Approximately 150 evangelical Christian, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox leaders have taken a stand for Christ and Christian values by signing the “Manhattan Declaration.” The document,  signed on November 20, 2009, is an example to members of their denominations and others to keep defending three main biblical principles: the sanctity of human life; traditional marriage by the Bible’s definition of one man and one woman; and freedom of religious expression.

The Manhattan Declaration is subtitled “A Call of Christian Conscience.” Regarding the assault in American society and the current government against the above three values, the text states:
“…we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their [the three values] defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them.”

According to a Florida Baptist Witness Newspaper editorial by Editor James A. Smith, the authors of the Declaration are Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship; Timothy George, a Southern Baptist minister and dean of Alabama’s Beeson Divinity School, and Robert P. George, a Princeton University professor of jurisprudence.

The group is not politically affiliated. The Declaration states the signers’  unconditional commitment is to Christ only, and recommends acts of civil disobedience when absolutely necessary (see the Summary of the Manhattan Declaration in the paragraph “Unjust Laws”).

The Manhattan Declaration clarifies that its followers will not stand by or comply with any edict that enables mistreatment of human life from the unborn to the elderly, including abortion, euthanasia or destruction of human embryos for research; will not bless immoral sexual partnerships, and will not be silenced on the grounds of religious objection.
 
The Summary ends with this succinct statement: “We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God’s.”

This echoes the Hebrew leader Joshua’s call to faith: “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:14-16, NIV).

When the apostle Peter was given strict orders by the governing body, the Sanhedrin, to stop preaching in the name of Christ, he declared “We must obey God, not men” (Acts 5).

Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. also advocated civil (peaceful) disobedience for the Civil Rights movement and accomplished much in this manner. He stood on the fact that all men are created equal, both in the Declaration of Independence and in the Gospel (Galatians 3:28-29). If all men are created equal, then Christians have the right to voice their opinion as much as anyone else. 
 
Whom will we obey as Christians? Will we silently go along with the crowd so as not to make waves, or will we stand by the signers of the Manhattan Declaration to come out and be separate as Jesus commanded?

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Feminists and political correctness advocates often ask the question, “Does the Bible put women down?” The Bible, Jesus’ words and His actions give a loud, resounding “No.”

When the “Feminist Movement” gained strength in the 1960’s, it was a fight for equal jobs, equal pay and respect for women. Absentee husbands and dads were called to task for their commitments. The second stage was women engaging in bra-burning and buying the message that casual sex would break our invisible chains. Helen Reddy’s 1972 song “I Am Woman” became the iconic feminist theme.

Next, the Feminist Movement began viewing men as unnecessary extras to their lives and to child-rearing. And the Bible was suddenly regarded as a tool for men to keep women “barefoot, pregnant and chained to the kitchen sink.” Some became convinced that the Bible even gave men a license to abuse women.

How did God’s Word become embroiled in the battle? As biblical principles in schools, government and at home began to sink below the American horizon, the bad rap on the Bible expanded. Fewer people were exposed to its pages, and simply believed what they heard when verses were twisted or eliminated for the Movement’s purpose.

The Bible doesn’t belittle women or make them second-class citizens. Jesus told Martha to get out of the kitchen and come learn the Scriptures like her sister Mary (Luke 10:38-43). We could even say he followed a woman’s orders by making wine for a wedding at his mother’s request, although He didn’t think it was time for His miracles yet (John 2:1-10). Wow. Sounds like today’s kind of guy.

When He rose from the tomb, Jesus thought enough about women to reveal Himself to them first, before any of the male disciples (Mark 16:1-7, Luke 24:1-9). As people became Christ followers, women like Priscilla were highly regarded as leaders of the faith in spreading the Gospel (Acts 18). When no man among the disciples believed Peter was free from jail, God used a woman, Rhoda, to convince them he was really knocking at their door (Acts 12).

Jesus began instructing men to stop treating women like possessions. In Matthew 5:27-31 and Mark 10:2-12, He tells men to stop committing adultery and discarding women in divorce. Isn’t this exactly one of the things the feminists originally wanted…for men to be faithful and respectful?

By saying “Anyone who has not sinned cast the first stone,” (John 8:6-8) Jesus rebuked the double standard of a woman being accused alone for adultery when a man was also involved. Plus, He gave her a clean slate and took her into His group of followers.

Jesus addressed women in public, looking them in the eye, which was not the male standard at that time. The woman at the well was the first person He spoke with in Samaria (John 4:4-14 ). He used a widow’s contribution of her last coins to illustrate sacrificial giving instead of giving out of plenty (Mark 12:41-44); and chose a woman for his story comparing the wisdom of finding one lost coin to angels singing over one saved soul (Luke 15:7-9).

There are outstanding women in the Old Testament, too. Deborah, the Judge, and Esther, the Queen, were chosen to save the entire Israelite population from their enemies. Rahab, a prostitute, sheltered Hebrew scouts instead of notifying authorities of their whereabouts. The Proverbs 31 woman worked outside the home and dealt with merchants on her own, without her husband. Ruth started the bloodline of Jesus. Whole Bible books are named for Ruth and Esther.

