Monday, November 23, 2009

Sunday Bread - "The Manhattan Declaration"

How should the church interact with politics; or should it at all? What about us? You know, I have never really been a fan of Christian's getting too involved in political issues. I have always thought that pastor's should preach the gospel and leave the political stuff to someone else. There was a guy in Louisiana, where I worked for FCA, who would go to the local Wal-Mart and hold up signs urging Christians to boycott Wal-Mart (Wal-Mart made a decision he felt was immoral). Others have urged there congregation to boycott Disney because it has a gay parade every year in Disney World.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that we could all agree that this isn't the most effective way to create change in our culture. However, there are deeper issues to be considered. What about abortion? What about euthanasia (assisting in the death of an elderly, or sick individual)? What about the freedom of religion? What about the sanctity of marriage? These are issues that I believe we cannot turn a blind eye to.

Today I received a document called the Manhattan Declaration. It was crafted by pastors, theologians, and other influencial people from Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christians. I have attached the document to this e-mail, and I hope that you will take some time to read it. If you are interested in signing the document go to www.manhattandeclaration.org.

We cannot sit passively by. I believe we are to obey the laws of the land, as long as they do not go against the law of God (see Romans 13). However, if they do go against the Law of God, we are to stand in opposition. This has been demonstrated numerous times throughout the history of the church. I believe the last line of the Manhattan Declaration says it best when it says that " 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."

If you click on the title of post, it will take you to the Manhattan Declaration website.

TDurham

2 comments:

Tanner said...

Just read the Manhattan Declaration and I am highly impressed. You see, this declaration is the way we must go about expressing our disagreements. We must be stern but compassionate as well. Bold but humble.

The problem is we have screwed this up drastically with all of our ridiculous protests. I feel the church (definitely including myself) have butchered the way we should go about such things as abortion and homosexuality. We have treated these pregnant women and those struggling with a particular lust issue like criminals - even worse demonic. Instead of condemning these people through blatant obnoxious protest, we need to love and care for these people in order to liberate them. It's going to be hard for you to reach out to these people while you're holding that stupid hate sign up in the air.

In no way am I saying that we should make light of the sin, but by all means what would Christ do? How did he handle the Samaritan woman? So I think that this declaration is a great way to handle these issues and I believe rebellion and protest is quite a waste of time and is certainly not our calling.

But what if we lose our religious freedom? Well, history tells us that the church is strongest when it is persecuted. Christianity spread like wildfire through the Roman Empire at a time when you were put to death for being a follower of Christ. Guess where the fasting growing church is located today? In China, where you could easily be put to death for possessing a Bible. So what happens if we lose our religious freedom? We go underground and all the phonies sitting in a pew every Sunday get weeded out. The church once again becomes raw and genuine.

I think I'm just tired of the idea that we are supposed to turn this country into a Christian nation. That's not our job. That's not our calling. And furthermore, this isn't our homeland. We are ambassadors here, not citizens. Are you opposed to illegal immigration in this country? If so, why? We are called to love and care for the stranger and the alien. If someone is here illegally then it is our job to reach out to them and help them get right. It is not our job to send them back where they came from. Would Jesus even think of doing such a thing?

Ok, I'm rambling now. Back to basics. I am a big fan of expressing our beliefs firmly through methods such as this declaration. I in no way support obnoxious protests. Where is this country heading? May God help us. Should we help further this country?.... Absolutely. But more importantly, we should stay focused on furthering the Kingdom by spreading the Good News through love and service to EVERYONE.

I stand convicted,

TEvans

Nolan Gottlieb said...

I agree...Terry your 4th and 5th paragraph are absolute HEAT!!!