Response:
 The Manhattan Declaration is s statement of moral standards for Christians. It is sponsored by Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Evangelical Christian groups. Interestingly, from the get go, Main Line Denominations are not mentioned as sponsors. I assume this means they were not invited. Or, if invited to give input, they declined. I do not know which case is true.

You should read the Manhattan Declaration (MD) BEFORE you read this blog. Find it at: http://manhattandeclaration.org/  As with all legal documents, be certain to go to the sidebar, download and read the entire declaration, not just the abbreviated form.

I have been asked my opinion of this declaration. I have great admiration for Chuck Colson, a member of the Drafting Committee of the MD. You can see his lawyers’ mind carefully crafting every word. As I read through this thoughtful, thought provoking document I was impressed at the balance so carefully built in to the statements, that sin cannot be tolerated, including the sin of rejecting those that sin!

The short summary statement of the MD makes clear the need to take Biblical stands in the area of conscience and morality. Here is how it reads:

A Call of Christian Conscience
Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

I only have time to look at a small portion of the MD and its ramifications. I will primarily focus on statement 2, the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife, a statement with which I am in full agreement.

While I support what the MD states, I would regret a signed document that never changes reality. Signing a statement that, in part, says, We acknowledge that there are those who are disposed towards homosexual and polyamorous conduct and relationships... We have compassion for those so disposed; we respect them as human beings possessing profound, inherent, and equal dignity; and we pay tribute to the men and women who strive, often with little assistance, to resist the temptation to yield to desires that they, no less than we, regard as wayward. We stand with them, even when they falter. …For every sinner, regardless of the sin, is loved by God, who seeks not our destruction but rather the conversion of our hearts. Jesus calls all who wander from the path of virtue to “a more excellent way.” As his disciples we will reach out in love to assist all who hear the call and wish to answer it…

…Signing such a statement but then not welcoming homosexuals into our church fellowship seems to me to be the height of hypocrisy. Some will claim that the immoral need to clean up their lives first. THEN we will welcome them with open arms, er, well, a handshake at least. If that be the case, the Manhattan Declaration is in error. No one unwilling to welcome homosexuals into their church worship, those seeking to take their next step with God,  should sign this statement. The MD says, that while recognizing the sin of homosexual practice, …We stand with them, even when they falter. We, no less than they, are sinners who have fallen short of God’s intention for our lives. We, no less than they, are in constant need of God’s patience, love and forgiveness. We call on the entire Christian community to …refrain from disdainful condemnation of those who yield to it. Our rejection of sin, though resolute, must never become the rejection of sinners. For every sinner, regardless of the sin, is loved by God, who seeks not our destruction but rather the conversion of our hearts. Jesus calls all who wander from the path of virtue to “a more excellent way.” As his disciples we will reach out in love to assist all who hear the call and wish to answer it…

Jesus’ sets the standard when he allows those dirty-footed disciples all the way into the “sanctuary” of the upper room, prior to washing their feet. Jesus’ demonstrates that although when we walk through this world, we get our “feet dirty with sin”, we need to come into the sanctuary where we can meet Jesus, let him “wash our feet”, helping us all take our next steps with God. Some will complain, “Won’t the sanctuary be filthied by those entering it with dirty feet?” To these folks I would ask, “Is our dirt any cleaner than theirs?” Would it be possible to think “outside the protective Christian box” and come up with some alternative ways to care for people? I have some ideas. Feel free to ask! :)

Bottom line, I am thrilled at anything that unites the Church. I do not believe a document will do that. I do believe when we stand together in positive action, Roman Catholics, Evangelicals and Orthodox, all Believers in one Lord Jesus Christ, then we will have something to talk about – a witness to the redeeming work of God. When our Churches begin to rejecting all forms of sin while accepting all forms of sinners, then we will have a witness. This document is a first step, but only a first step. We need to embrace all sinners, regardless of their sin. How else can we help them grow and clean up their lives?

One last observation: as an Evangelical, myself, I am dismayed that so many “Evangelicals” in particular, have signed a statement with others, many with whom they would not even consider taking Communion.  What the Manhattan Declaration proves, if anything, it’s there is room for Believers to agree on important issues, while disagreeing on non-essentials. As I often tell my congregation, we can agree to disagree without being disagreeable! Let’s put the MD into practice and embrace its truths in our Fellowships.

