In the news today is an article forecasting a nationwide "witch hunt" in the U.S. because of the expanded "hate crimes" law signed by President Obama.
'Witch Hunt' Expected Under New U.S. 'Hate Crimes'
Lawyer says Obama plans to bring back 'inquisitions'
The timing for the recent Manhattan Declaration couldn't be better. The Manhattan Declaration is a call of Christian conscience signed by many Christian leaders and regular folk who have vowed not to abandon or compromise Biblical truth regardless of immoral or unjust laws.
The Manhattan Declaration
The Manhattan Declaration states the following:
"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."
It can be signed here:
http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/sign/sign-the-declaration
The end times are upon us and now is the time to stand for our Lord and His Word. And we are not to be ashamed of Him or His Word!
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. - Romans 1:16
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; - 2 Timothy 1:8
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. - 1 Peter 4:16
I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. - Psalm 119:46
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. - Acts 5:29
Christians are not to be ashamed of the Word of our Lord, and when man's law contradicts God's law, we are clearly told to obey God!
Now is the time to declare that is what we intend to do.
I read with interest an article by Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries:
America’s Foundations Are Being Destroyed: What Can the Righteous Do?
She discusses a controversy that has broken out over the Manhattan Declaration. I am disappointed to see the division over this declaration to stand on and defend three truths regarding life, marriage, and religious liberty. The controversy has arisen because of the alliance that includes some of different faiths "preaching a different gospel" and Christians are not to be "unequally yoked". I believe this division is merely a tool of the devil to prevent something very good. Nothing in this declaration says you must believe as the other signers do in any area except on these three things:
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.
Nothing else need be compromised. I remember back when I first joined Concerned Women for America. A speaker at an introductory meeting spoke of CWA's former hesitance about endorsing one of the measures that was to restrict abortion. I can't recall now which one it was, but it was something like parental notification. CWA is unconditionally pro-life and had initially felt that to support something like a parental notification bill (or whatever like it was being debated at the time) would be to endorse abortion as long as the parents knew. But they took a stand for the bill. After all, there was no bill to abolish abortion, so if CWA hadn't supported the bill, there was still going to be abortion, but by parental notification, some abortions would be prevented. Some babies' lives would be saved, and some young teenagers' emotional lives might be spared future pain and despair.
I believe the Manhattan Declaration is a wonderful instrument to unite Christians on these three issues and to make a bold united statement to an increasingly corrupt and immoral government that we will not compromise Biblical truth. A stand like this could embolden Christians to uphold God's laws and His Word, even if we have to suffer as Christians as a result of it. That is what we are called to do. I believe this declaration could make great strides in reminding Christians what we are called to do when man's laws conflict with God's laws, but instead many of them wind up squabbling and divided. Jan's article politely reminds us not to judge the signers or non-signers of the declaration. I will understand that true Christians try to act prayerfully and only their God knows their hearts. I would only want to plead with them to see that this is a mighty area where we truly can agree.
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