of such issues, to protect them from compromise, for the wider social good—for believer and non-believer alike.
But yes, the extent of compromise to which a swathe of our churches, clergy and adherents are subscribing is both alarming and concerning. I haven’t read the Declaration in detail as yet. Time permitting, I certainly will.
Comment by Ryft on 25 Nov 2009 at 18:25
Do yourself a favour and read it. More than once.
Comment by Mathew on 25 Nov 2009 at 22:37
Half way through. It definitely deserves a multiple reading.