The Manhattan Declaration: One Christian’s Perspective
In case you haven’t read or heard about it, there is a huge hubaloo that’s been brewing over Apple pulling an iPhone and iPad app from it’s app store. The app was created by a group that started the Manhattan Declaration. Via the app, people can electronically “sign the declaration”, which affirms, and encourages people to take action to support the following:
- Sanctity of human life
- Traditional marriage
- Religious liberty
The app was accepted by Apple and made available in their app store. After its release, gay rights groups petitioned Apple CEO Steve Jobs to have the app removed because they considered it offensive to them. He pulled the app from the store after receiving those complaints. The folks at the Manhattan Declaration have edited the app to remove a poll/survey, which was the primary source of offense cited, and have resubmitted the app to Apple for approval. You can read details here. You can also read Mahattan Declaration co-founder Chuck Colson’s op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle here.
I will not argue with the fact that religious people have been the source of hatred, war, and death, which is why Jesus, when he was walking on the earth, targeted religious people like Pharisees who paraded their righteousness in front of everyone. Even though Jesus identified their righteousness as setting a good, high standard in being obedient to God, he was also the first to confront them and point out their sickness. Jesus is clear that we are to love our neighbors and enemies alike and that through love and compassion, we are serving and being obedient to God. The Pharisees didn’t appreciate this because Jesus had been attacking their man-made, extra-Biblical rules and laws they had set up for themselves and for all God-fearing individuals. Ironically, because of this, they plotted to violate one of the ten commandments by having him murdered.
With all due respect to Chuck Colson and the other originators and Christian co-founders of the Manhattan Declaration, this is exactly why I find this app and the creation of it troubling. Not that I would ever consider what they are doing to be like the Pharisees. But here is a group of Christians that are parading their beliefs (or so it is likely perceived by outsiders), seeking to unite themselves in common beliefs. In fact, what they’ve done is to alienate themselves from outsiders. It’s so blatantly disrespectful, it makes me shudder at the idea of being affiliated with them.
Sure, I support what the Manhattan Declaration affirms. I even signed the declaration. But I don’t need an app to remind me of the standard the Bible sets for my life. I can go straight to the source. Additionally, Apple is well within it’s rights to have some apps and not others offered in their app store. Their policy about apps actually makes this quite clear.
What I find particularly disheartening about this app is not the content but the means by which the content is being shared - via an app. Sure, it may unite the Christian community, but it is uniting them at the expense of alienating others. And the gospel message is not one that divides us but unites us to each other and to God. Does the app bring outsiders into its fold or seek to find common ground through love? It doesn’t. In fact, a Christian friend of mine recently remarked to me that…
The app is like a big middle finger to those who don’t share in those beliefs.
I couldn’t agree more. Just to be clear, I find nothing inherently wrong with the Christian community affirming and reminding itself of what the Bible more clearly teaches. But I’m not ok with them parading those beliefs around in front of a culture that is becoming increasingly hostile to them. We need to find another way to relate. The Bible does not call Christians to divide and conquer, it calls us to love and share the gospel. No wonder our culture is becoming increasingly hostile to orthodox Christianity. It’s like we’re saying…
Yay for us, we believe these things and you don’t, so you’re bad and evil and we’re perfect and good.
I can easily see how some outside and even within the Christianity community would find the app offensive. It’s divisive and unloving.
Further, I was recently reading a blog posting on the Manhattan Declaration website. The blogger was responding to comments that identified the portion of the declaration concerning the homosexual community as hateful. The blogger, in responding to this criticism, was attempting to prove and re-state that the text of the declaration concerning homosexuals was written to be loving. But I have to ask, if you have to go this far to prove you’re being loving, then are you really being loving? I was recently discussing this with my wife and I asked her “Is it possible that you would have to convince another person that you are loving them?” Her answer? “No, I don’t think that’s possible.” Neither do I. Shouldn’t the person of your affection just know that they are loved? And when someone has to convince another person or group of people that they love them, do they actually love them?
It doesn’t matter if the meaning of love has gotten a bit twisted in our culture. If someone says they are not being loved, then they feel they are not being loved. The Bible calls us to love each other and to treat others as we would want to be treated. Only God knows the intent of our heart, but if we are trying to convince ourselves that we are being loving, despite being told that we are being hateful, then I’d have to say that some kind of readjustment and apology is necessary, first to God and second to the offended.
Besides, the creators of the app and Declaration are well aware that the issues of abortion and traditional vs. gay marriage are very heated topics with which many are personally involved.
I can understand why a gay person would want to stand up for something they consider a right. I understand why they would want complete support from the government and society on their ability to wed. I love and care for those that are gay. I have known and developed good friendships with many of them. Some are in my family. I love them as people and children of our Creator.
I also understand and can empathize with women that have had abortions. It’s unfortunate that our culture and society has allowed this decision to be one that even is allowed to be made. I will never agree with how we got where we are in regards to the ease with which we eliminate the unborn and I will never support a candidate whose conscience is ok with eliminating the inconvenient and most helpless in our society. But I can see how people have been persuaded and convinced that choice is ok. Our culture is to blame, not the people.
But I don’t need an app to help me relate, understand, and love others. Jesus is the example we are to follow to learn how we might relate to each other and to those who are searching for love, understanding, and acceptance. Last I checked, he dined and interacted with tax collectors (traitors), prostitutes (sexual deviants), rebels, the homeless, and those felt slighted by their government and society. Last I checked, none of them called him out for being hateful. Last I checked, he was 100% successful in convincing them of a hope and a love beyond their wildest dreams.
