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To: Star Traveler
This group is not a church, properly so called, and is not offering a creed or a worship program or comprehensive theological statement. It is a group of Christians engaged in carrying out their obligations in a particular arena of action: as citizens and opinion-leaders in the public square.

By way of analogy, if it were a group of Christians involved in some other particular area--- e.g., say Christian realtors --- you wouldn't expect them to make a comprehensive creedal or evangelization statement, but to focus on their obligations as realtors. They might talk about truth in advertising, honesty in business transactions, abstaining from shady dealing and exposing fraud when they have knowledge of it, etc.

I, for one, appreciate statements which clarify my civil obligation in the public square. I feel the urgency of building a decent culture for kids (and someday grandkids) to grow up in, one which isn't so sin-sponsoring and death-dealing, so sickeningly corrupt.

44 posted on 12/31/2009 6:14:46 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o (Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o
You were saying ...

This group is not a church, properly so called, and is not offering a creed or a worship program or comprehensive theological statement. It is a group of Christians engaged in carrying out their obligations in a particular arena of action: as citizens and opinion-leaders in the public square.

Let's take that statement of theirs and look it over... and see how "political" it is (in terms of the public square) and how "theological" it is...


The Manhattan Declaration

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.


First of all, we have the "theological" or "religious aspect" of it to consider... just going down the statement and picking out the Christian, church, or church organization words and/or Christianity words and/or Christian ideas and philosophies...

Now, after looking down the list of words used in that very short statement that they gave, I see religious institutions, I see Christianity, I see Jesus Christ, I see Christian principles and so on -- all invoked in that statement. It appears theological and "Christian" to me... from the "wording"...

AND THUS -- after all that "religious talk" -- I see nothing there about the Salvation that is paramount and that is of first importance -- even before anything that is mentioned in this statement.

They've given all the "theological baggage" and left off the main message.... LOL...

50 posted on 12/31/2009 6:25:14 PM PST by Star Traveler (At Christmas - remember to keep "Christ" in the One-World Government that we look forward to)
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