Manhattan Declaration Update: Blurs Distinction Between Catholic Religion And Biblical Christianity, Declares Militancy

150,000 Sign Manhattan Declaration in Less than a Week

The unprecedented pro-life, pro-marriage and pro-religious freedom Manhattan Declaration, unveiled in a press conference last Friday, has already been signed by over 150,000 individuals in less than a week, and the numbers are continuing to rise by the second.

The 4,700-word "Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience" was drafted by Dr. Robert George, Dr. Timothy George and Chuck Colson. At the time of its release last week it was signed by more than 125 prominent religious figures, including figures from Orthodox, Catholic and evangelical Christian denominations. That number has now risen to over 170, including 18 Roman Catholic bishops, in addition to the 150,000 ordinary Christians.

Colson says he hopes that the document will eventually be signed by more than 1,000,000 individuals, which, given its current momentum, hardly seems out of the question.

The Declaration is a non-denominational statement that throws down the gauntlet to a secular culture that is increasingly encroaching upon the rights of Christians who hold to traditional moral values, especially on the issues of marriage and the right to life. "We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers," says the document, "that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence."

The enormous popularity of the document appears to arise largely from its ability to bind together Christians from diverse theological and denominational backgrounds to fight for a common cause - the right to life, the preservation of true marriage, and the right to religious liberty.

In the U.K., where the rights of Christians are under attack more fiercely than almost anywhere else in the West, Telegraph writer Gerald Warner wrote that, "For harassed, demoralised faithful in the pews [the Manhattan Declaration] will come as the long-awaited call to resistance and an earnest (sic) that their leaders are no longer willing to lie down supinely to be run over by the anti-Christian juggernaut."
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re: bind together Christians from diverse theological and denominational backgrounds to fight for a common cause

compare: Prominent Evangelical Albert Mohler Jr. Signs 'Manhattan Declaration' Calling For Civil Disobedience 11-24-09 "Despite Mohler's disclaimers to the contrary, e.g. "conceding no doctrinal ground" (see full article), a signed statement of unity is just that." [see post]

Just a few brief points (if not familiar with this topic, see link just above and the one below):

In the few quotes above, excerpted from the linked article, you'll notice three references to the use of the term 'Christian' in describing the Catholic religion.

1. Orthodox, Catholic and evangelical Christian denominations

2. We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers

3. Christians from diverse theological and denominational backgrounds

For too many reasons to list here [go here], true Christianity cannot recognize Catholic doctrine as fulfilling the requirements necessary to be called 'Christian'. That may not sit well with some, but nevertheless it is true. There is a wide discrepancy between the Catholic religion and biblical Christianity. To surrender that ground, as does this "unprecendented" Manhattan Declaration, from the vantage point of true biblical Christianity, is heresy plain and simple.

Another huge problem is the position taken as exemplified by the phrase in the document stating: "We pledge...that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence."

Christians are not called to militate against the powers of this world. This is deception of the highest order. The preaching of the gospel in this world is not a manifesto to change the world, which is still at this time Satan's domain, but is an outcalling - a gospel call, not to fix, but to come out of this corrupted world, i.e the forgotten Christian 'doctrine of separation'. Fleeing the wrath to come...if you will [cf. Luke/Matt. 3:7].

The NT Greek word for 'church' is 'ekklesia' (ek-klay-see'-ah): "a calling out" [Strong's]. Christians are not to wrestle with the 'powers' that be on this earth, with flesh and blood that is, for they have been "called out". The true Christian calling is a heavenly calling: "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling..." [Heb. 3:1] - not a quote "throwing down the gauntlet".

What you have here is a is a massive united-world-religion hustle to merge Catholics and Christendom, while at the same time setting the stage to advance the NWO 'rebellion agenda'. see: Manifesto Madness: Laodicean Christendom And Catholics Uniting, Pushing NWO Strategy For 'Civil Unrest' 11-22-09

also: Pope On first Ever Catholic-Islam Forum: Agree As Family Of Same God 11-11-08

Rev. 18:4
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Hebrews 11:13 'These all [Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah; vv. 4-11]...confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.'