Book Reviewed by Michelle D. Basich,
Ventura, CA.
Red Letter Christians
Tony Campolo, Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2008.
Over the past couple of decades, evangelical Christians have been associated with the religious right and the most conservative positions of the Republican Party. Rebelling against this designation are those who prefer to be called Red Letter Christians, desiring to live out the red letters of Jesus’ words in the New Testament. Believing that Jesus is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, these individuals transcend partisan politics and concentrate on issues viewed critically through a moral and biblical lens.
Into this arena of thought steps Tony Campolo, the powerful evangelist known for his passionate and prophetic sharing of the radical message of Jesus. In Red Letter Christians, Campolo examines many of the hot-button issues facing evangelicals from the perspective of Jesus’ red-letter words in the Bible. These include the environment, war, the AIDS crisis, Palestine, education, gun control, the role of government and choosing the right kind of candidate. No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, Campolo will make you think and pray and act.
In Red Letter Christians, readers will discover:
• Why no political party has the corner on truth
• A Red Letter Christians’ voting guide
• Why Christians should avoid being tied to a political party
• The problem of partisan politics
• The importance of being politically active
• Why being an evangelical does not mean you’re a conservative Republican
Campolo is professor emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, founder of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education (EAPE), Associate Pastor of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia, and author of 35 books.
