That looks like hard work…. can’t we just watch Lost reruns?

Aren’t the signers and supporters of the Manhattan Declaration seeking to have a significant impact on their culture?

Sound doctrinal beliefs regarding the sanctity of life, biblical marriage, and religious expression and the firm expression of them through the Manhattan Declaration seems to be the right tactic.

Um, what’s the deal with this Manhattan Declaration obsession? Especially in relation to the topic of this post on Wilberforce, emphasizing such a Declaration within churches that are decreasingly emphasizing doctrine seems to be the wrong tactic.

Yes. Quite so. I was specifically thinking of Eric Metaxas in my prior comment and his article in the most recent issue of The City about Wilberforce and the Clapham Circle.

Wilberforce, discipleship of the mind, engaging and persuading “the elites of our culture” …

all demonstrated by a good number of intellectually-disciplined Christians supporting and signing the Manhattan Declaration to engage and persuade the cultural elites about the sanctity of life, biblical marriage, and religious liberty.

Eric Metaxas makes a similar point in interviews surrounding the Amazing Grace movie release. Christians affect the culture by pouring ourselves into the discipleship of the mind and engaging and persuading the “elites” of our culture. We must engage and defeat the prevalent lies within our culture on their own ground. This takes seriousness of purpose and the discipline to persevere and not give ground. It also takes a winsome and genuine love for the people who oppose us.

If we needed any reminder of what an extraordinary figure Wilberforce was, this is a good one.

He would have heartily approved and supported the Manhattan Declaration.

Here’s Peter Lilback, President of Westminster Theological Seminary, exhorting folks to sign the Manhattan Declaration.