In case you don’t know, Chuck Colson is what I would call a “big thinker”. He and some other church leaders who understand firsthand the power of the Scriptures to truly transform a life and the authority that the Scriptures hold are standing in unison to protect life – the most fundamental freedom in our Constitution. They have drawn a line in the sand – perhaps to their own detriment in this world. I expect that they fully understand the risk they are taking… …and I want to stand behind them.
We didn’t invent life and we don’t have the authority to dismiss it from those who cannot defend themselves, and have not earned death from the hands of men.
I choose daily to give my life for others that I love– my family, my church – it is apparent to me now that I must make more effort to give my life to helping people that I do not know, but that I am called as a Christian to love. It will become personal to me someday if I do nothing – someday I will have a “choice of life” question decided for me or a loved one, but I would not fight for myself… …my calling is sure. My thinking needs to grow...
There are links to follow below – If there is a place for me to sign something that fits this ideal, then I am 90% sure that you will find my name on it soon… …I don’t know how yet, but I can’t sit idly while we weigh the costs to the many for the benefit of a few. The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not supposed to be measured – it is supposed to be protected completely.
The Manhattan Declaration (pdf) : Two-minute Colson Video
Chuck Colson - Wikipedia
Prison Fellowship Ministries
5 comments:
Amen!
I was against it. But your thoughts caused me to read it again, and as a result of that and prayer, I have signed it.
Thanks for speaking out my friend!
Craig
To be honest, I don't particulary like bandwagons and I am slow to jump into them - even good ones.
I am not a fan of multi-faith (multi-denominational) unity wagons either. I have sensed some of these things over the years in various places - one place being from Colson. So, I am aware that some of the most respectable people in evangelical thinking sit this one out in protest of the "common ideals" crowd and I understand that in most cases - in fact I recommend sitting apart denominationally in most cases.
Our country's "seperation clause" (from Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists) was intended to protect "religion", particulary Christianity, from the government's meddling. He was specifically detailing the First Amendment's intent, pointing out that Congress was not to sanction a denomination - let alone to dictate the doctrines of the church to the church.
We stand today on the shoulders of many great spiritual and political leaders - Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and a host of others - many of whom had questionable theology, but whom God saw fit to use to set up a unique system of governement that was intended to protect and propogate Christianity at its core.
From a spiritual perspective, our country today is in great need of spiritual awakening. Without that, there is no hope of freedom to continue.
I pray that God's plan includes a revival in our country - one that will result in masses of individuals' repentance and turning to the Gospel - the foundation of our life and faith.
I am concerned that short some act of God, our Congress is going to use the money it collects from us in taxes to murder human life, and to prosecute churches for preaching the Word of God as clearly as they believe it.
Already we are seeing these things coming to pass.
I do not hold my hope in a document - after all, Congress acted in direct opposition to the polls regarding the stimulus plan.
Who knows, it could be a futile petition that never gets another scrap of attention... ...or it could be a Ninety-five Theses. For me, I see an opportunity to protest a growing threat to our freedoms in this country...
We have to keep being Christians openly, giving ultimate authority to God and to His Word. Romans 13:1 and later in Peter, we are instructed to fear God and honor the king, (paraphrasing) insofar as we can - I think that the document does a good job of describing a couple of areas in which we muct be clear about our conscience before the world.
I hope that God will see these efforts and bless them "for the least of these..."
I appreciated the humility of the declaration, as well as the repentance evident. I also appreciated how it used the authority of Scripture in our lives.
I am with you, I hold not illusion that this declaration will be the silver bullet that solves the problem. However, right is right, and I must stand up and be counted. Again, thank you.
I posted about it on my new blog, you can read it if you are interested.
Craig
I think you said it better than I did.
Ryan
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