  Question:
I have tithed always since I got my first salary. And I think it is a good thing to do. But is it Biblical that today's pastors use New Testament verses that talk about "Christian Giving" and do not talk about Tithe, to try to make people tithe?  Some even say that if you don't tithe you are cursed, using some verse in Malachi. At some point I studied and didn't find a New Testament verse that actually says specifically that as Christians we need to Tithe.....I found a lot that say that we as Christians need to give with generosity.... It also seems that if we cannot use Old Testament verses to affirm that we must tithe, we would need to do so many other offerings that they used to do in Old Testament times. What do you think about it?
-          Ivan, Guatemala

Response:
All pastors like to be asked tithing questions! J Let’s begin with an explanation of tithing. It is an Old Testament teaching for Judaism. The tithe is a gift to God of 10% from the first of your income. Is that before or after taxes? Don’t laugh at that question. Many Christians struggle with this very issue. Why? They take their giving to God VERY seriously! My dad always claimed it was after taxes. I know many other dedicated Believers who claim it is before the dreaded “T” word. Here is what I think:

Tithing, as you correctly pointed out, is not taught in the New Testament. Jesus alone mentions the tithe in the context of Old Testament Judaism practices. But is the tithe, therefore, not to be practiced by Christians? Is there a “curse” awaiting all New Testament Believers if we do not tithe? Malachi 3:8-10 says     8“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.  9You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.  10Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!  (NLT)

…Sounds like a curse to me! But is it “our” curse?

Most pastors begin with this tithe teaching and then go on to a more popular New Testament teaching found in Mark 8  38Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law!...40…they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public... 41Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts.  42Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. 43Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.  44For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” (NLT)

Oh, we pastors LOVE this passage. This tops the tithe every time!! “Don’t give a ‘tithe’; NO! Give it ALL! Give till it hurts! Give till you bleed! Give and God will give even more back to you. Why? So you can give even ALL THAT to us too!” Thus sayeth many a pastor during “Stewardship Month”.

But what is Jesus really teaching here? Jesus begins by condemning anyone (like a Pharisee in verse 40) who would cheat a poor widow out of all she has to live on. In other words, God does not require you to “give till it hurts!”  This widow is both right in her giving and wrong, at the same time. Her attitude is right; her knowledge of what God requires is wrong. Jesus commends the heart of this poor widow who gave it all. He condemns the system which taught her she needed to do so.

So, how are we to give? The New Testament is filled with directions about our giving. Never once is the tithe even alluded to. Here is the giving pattern for Christians:

Meet Needs
1 John 3 17If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 18Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. (NLT)

Acts 2 44And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. (NLT)

Witness Through Generosity
Acts 2 46They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. (NLT)

Happily & Regularly Give What You Personally Decide to Give
1 Corinthians 16 1Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. 2On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. (NLT)

2 Corinthians 9 6Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” (NLT)

Why no mention of tithing? Tithing, like many Old Testament laws, was intended to be a guide. Jesus teaches in His Inaugural address (Matthew 5-7) that He came to fulfill the Law (to fill it FULL of meaning, showing how the Law was intended to be lived). In Galatians 3 we are told the purpose of Old Testament Laws. 24…The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. (NLT)

Based on this principle, I believe tithing, an Old Testament law, points the way to real giving. Aiming to give a Tithe is a good place to begin for a baby Christian. But the more we mature, the more we realize there are times when God has blessed us with enough to give far more than a tithe. And there are times when we, like a poor widow, may not be able to give anywhere near as much as a tithe. How are we to give? Generously, happily and regularly. These are the kinds of givers that give Jesus great joy.

This is good stuff, but not written by me!

"A few basic rules of thumb about life seem to keep cropping up again and again, shaping my ministry," writes pastor Gary K. Odle. He offers this collection of pastoral wit and wisdom to help people find peace in the ministry. "It's certainly no replacement for Scripture," he advises, "but it's not bad, either."

There is a God. You're not him.

Everybody thinks his duck is a swan.

Ask most people for advice on knowing God's will for your life, and they will tell you God's will for their life with your name on it.

Not everything you try to do will succeed--nor should it.

No one can make you do anything. Your choices are your own.

Standard of living is not the same as quality of life.

Sometimes we just have to make it up as we go along. When those we respect do it, we call it "creativity" and "being on the cutting edge." When we do it, we're tempted to think we're "faking it" and condemn ourselves for not knowing enough.

Sometimes the best thing to do is cry. It does wonders to purge the soul and clear the mind.

Whatever comes, God is big enough to handle it, and he is handling it, even when it looks as if neither is true. God can even handle your rage about his poor job performance.

