Prominent Christian spokesman, Dr. Tony Campolo of Eastern University in suburban Philadelphia, brings his wit, critical-thinking and communication skills to Airdrie’s Town & Country Centre on Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. The popular sociology professor’s visit is being co-sponsored by World Vision Canada and several of Airdrie’s churches.
Campolo’s perspectives on developments of international import are consistently sought by U.S. presidents and other world leaders. Author of some 35 books, he makes regular appearances on prominent media networks like CBC, CTV, CTS and BBC as well as on news-shows such as 60 Minutes, Good Morning America and Nightline on networks in his own country.
Seldom inclined to dodge controversy, Campolo has earned a solid reputation as a friendly critic of the church world and of some of the thinking that holds sway therein. For example, he boldly declares: “I am not about to put homosexuality into some kind of ‘super-sin’ category. It does not warrant the special kind of condemnation that has become increasingly common in the Christian community.” With respect to popular culture in the United States, he’s written: “These days, God seems to have become a deity owned by the Republican Party” and “it is often impossible to distinguish between politics and religion today.”
Campolo’s passion for social justice and other teachings of Jesus Christ are the bedrock of his views. He regularly travels the world observing firsthand the ravages of war, famine and poverty. Accordingly, he doesn’t hesitate whatsoever to tell North Americans who regularly spend $4 or $5 on a cup of specialty coffee that we should stop calling ourselves Christians if we don’t also give at least a dollar a day to support an impoverished child in the third world.
“The Jesus described on all too many (religious) television shows and pulpits is a white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant American,” Tony writes. “Instead of seeing all people on earth as being created in God’s image, we seem to have recreated God in our own image. Too many of us make God into a deity who looks just like us and incarnates our values. And because the God we’ve created is exactly like us and affirms how we live, we seem comfortable with the wasteful affluence of our society.”
Everyone is invited to this Sunday’s event for a timely challenge from a world-class spokesman and humanitarian – admission is free.
Tim is pastor at Faith Community Church. He can be reached at [email protected]
