“Whereas the Jesus of scripture wants to change the world, the Jesus that we invent in the American society approves of the world the way it is; he legitimates the social order. It becomes the OK world. And as a matter of fact, once we use Jesus to legitimate the society, youth leaders are basically prostituted into being people who are not so much individuals bringing people into a radical commitment to Christ as much as they are instruments for socializing young people into the American cultural lifestyle. And we have to move beyond that. Our call is not to make people into disciples of Uncle Sam, but into disciples of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” – Anthony Campolo (audio: “It’s Friday, Sunday’s Comin”)
“The Jesus of scripture is not satisfied with America. He wants to change it.” – ibid
“When people are changed by the Holy Spirit, they become instruments that attack the evils of the social systems in which we live.” – ibid
Speaking about corporations as well as government: “You see, we all know how to preach against the sins of the drug addict, the drunk, and the guy that’s in the gutter – don’t we? – we know how to call their sins to account and say ‘Look at them!’. But we don’t know how to call the sins of those who are powerful and rich into attention.” – ibid
“I have three things I’d like to say today: First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don’t give a shit. What’s worse is that you’re more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.” – Campolo, in several speeches
Excellent article on campolo [here]
