(CP) Tony Campolo, a bestselling writer, teacher and evangelist preacher known for championing a movement called “Red Letter Christianity,” has died. He was 89.
Campolo’s death was announced on his Facebook page on Tuesday evening. The message to his friends and followers said the notable preacher “died at his home in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania,” where he was “surrounded by his family and family members.”
“His life was a testament to faith, love, and the transformative power of relationships, and his influence might be felt for generations to return,” the announcement added.
“For greater than six many years, as a pastor, distinguished professor, mesmerizing public speaker, and prolific writer, Tony touched countless lives all over the world along with his hopeful message of social justice, love, and reconciliation.”
Shane Claiborne, a progressive Christian activist and writer, conveyed his condolences on his X account, describing Campolo as “a pricey friend and brother.”
“Tony Campolo has been my partner in ministry for the past 20+ years at [Red Letter Christians]. I’ll miss him something fierce, but I do know there’s a celebration on the opposite side,” tweeted Claiborne.
“I do not have rather more to say straight away. But I’ll soon. Thanks for all of the love and condolences being poured out from all over the world. Grateful for all of the lives he touched through the years.”
Born on Feb. 25, 1935, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Campolo was known for his charismatic preaching, years of labor as a professor, and social activism, especially among the many needy.
For nearly 40 years, Campolo led a bunch often called the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, which he launched to assist serve communities in need. He retired from his position within the organization in 2014.
In 2007, Campolo helped to found a bunch called Red Letter Christians, named such because in some published versions of the Bible, Jesus’ words are printed in red fairly than black ink.
“We consider within the black letters, too, and are convinced the entire Bible is God’s word. But Jesus is the lens through which we interpret the Bible, and the lens through which we interpret the world we live in,” stated the group’s website.
“It’s clear that a number of the loudest voices of Christianity haven’t been essentially the most beautiful voices. And a number of the most beautiful voices have not had the amplification they deserve. The way we modify the narrative is by changing the narrators.”
The movement was not without its critics, amongst them Mark Tooley of the theologically conservative Institute on Religion & Democracy, who believed that the movement’s reasoning was “destructive and dangerous since it implies the entire of Scripture is lower than reliable and that modern individuals in a single culture can singularly reinterpret or reject historic Christian ethical teaching without counsel of universal Church.”
“So just a few words from Jesus supposedly mandate unlimited welfare state, opposition to military, gun abolition, etc.,” said Tooley in an interview with The Christian Post in 2016.
“Meanwhile, too often historic Church teachings about abortion or homosexuality are dismissed because Jesus didn’t specifically address it.”
For his part, Campolo defended Red Letters Christians, telling CP in a 2016 interview that there was “no doubt that the morality prescribed by Jesus is superior to anything that was hitherto suggested by the law and the prophets.”
“I would like to at all times add that the early Church did not have a New Testament, but what they were in a position to do under the influence of the Holy Spirit is to search out the message and the story of Jesus written all through the law and the prophets of the Old Testament,” said Campolo.
“In short, the Scriptures that were written before the New Testament point to Jesus and so they are crucially necessary for us to know Jesus.”
Campolo garnered controversy for a number of the ideological stances he took over the past few years, including his belief that churches should fully accept same-sex romantic relationships.
While coming to reject the label “Evangelical,” Campolo told CP in an earlier interview that he still held a “very traditional” view on salvation, rejecting accusations that he was a universalist.
“I feel that when Jesus died on the cross that He took upon Himself the sins of people that will repent and trust in Him for his or her salvation. I feel within the penal substitutionary doctrine of the atonement,” Campolo explained.
“I’m still an Evangelical in terms of faith practices and faith beliefs. What I’m trying to speak, and I believe plenty of people would agree with me, is that the word ‘Evangelical’ has turn into politicized in a way that causes a few of us to be alarmed.”
In addition to his activism and preaching, Campolo was a college member on the University of Pennsylvania, a professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University and the writer of over 30 books.
Campolo is survived by his wife, Peggy, whom he was married to for over 65 years, two children, 4 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
