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Tony Campolo Profile
Posted by: AdminMagill on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 11:48 PM |
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Ministry & Church
Professor of Sociology and Director of the Urban Studies Programme at Eastern College (American Baptist) in St. David’s, California.
Associate Pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Philadelphia.
Beliefs & Key Doctrines
Claims to be evangelical.
Described by some evangelists as a theological liberal and a New Age pantheist. Often favourably cites social and theological radicals such as Karl Marx, Paul Tillich, Martin Buber and Teilard deChardin.
Ministry Emphasis
Believes that Christians should be in the vanguard of social issues.
Books Authored
- A Reasonable Faith
- Partly Right
- Wake Up America
- Twenty Hot Potatoes
Known Associates
- Was a personal advisor to President Bill Clinton
Mentor
Unknown.
Strengths
An intelligent and articulate speaker who has ministered to a wide range of Christian organisations.
Weaknesses
Campolo’s teaching is unbiblical.
Truth Watch: Assessment / Warning
Although Dr. Tony Campolo claims to be a Christian, accepts the major Christian creeds and states the Bible is infallible for faith and practice, an examination of his ministry warrant the accusation of many evangelicals, that he is consistently unbiblical in his teaching.
In his book A Reaonable Faith the pantheistic statement is made that the resurrected Jesus of history is actually present in each person, whether Christian or not. To quote; “I do not mean that others represent Jesus for us. I mean that Jesus is actually present in each other person.” (P 192).
In a question about sin he responded that he “believes in this Jesus thing.” When asked about what sin needs to be forgiven Campolo stated sin against others whom he has hurt, that’s why he goes to Jesus and then feels himself relieved. There was no reference regarding sin against God or our fallen nature.
In regard to other ways to salvation Campolo states “that Jesus is the only way that I know.” However when pressed about possible other routes he replied “I am not going to make a judgement about anyone else,” and “ if God chooses to be gracious to people outside my faith, that’s God’s business, not mine.” This view contradicts the Scripture – how can anyone be saved “unless they hear”?
Campolo can accept a “creative evolution” but does not like the ethical connotation of evolution on the grounds that it implies power is inherrent to the survival of the fittest. He makes no reference to scriptural or scientific evidence discounting evolution. Yet, in contradiction to this, Campolo declared that “Jesus wants the moral not the strong to survive.” He believes in “a Jesus that expresses his love on the cross and like Jesus, Ghandi and Martin Luther King, their love altered the course of human existence.” Even here – Jesus is reduced to another ‘good’ teacher who shows us God’s love.
On the question of homosexuality Campolo acknowledges that according to the Bible it is a sin. However, he does not consider that this position should be politicised and that he would protect the right for people to do whatever they wish in private, without interference from anybody else. A reference is made to his “gay brothers and sisters.” Campolo seriously undermines the clear Scriptural position on this issue.
This mixture of biblically based confessions and unbiblical teaching make Campolo a dangerous man to the undiscerning.
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