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However, University of Missouri professor Carl H. Esbeck, who helped draft the document, said it was most important to deal with the United States government before criticizing other nations. "You first get your own house ready before you even have standing to be heard by others," Esbeck said. "We need to reclaim among the Muslim community our position of strength, our position of integrity."

Esbeck said the document was framed in order to encourage the United States to act in a way that honors civil rights and the sanctity of human life. "Since the Christian worldview speaks to the totality of reality, this speaks to the reality in which we live."

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An executive summary of 'An Evangelical Declaration Against Torture: Protecting Human Rights in an Age of Terror' is available at the Evangelicals for Human Rights website.

At the meeting, the NAE also reaffirmed "For the Health of the Nation: An Evangelical Call to Public Engagement," which it adopted in 2003.

Related articles include:

Evangelicals Condemn Torture | The National Association of Evangelicals has endorsed an anti-torture statement. (Associated Press)

U.S. evangelicals slam torture in war on terrorism | A major U.S. association of evangelical Christians has condemned torture by the U.S. military and reaffirmed its commitment to environmental activism, positions that highlight broader splits in a movement associated with conservative causes (Reuters)

Evangelical Christians attack use of torture by US | Statement on torture suggested a new determination on the part of the evangelical churches to detach themselves from the Republican party and stake their independence (The Guardian, London)

Ethicist: NAE torture declaration 'irrational' | An anti-torture statement endorsed by the National Association of Evangelicals "is a moral travesty managing not only to confuse but to harm genuine evangelical witness in the culture," says Daniel R. Heimbach, professor of Christian ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Baptist Press)

NAE Leaders Advance Broad Agenda with Landmark Document on Human Rights and Torture | The board of directors of the National Association of Evangelicals advanced a broad public agenda at its annual meeting this week (Press release, NAE)

Other Christianity Today articles on torture, cruel and degrading treatment, and prison abuse, are available in our full coverage area. The articles include:

5 Reasons Torture is always Wrong | And why there should be no exceptions.(January 27, 2006)

Front Line Dilemma | Christians in intelligence services are conflicted over the use of torture. (January 30, 2006)

Silence on Suffering | Where are the voices from the Christian community on cruel and degrading treatment of detainees? By Gary A. Haugen (Oct. 17, 2005)

The Evil In Us | Prisoner torture in Iraq exposes the ordinary face of human depravity. A Christianity Today editorial (June 10, 2004)

I Was in Prison and You Abused Me | What would Jesus do at Abu Ghraib? By Steven Gertz (May 28, 2004)

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March (Web-only) 2007, Vol. 51