Letters to a Young Evangelical

by Campolo, Tony

• ISBN13: 9780465008315
• ISBN10: 0465008313
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-11-27
• Publisher: Basic Books

Summary

Named byChristianity Todayas one of the twentyfive most influential preachers of the last fifty years, best-selling author Tony Campolo has spent decades calling on readers and audiences around the world to live their faith through committed activism. A tireless crusader for human rights and the eradication of world poverty, Campolo is a "Red Letter" Christian--he reminds us that when Jesus spoke, he spoke of social justice. But the Religious Right and social conservatives have hijacked His message in the name of Republican politics. They have corrupted the faith by ignoring the true message of Christ and focusing instead on narrow "wedge" issues to win political campaigns. InLetters to a Young Evangelical, Campolo calls on evangelicals of all ages to reject the false pieties of the Religious Right. With his trademark candor and wit, he offers sage advice to seekers who are trying to live their faith in a modern world that is politically polarized and predominantly secular. He is unafraid to touch on the hot-button topics that divide believers in America and around the world: abortion, gay rights, war, capital punishment, feminism, and the environment. An activist, a visionary, and a man of deep faith, Tony Campolo offers guidance not only for young evangelicals, but for seekers of all ages and faiths.

Author Biography

Tony Campolo is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University in St. David’s, Pennsylvania. He holds a Ph.D. from Temple University and previously served for ten years on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. He is the founder of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education (EAPE), which nurtures and supports programs for “at-risk” children in cities across the United States and Canada. An ordained minister, Campolo lives with his wife Peggy in St. David’s, Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
Introduction: Why These Letters	1	(134)
1 Welcome!	9	(11)
2 The Gospel According to Us	20	(8)
3 Becoming Actualized Christians	28	(14)
4 Why We Witness	42	(13)
5 How We Witness	55	(12)
6 Why the Church Is Important	67	(13)
7 Getting High on Jesus	80	(19)
8 History with a Happy Ending	99	(20)
9 Being Rescued from Fundamentalism	119	(16)
10 Transcending Partisan Politics	135	(12)
11 Abortion as a Defining Issue	147	(11)
12 Being Straight but Not Narrow	158	(16)
13 Loving Muslims in a Fear-Filled World	174	(8)
14 Becoming Blessed Peacemakers	182	(11)
15 Women and the Church	193	(8)
16 Creation Care	201	(11)
17 Living in Secular America	212	(13)
18 Escaping the American Babylon	225	(17)
19 A Work Ethic for Evangelical Radicals	242	(11)
20 Living Out the Great Commission	253	(21)
21 The Need for Feedback from the Twilight Zone	274