Manhattan Declaration

December 7, 2009

I read and signed the Manhattan Declaration today. I would encourage you to read and consider signing as well. The three issues it treats – life, marriage, and freedom of conscience – are the critical public issues of our time.

Tagged as: Abortion, Euthanasia, Gay Marriage, Marriage

{ 7 comments }

Christopher Esget December 11, 2009 at 2:07 am

test comment

CharlesLehmann December 14, 2009 at 3:35 pm

Here's why I am not going to sign it, and were it not for the sentences I cite in my post, I would:

http://chaz-lehmann.livejournal.com/791437.html

Christopher Esget December 15, 2009 at 10:06 pm

I completely agree with your assessment of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s theology. It doesn't prevent me from signing the document, though, as I don't think it's intrinsic to the point of the citation or the document itself. I don't think the Manhattan Declaration is comparing King with Augustine or Aquinas, only saying that his Letter quotes them. If I thought I was making a confession about King himself being a Christian, I couldn't sign it.

I could be wrong.

CharlesLehmann December 15, 2009 at 10:11 pm: I think the question is this: Is the document saying that MLK was a Christian when it calls his perspective "explicitly Christian."

My answer to that question is: Yes, and therefore I can't sign the document.

I could be wrong about that. I do think that Christians can reasonably disagree on the answer to the question. But since my answer is "Yes," signing the document ceases to be an option for me.

Christopher Esget December 15, 2009 at 10:19 pm

I agree that the document, when it says that, is calling MLK a Christian; I also agree that we cannot agree to that.

Where I think I disagree is that, by signing the document, the signer is thereby declaring MLK to be Christian, as it's very far outside the principal points of the document. I liken my signature to be agreeing with the doctrine of the confessions without agreeing to every exegetical point being made in support of the doctrine.

What I like about you, Pr. Lehmann, is that you're a reasonable chap with good reasons for your actions (or lack thereof), and a willingness to converse calmly and rationally. The LCMS needs more men like you.

Dan at NR December 16, 2009 at 2:04 am