Manhattan Declaration
Posted on December 7th, 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.
Categories: Theology
Tagged: Abortion, Euthanasia, Gay Marriage, Marriage
test comment
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
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.
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.
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.
Can we have a Bronx or a Queens declaration that doesn't mention MLK Jr?
Might not want to call it the Queens declaration.