The Manhattan Declaration By George Stroh, Senior Pastor November 30, 2009
Several Christian friends have encouraged me to sign and support "The Manhattan Declaration", a document opposing the moral corruption in our culture. While I agree with much of the content, many of the those who wrote this document and are the original signatories are false teachers (2 Peter 2:1), who promote a false ecumenical gospel. For this reason, I would not want to be in anyway associated with these false teachers and will not be signing “The Manhattan Declaration”. Last July I wrote: I am convinced that one of the greatest dangers to the evangelical Church and Biblically sound doctrine is a movement called "ecumenicalism". The idea behind ecumenicalism is that all professing religions should come together in practical unity, setting aside any doctrine that divides. The ultimate goal is to bring all religious groups together into one worldwide group, if not in organizational unity, at least in sympathy of the ecumenical movement for the purpose of the common good on earth. To many naive Christians, this growing ecumenicalism seems like a good thing, but God is not pleased. This movement is likely the forerunner of the antichrist's one world false religious system that will be pervasive during the coming seven years of tribulation on earth. The Bible describes this worldwide ecumenical religious system as "Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and the abomination of the earth". The tribulation saints are warned; "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities." (Revelation 18:4). John MacArthur , Senior Pastor of Grace Community Church and the President of the Master's Seminary, recently wrote an article for Pulpit Magazine (http://www.shepherdsfellowship.org/pulpit/) regarding his objections to "The Manhattan Declaration". As evangelical Christians we are, of course, opposed to the moral corruption of such abominable sins as same-sex marriage and abortion. But it is crucial that we not get distracted from our primary mission and rendered evangelically impotent by the political correctness of ecumenicalism . As the "pillar and support of the truth", the evangelical church must remain focused upon the "Great Commission" given to us by our Lord-- The proclamation of the true and life changing Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Maranatha!
