Last month a number of Catholic, Orthodox, and Evangelical Christian leaders gathered in New York to make a definitive statement about the convictions of the Christian church regarding pressing issues of a social, political, and moral nature. More specifically, it's all about stating a belief in the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union between husband and wife, and the rights of conscience and religious liberty. In news media, it was called a "Historic Declaration on Christian Conscience."
A sampling:
We are Christians who have joined together across historic lines of ecclesial differences to affirm our right - and, more importantly, to embrace our obligation - to speak and act in defense of these truths. We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in its fullness, both in season and out of season. May God help us not to fail in that duty.
From the opening of The Manhattan Declaration
It's bold in its proclamation of the gospel, it's loving toward those who maintain disagreement and toward those in authority, yet it does not flich. You can read the full text of the declaration by clicking on one of the links above.
Today I added my digital signature to the many thousands that have been added since this past Friday. Will you?
ah, Kirsten, thanks for posting that link! I do pray to somehow always remain loving towards those who disagree with these truths, but also to hold my ground, unafraid to share the Gospel with those who need it the most.
ReplyDeleteJust yesterday I was reading an article I think you might find interesting: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/21/AR2009112101818.html
:)
Thanks for the link, Sarah!! We were just talking in my RCIA class last night about how difficult it is to hold that tension between grace and truth. People often see a judgment of behavior as a judgment on a person, which it's not!! I hope that if I was doing something that was harmful to myself, someone would love me enough to tell me the truth about what I was doing. Not everyone sees it that way -- all the more important that we be salt and light out there!!
ReplyDeleteI heard about this the other day but hadn't had a chance to investigate yet. Thanks so much for sharing!
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