If someone hurts you, first try to figure out whether that hurt was intentional or not. Not every hurt is an attack.

Too much analysis can be paralysis. Sometimes you just have to make a decision and get moving. The answers, if you need them, will come eventually. If they don't come, you didn't really need them.

When you've done all you can do, you've done all you can do.

Question 4:
I wanted to follow up on your sermon from Oct. 11, "Knowing Love."  In particular, I was curious about some things you said about heaven.  During your sermon I was reflecting on my middle school days in San Diego, when every year I would go with my youth group to Biola U and hear Dawson McAllister speak.  One year he started talking about the various crowns that one receives when he goes to heaven, depending on the sort of life that one has lived.  I was fired up about it at the time but gradually cooled off on it as it struck me more and more as a consumerism-based message.  Basically, I preferred to think of heaven as a more egalitarian place, where there is something like a pass/fail test to see whether or not we make it in.   That seemed to be the message I heard you saying as well - that when we die, we're in or we're out - that simple.  But 2 Corinthians 5:10 muddied the waters for me and reopened up my thoughts from middle school, albeit from a different perspective.  To get to the point: what does it mean when the verse talks about receiving "what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad"? (from TN, a Gringo serving here in Guatemala).

Response:
Wow, can't you write a simpler question? jajajaja

Regarding the 2 Corinthians 5 verse, it refers to the evaluation and accountability that we as Christians will experience when we enter Heaven. There are several places throughout the Bible where God says  "How you live your life here on earth does make a difference; there is a day where we give account". It has nothing to do with getting INTO Heaven; it is an accounting only for those who already entered it. This is similar to the McAllister teaching in that there does seem to be value-added to our experience in Heaven based on our life lived on behalf of God and others in love down here. Someone explained it to me this way:we are like diamonds in the rough. Every good work we do here on earth chips another facet into our diamond. The more good we do in Jesus' name, the more we are able to reflect God's light through many facets down through eternity.

I hope this helps!

Question 3:
What can you say about 1 Timothy 5:23?  (RDJ from The Philippines, living in Canada)

Response:
"Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often." 1 Timothy 5:23

This verse indicates that healings were less common towards the end of Paul's ministry than at first. He could have just said "Be healed!", had he been able. But he was not. Miracles cluster around the time of the Exodus, the time of the Prophets and the time of Jesus through the early days of the Church's founding. By the end of the New Testament, miracles had largely been replaced by God's Word and Faith. Jesus once said that if the people did not see a miraculous sign, they would NOT believe. To me, this means that faith should be present in the absence of miracles. Miracles should not replace faith (ie I will NOT believe unless I see the miracle).

On a different note, this verse indicates that wine had medicinal value (it was safer than polluted waters often prevalent in those days).

But were you asking me if this means it is OK to drink alcohol? There are other passages dealing with that issue. This one is not. The best you can get out of this one is that Nyquil is OK (isn't it about 90% booze?) :) If you want to discuss the rest of the Bible's teachings regarding alcoholic consumption, come over to our home one afternoon and we'll discuss it over cold drinks:)

Question 1:
Why is Jesus called "Jesus" and not Immanuel, since according to Matthew 1:23, His name was to be called Immanuel?
(The virgin will be with child...and they will call his name Immanuel - which means "God with us". - Matthew 1:23)

Response:
Understanding the practice of the culture at Jesus' time clears this question up right away. People were called not just by a name but by titles, as well. Jesus' full name would have been "Jesus ben Jacob", meaning "Jesus, son of Jacob" (Jacob was Jesus' stepfather). 

But titles were often attached to people to help define their roles and significance. An example of a person with an extreme title who lived near the time of Christ is Galarius Ceasar. Read the following prayer he wrote and you will understand the significance placed on titles:

Galarius Caesar’s Prayer in 300 AD as recorded by Eusebius
The emperor Caesar Galarius, Villiniois Maximanous, Invictous Augusts, Pontificus Maximus, Germanics Maximus, Egypticus Maximus, Phobecus Maximus twice, Carpticnes Maximus eight times, Armenicus Maximus, Medicus Maximus, Adeabendicis Maximus, Holder of Tribunal Authority for the twentieth time, Emperor for the nineteenth, Counsel for the eighth Pater Patrea Pro Counsel...and THAT'S just to help identify WHO you are talking to!

In the Matthew 1 passage, Jesus (that's his name) has the Old Testament title of Immanuel applied to Him. The title refers to Jesus' role, the One who brings God to us, Immanuel, God with us.