Pastor Dave Ginter
 
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.

 


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