I am disappointed that so many have been duped by the insidious yet seductive writing of Princeton professor Robert P. George, who, among other things, is the board chair of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), a group whose objective is to deny legal recognition of civil rights to minority groups.

The entire structure of the Manhattan Declaration fails. It is not Christian but is Christianist. It ignores the beautiful scripture-based doctrine that we are ensouled at birth when we take our first breath, the doctrine on which the symbolism of the Sacrament of Baptism is based. It completely ignores the culture of death represented by capital punishment and war, while elevating the status of the blueprint and the foundation to the status of the competed and inhabited house.

It ignores the messages of 1 Samuel 18, Isaiah 56, Matthew 19:12, and Acts 8.

It ignores the religious freedom of anyone other than those whose beliefs coincide with those of the author, or are fully compatible in the areas addressed by the document. While it acknowledges the sincerity of those who disagree, it is clear that we disagree at our peril, since the author makes it clear that the persecution will continue.

Yes. I believe that many of the signers of the Manhattan Declaration have rejected sound doctrine.

When mainstream churches talk about God’s direction in their congregation, how they see the Spirit moving towards inclusion, towards loving and caring, towards joy in Christ, they scoff. They dismiss the Holy Spirit’s power to draw and deny God’s divine direction.

Rather, they hold only to old dry teachings, musty misunderstanding, and rigid interpretations. And anyone who disagrees isn’t a “real Christian”, like they are. No, God can’t be sharing His joy with those kind of people. So they scoff.

They see the world and fear it. Change is too sudden, the world is complex, and they are no longer safe in their tiny town with tiny conventions and where no one lives outside their rules and expectations.

So they strike out in fear. Scared that gay people – or, really, anyone unlike themselves – are threatening, they demand inequality. They insist on discrimination. They cry out for bigotry.

Yet they know it is wrong. The Holy Spirit moves towards love, not mistreatment. Christ calls us to treat our neighbor as ourselves, not as an evil to be destroyed.

And this leaves them in confusion. Do they reject their animus and biases and embrace God’s exuberant welcome? Or do they reject God and embrace anti-gay activism?

And so they turn to preachers willing to tell them what they want to hear. Their itching ears seek excuses for their inhumanity to others. The promote those who say, “love the sinner” but call for harsh treatment. They cling to every word of those who tell them that when Christ called them to care for others He surely didn’t mean to include those who are Enemies Of Christ (a title given to gay people).

They seek out and listen to those who tell them that love is hate, that welcome is rejection, that the kingdom of God is elected men, that freedom is rigidity. And if anyone suggests otherwise, they scoff. They have found what their itching ears want to hear.

Is everyone that goes to church a Christian or a believer in God? NO! No more than standing in a garage makes you a car. Who knows the mind of God? Are you His personal spokesman on earth? It seems to me that you are saying what itching ears want to hear, instead of the truth. I’m not into the politics of religion as you seem to be. I’m about God…you? The problem with many of today’s religious/secular leaders is they are more flawed than those they are trying to lead.

Love of course is the Way, but unity built upon obedience is critical – tempered with faith.

There are believers from across the spectrum that are doing the will of the Father that will experience eternal life. Jesus is our Lord and our God – we are to walk in his footsteps. We are to be imitators of God! His are able to hear His voice.

Tim, instead of stirring up dissention, would it not be much more powerful to pray for those that are deceived and prompt others to do the same?

All that you said above which I believe to be insightful, but inflammatory and flawed could have been simply stated – Manifestos are dangerous and should be avoided.

One last comment: using your logic then, the adulterous woman we read about in the Bible, would not be told “go and sin no more”, rather it’s ok we don’t want to offend.

Consider:

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 2 Peter 3:3

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3

The case for capital punishment, war, slavery, and against black civil rights was also made by religious people. As is the case with those issues, once gays attain equal rights people like you will falsely claim that it was solely due to the desire of religious people to do the right thing.

I agree – its primarily a case of bigotry. Religion is merely the excuse most people like you use to “justify” this bigotry.

Riohard said “If this is the best you can do those of on my side have nothing to worry about”.

You have nothing to worry about in any event. Equal marriage for same sex couples will become the law of the land and people like you will continue to spout your anti-gay hatred and perform your various religious acts just as you always have in the past – no problem.

That’s fascinating, Richard.

I did find an article in the Wall Street Journal (not part of the “liberal media”) about bankrupt churches. The example they site is St. Andrew Anglican Church in Easton, MD. Ironically, St. Andrews is not part of the Episcopal Church but is instead part of the anti-gay breakaway Anglicans (who are signers of the document).

The rector of St. Andrew, Bishop Johnson, attracted like-minded conservatives who disliked Episcopal innovations, such as ordaining female priests.

In fact, their one claim to fame is that they invited Bishop Akinola in 2007. Their church was on the block and they were in Chapter 11 by the end of 2008.

I guess they were not good stewards of the Lord’s talents. That, or homophobia isn’t a booming business in Maryland.

The WSJ also mentioned that evangelical churches which are not affiliated with denominations were hit hard. But there just was no mention of any of the churches that I noted above.

So I guess it is you, Richard, that is “playing loose with the facts or worse”.

Thanks for the correction. I was uncertain that the members of the Presbyterian Lay Committee were within the PCUSA. But a closer look reveals that they are.

I find it interesting that they identified as such, making it clear that their alliances are outside the PCUSA and with those who seek to impose strict theology on their brothers by force of law.

The problem with arguing from anecdote is that you must report the anecdotes accurately.

What about the photographer (like the one in New Mexico)… who refuses to provide services for a gay wedding?

New Mexico does not have marriage equality. It does not even have civil unions. So to say that marriage equality leads to this situation is, frankly, extremely illogical and suggests that the claimant is either dishonest or, ummm, intellectually challenged.

The marriage counselor in California who lost his job because he refused to counsel a gay couple?

I don’t recall this, and I live in California. Do you have a source reference?

The doctor in California who refused to perform artifical insemination for a lesbian couple? (The California Supreme Court ruled that religion does not trump medical practice).

What does this have to do with marriage?

The store manager in Massachusetts who after being told 4 times by a fellow employee of her upcoming lesbian wedding, tells her that he does not agree, and loses his job?

Employers have no obligation to keep employees that tell others that they “don’t agree” with their mixed race marriage (ie “it’s perversion”) or with mixed faith marriage or any other attack on the marriage of another employee. Being “a Christian” does not give one the right to be an abusive ass.

Catholic charities in Massachusetts shutting down instead of being forced to place children for adoptoin with gay couples.

Nope. They quit offering adoption placement when they found out that the state would not fund them unless they were open to all taxpayers, not just the ones they like.

As stated above, the Mormons still do exclusionary adoption. They just don’t expect the taxpayers to fund it.

I signed the online Declaration because we as Christians are tired of being told the drop our beliefs in God in favor of a morally corrupt lifestyle.

That’s not true. You signed because you dislike “the homosexual lifestyle” and want to impose your religious views on those who don’t follow them voluntarily.

(My own brother was gay, but that did not change my view of the gay community)

Clearly not. And it is based on your “view” that you come here with hostility and a litany of grievances. You think your little list of six or so instances in which the facts can be distorted to show you as a victim gives you the right to harm gay people and their lives.

It doesn’t. And you know it. You are just looking for excuses to justify the hatred you have in your heart.

But rather than seek excuses for the evil lurking within, I suggest you repent and ask God to fill you with love. And then you need to repent to the gay community and seek to reverse the damage that you have done to God’s children in his name.