However, these exemplary women are often overlooked because of verses in the New Testament that are taken out of context. At the top of the list is Ephesians 5:22-24 beginning with: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Granted, there are unfortunately some men in churches who abuse this idea of “submission” to keep women suppressed, even to verbally and physically abuse them.

The seldom-read next few verses, Ephesians 5:25-26, prove these men are wrong and in violation of Scripture. The apostle Paul continued Jesus’ respect for women by telling men to love their wives as they would love their own bodies and the church. What man will beat himself black and blue, or put himself in the hospital with broken bones?

Although men are generally assigned to be heads and leaders of the church, their scriptural role is to be a servant to the people, not a deliberate dictator. Paul states in Galatians 3:28-29, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

(Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.)

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Revision Plans already Underway say Sources

The widely known and published New International Version of the Holy Bible will soon be undergoing a scholarly revision process for the first time in over 25 years, according to NIV copyright owner Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society).  As one of the most popular Bible translations of the 20^th Century, the NIV has set the standard for countless subsequent translations and Biblical commentaries and is even included in dozens of PC Study Bible computer software programs. Its impact is one that exists on a global scale via print and digital media.

The popular NIV translation of the Bible is scheduled for a revision.

Evangelical book and Bible publishing giant Zondervan, along with the CBT (Committee on Bible Translations) have additionally announced their plans to completely cut all sales of the TNIV (Today’s New International Version) translation—a translation which several conservative Christians had qualms about during its debut nearly seven years ago. Apparently, controversy surrounding the use of “gender-neutral language” caused a stir among certain large sects of conservative believers (Source: The Christian Post). According to Biblica’s official website, the goal of the TNIV was to offer “clarity in contemporary English.” When referring to people, the TNIV employs the use of gender-inclusive language, but does not refer to God with such language.

Although the original NIV was first published and marketed to the general populace in 1978, it underwent a heavy revision process in 1984. Now again, in 2009, Biblical scholars and Greek/Hebrew translators plan to revisit the ancient texts in an attempt to remain faithful to their desire for contemporariness and cultural relevancy.

Members of the NIV revision team and the CBT have not yet released any official statements revealing how they plan to handle the controversial gender language issues that will no doubt arise over the coming months.

CBT Chairman Professor Douglas Moo told The Christian Post, “The new 2011 NIV is all about maintaining and enhancing the original values of the NIV for today’s readers.”

Together, the CBT and Biblica are certainly striving for one goal above all else: accuracy. Remaining true and faithful to the words and intentions of the original authors should indeed be the goal of any and every Bible translation. Biblica and Zondervan have officially announced that the new and revised NIV translation will be published in 2011, a year that will also mark the historic 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible.

You can read more about this new revision process of the NIV at Biblica’s official website: www.biblica.com. You can learn more about the products offered by Zondervan Publishing at their official website: www.zondervan.com.

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Is it easier to spread the gospel in cultures that believe in one god or in many gods? One missions agency thinks other Christians know the answer.

World Gospel Mission, a missionary-sending agency based in Marion, Indiana, is opening up the discussion at
www.unsolvedministries.blogspot.com to talk about how monotheistic and polytheistic cultures
respond to the gospel.

"We want to help people think about some of the deeper issues of missions," said Tim Rickel, Vice President of Development.

"This one–whether people who believe in one god or in many gods affects evangelism–can have a huge impact on the way we share Jesus with them."

Polytheistic religions include Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, and tribal religions
in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Beliefs that are considered monotheistic are Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. As an international missions agency, WGM ministers to people from many religious backgrounds around the world.

"So what does this mean for the average Christian?

Well, it’s a global world we live in. I think it’s good for the church to think through these issues, because you never know when you might be able to talk to a Hindu or a Muslim about Jesus," said Rickel.

Join the conversation about reaching out to people from monotheistic or polytheistic religions at www.unsolvedministries.blogspot.com.

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According to CBNnews.com, The latest Barna Group revealed that about 60 percent of Christians believe that Satan isn’t ‘a living being,’ but ‘a symbol of evil.’

About 58 percent also said they agree or somewhat agree that the Holy Spirit is “a symbol of God’s power or presence” but not a “living entity.”

Is the prevailing view of Satan and the Holy Spirit Biblical?

Of course not.

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:8-9 that “the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith.”

And Jesus is clearly referring to the Holy Spirit and Satan when He says, “He that is in you [the Holy Spirit] is greater than he [Satan] who is the world.”

If most Christians believe that Satan is just a symbol and is not real, why would the Bible tell believers to resist an imaginary enemy?

Furthermore, if the Bible mentions that Satan and the Holy Spirit are real and some Christians believe that either one is not real, then someone is telling a falsehood. Both of them cannot be true. Either Satan and Holy Spirit are not real, or the Bible is not telling us the truth.

There are real forces out there, those forces are not imagined. They are pulling us different in directions.

Right now, you can make a choice that will affect your eternity.

What do you choose?

–James Wait, the Underground staff writer

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