R. C. Sproul's Take on the Mahattan Declaration

Here's R. C.'s explanation as to why he doesn't feel like he can sign the Manhattan Declaration.  The issue is the confusion of the gospel with natural law.  Couldn't agree more. 

http://www.ligonier.org/blog/the-manhattan-declaration/

Comments

[Robin]

"The Roman Catholic Church has a long history of using studied ambiguity in order to win over opponents. Let me be unambiguous: Without a clear understanding of sola fide and the doctrine of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, you do not have the gospel or gospel unity (1 Cor. 1:17; 2 Cor. 5:21). The ECT initiative repeatedly avowed that the signatories had a unity of faith in the gospel. This included Roman Catholic signers who affirm the canons and decrees of the sixteenth-century Council of Trent, which anathematizes sola fide. I believe there are true and sincere Christians within the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox churches. But these people are Christians in spite of their church’s official doctrinal positions."

I think this is a valuable point indeed.

r.

[steve]

Exactly - doesn't it seem like we've been through all this already with ect?

[Mark Priestap]

Yep. Chris Rosebrough (Rosey LaRose) had a good show about it recently and came to the same conclusion. So grateful for discerning men like ya'll to help me make sense of this stuff.

[Zrim]

The gospel confusion is glaring. But if one can get past the sun spots there is another interesting dimension to these ECT/MD type projects: if the point is to police the world with wagging finger (something 1 Cor 5 has something to say about, by the way), what gives with the narrow and repetitive band of concerns? The world is full of all manner of ailments beyond the top two favored concerns of cultural conservatives. But how conservative can they really be when they don’t recognize the limits of the church’s mission?

[Matt]

I am saddened by the fact that Bryan Chapell has signed this document. As the president of Covenant Seminary, this action will undoubtedly have consequences. I only wish he had consulted Sproul and Horton before doing so.

[Pat T.]

seen the light...MD is bad doc, bad doc, do not sign, do not sign.

[Pat T.]

Well, I have listened to a lengthy interview with J. Ligon Duncan, President of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (ACE), on why he signed the document! The interview is on "Knowing the Truth" radio program with Kevin Boling. When I initially read the MD, I interpreted it as does J. Ligon Duncan.
So, again, I am a minority voice on this blog. Blast away!