Let’s not go jumping on R.C. Sproul, John McArther, et al., for not signing.
Well, suit yourself, but if you want to be able to preach the gospel as you see fit, you will probably need to stand up to these godless pukes that are running the country at the moment sooner rather than later.
It makes sense from their perspective, and it certainly doesn’t affect their position on the concrete, public issues.
However, it’s informative to me, as an outsider, to see that their perspective is that they do not, in fact, share a common Christian faith with so many others.
"We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."
Document or no, religious peoples of all stripes need to stand up together for these common principles we ALL hold sacred or else we shall surely lose this battle.
I am saddened by RC, and the others for not signing; I did sign it.
In the words of Ben Franklin as he signed the Declaration of Independence, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”
Or in the words of Pastor Martin Niemoller (1945),
“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.”
More atom-splitting and nitpicking from people concerned with the letter more than the intent.
... But how could I sign something that confuses the gospel and obscures the very definition of who is and who is not a Christian?
Oh, my.... How very unfortunate. For all his harping on "clarity" about the Gospels, it seems that Mr. Sproul would do well to dwell on what the Gospels have to say about attitudes such as he's displaying here.
St. Luke's Gospel has a couple of stories that really drive home the utter silliness of Mr. Sproul's objections.
The first goes to the heart of Sproul's apparent claim to be able to tell the difference between "real" and "fake" Christians:
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:9-14)
R.C., are you really, actually thanking God that you're not like those Catholics over there....?!?
The second story is this:
Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." (Luke 18:15-17)
The lesson here, Mr. Sproul: You don't get to be the one who decides who gets to see Jesus. You don't get to be the one who decides who is worthy to be with Jesus. You're the one who should be beating your breast, asking for mercy ... just like the rest of us.
They can ‘sign’ or they can ‘not sign’.
I am recalling the NY23 Hoffman race and the NY20 race from earlier this year. If you are looking for people to help out a pro-life candidate in a rough and very close race you often only find people who are like the good Samaritan.
And he was neither Catholic nor Protestant.
Out of the front lines of political fights, the definition of “the Body of Christ” often becomes “anybody who is willing to help”, which often means about 3 people.
On a semi related note, Sproul just published a 500+ page commentary on the book of Romans which I look forward to reading over the Christmas holidays. Given Sproul’s strong background in philosphy it out to be very interesting.
I disagree. I see it as a place to stand. The signers state they are willing to stand their ground for the Lord in the face of the enemy.
When the going gets tough, the tough will get going.
I disagree. I see it as a place to stand. The signers state they are willing to stand their ground for the Lord in the face of the enemy.
When the going gets tough, the tough will get going.
RC is correct. The reason why the church has the problems it does is because it has moved from the gospel to ecumenticalism.