Many of you have noticed that coming out is an Evangelical Manifesto put together by a steering committee of men who represent liberal and amillennial organizations, publications, and seminaries. While some of the signers may be to a degree Evangelical and Conservative, overall they do not represent strong conservative theology. While these men may not deny the fundamentals of the faith, in my opinion, they would not stand up with strength to defend the hard issues of the faith. And too, they are highly conciliatory and work hard to be inclusive. They want the world to like us as Christians. They come from a base of secular psychology and positive humanism! "Let's just all love and get along; never mind, sharp doctrinal distinctives."
In their Manifesto Introduction they write:
(1) "This is an open declaration … not only to Evangelicals and other Christians but other American citizens and people of all other faiths in America." This is so all inclusive, in an attempt to cover all bases, it ends up covering none! There is nothing they could say to me that would be palatable to liberal Christians, or other false religious beliefs—the "other faiths in America."
(2) It is addressed also to "those who say they have no faith." Then what value is this Evangelical Manifesto? In the opening of the Manifesto they say "the signers are not out to attack or exclude anyone, but to rally and to call for reform." What does "reform" mean to someone who has no faith? What would it mean to someone who may be a Christian but who then in his theology may deny some of the basic tenets of the Evangelical faith?
(3) Further, they write, this Manifesto is "an example of how different faith communities may address each other in public life." This sounds like a "let's come together" of Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, etc. I have no common ground with other faiths. God loves people of other faiths and calls for them to come to Christ for personal salvation. Otherwise, only judgment can be their fate. The theology of other faiths contradicts the Word of God, is antagonistic to it. There is no common ground by which we are to address each other. What we have to say is "accept Christ as your personal Savior. There is no salvation apart from Him!"
(4) The Manifesto is to present commonly with the various faiths, "a clear commitment to the common good of the societies in which we all live together." Multiple faiths do not bring about a common good. Only Christianity based on the clear teachings of the Word of God can bring peace to a society. "Faiths" do not come together to make that happen. America for example was not founded by nor propagated by a multitude of different faiths. It did not flourish under the teachings of Islam or Hinduism. It was founded by hard core, strong Reformed teachings that made the Bible the central document that promoted morality and spirituality!
(5) The Manifesto urges a "challenge to reaffirm Evangelical identity … to reposition Evangelicals in public life." I don't need to be challenged, "to reaffirm, to reposition" anything! What needs to happen is a return to solid propagation of the Word of God, to teach again verse by verse this wonderful revelation! Our seminaries need to get out of the business of training cheer leaders, psychologists, team leaders, facilitators, etc. They need to train pastors in the totality of Scripture and show them again how to be blessedly dogmatic and fearless in presenting spiritual truth.
We need to go back to basics and quite dancing around and presenting silly techniques in order to reposition ourselves with the world. "Teach the Word" must be returned to. –Dr. Mal Couch
(1) "This is an open declaration … not only to Evangelicals and other Christians but other American citizens and people of all other faiths in America." This is so all inclusive, in an attempt to cover all bases, it ends up covering none! There is nothing they could say to me that would be palatable to liberal Christians, or other false religious beliefs—the "other faiths in America."
(2) It is addressed also to "those who say they have no faith." Then what value is this Evangelical Manifesto? In the opening of the Manifesto they say "the signers are not out to attack or exclude anyone, but to rally and to call for reform." What does "reform" mean to someone who has no faith? What would it mean to someone who may be a Christian but who then in his theology may deny some of the basic tenets of the Evangelical faith?
(3) Further, they write, this Manifesto is "an example of how different faith communities may address each other in public life." This sounds like a "let's come together" of Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, etc. I have no common ground with other faiths. God loves people of other faiths and calls for them to come to Christ for personal salvation. Otherwise, only judgment can be their fate. The theology of other faiths contradicts the Word of God, is antagonistic to it. There is no common ground by which we are to address each other. What we have to say is "accept Christ as your personal Savior. There is no salvation apart from Him!"
(4) The Manifesto is to present commonly with the various faiths, "a clear commitment to the common good of the societies in which we all live together." Multiple faiths do not bring about a common good. Only Christianity based on the clear teachings of the Word of God can bring peace to a society. "Faiths" do not come together to make that happen. America for example was not founded by nor propagated by a multitude of different faiths. It did not flourish under the teachings of Islam or Hinduism. It was founded by hard core, strong Reformed teachings that made the Bible the central document that promoted morality and spirituality!
(5) The Manifesto urges a "challenge to reaffirm Evangelical identity … to reposition Evangelicals in public life." I don't need to be challenged, "to reaffirm, to reposition" anything! What needs to happen is a return to solid propagation of the Word of God, to teach again verse by verse this wonderful revelation! Our seminaries need to get out of the business of training cheer leaders, psychologists, team leaders, facilitators, etc. They need to train pastors in the totality of Scripture and show them again how to be blessedly dogmatic and fearless in presenting spiritual truth.
We need to go back to basics and quite dancing around and presenting silly techniques in order to reposition ourselves with the world. "Teach the Word" must be returned to. –Dr. Mal Couch
