I apologize for the double post, but the seemed too important to merely edit in.
After searching, I have found some excellent pieces one why some Christians are not signing the Manhatten Declaration:
John MacArthur
wrote an article on his reasons for not signing. Here's the gist of it:
Quote:
...the gospel itself is nowhere presented (much less explained) in the document or any of the accompanying literature. Indeed, that would be a practical impossibility because of the contradictory views held by the broad range of signatories regarding what the gospel teaches and what it means to be a Christian.
• This is precisely where the document fails most egregiously. It assumes from the start that all signatories are fellow Christians whose only differences have to do with the fact that they represent distinct “communities.” Points of disagreement are tacitly acknowledged but are described as “historic lines of ecclesial differences” rather than fundamental conflicts of doctrine and conviction with regard to the gospel and the question of which teachings are essential to authentic Christianity.
• Instead of acknowledging the true depth of our differences, the implicit assumption (from the start of the document until its final paragraph) is that Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant Evangelicals and others all share a common faith in and a common commitment to the gospel’s essential claims. The document repeatedly employs expressions like “we [and] our fellow believers”; “As Christians, we . . .”; and “we claim the heritage of . . . Christians.” That seriously muddles the lines of demarcation between authentic biblical Christianity and various apostate traditions.
• The Declaration therefore constitutes a formal avowal of brotherhood between Evangelical signatories and purveyors of different gospels
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I believe this is relevant to current events because it show just how complicated our times are, and just how important it is today for Christians to be
thinkers. It is not enough to blindly follow. Please take heed to what you support. As for myself, again, I have not yet decided. It is not a matter I take lightly.
James White also wrote a
blog post criticizing the document.