“The Manhattan Declaration” coming at Noon

Today at Noon, there will be a declaration read on the Christian conscience which is signed by more than 125 Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical Christians. The statement and the signers will not be posted until noon so not much about the statement is easily accessible.

But there is some stuff out there and here is what I have found:

“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.”

Yes, people must obey God rather than man when it comes to a violation of their convictions and conscience. You can just read the ministry of Paul to see that.

Here is another statement:

“We recognize the duty to comply with laws whether we happen to like them or not, unless the laws are gravely unjust or require those subject to them to do something unjust or otherwise immoral.”

Ok, I agree with that. Laws of the land must be obeyed as long as they do not ask us to disobey God and His Word.

And here is the last statement that I have found:

“. . . 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 marriage or the equivalent or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family.”

Now, with that statement, we can expect that a fight will ensure. People will seek to silent preachers of Truth, because they preach the Truth of Scripture against sin. When people live in sin, they sure don’t want preachers to correct them.

This declaration named, “The Manhattan Declaration”, will create no small stir, I am sure. I am one that is looking forward to read its words and see its signers. Might this be, the start of a revolution or just another statement by upset Christians? Time will tell.

Lashed to the Gospel?

The Apostle Paul told young Timothy this:

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV)

Its no secret that we are seeing this come to pass in our world today. Look at many of the popular “Christian” books and “Christian” preachers that millions flock to read and hear. They listen to every message and read every book, but they don’t know the truth. They don’t listen to messages or read the books by solid Christian preachers and authors. They have followed after their own passions and have forsaken the truth.

But its not just the flock that have done this. Preachers and authors have too, because its what makes them money. They have followed after the checkbook instead of Christ. And as a result they are leading many down the wrong road and heaping to themselves a stricter judgment.

Today, I read about a preacher that refused such a thing. In his life, God used him to open and start a Seminary. That seminary is still open and training men and women for the Gospel ministry. On his death bed, he called for his successor to come to him. Dr. L. R. Scarborough was to take over Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary upon the passing of Dr. B. H. Carroll. Here is what was said from Dr. Carroll to Dr. Scarborough, “I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to keep it lashed to the old Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

What will you be lashed to? Will you heed the charge to be “lashed to the old Gospel of Jesus Christ”?