All In the Family?

June 16, 2011 by Becky Garrison

Continued from Page 1

Campolo notes the emergence of a new group of followers who seek to emulate "the Family":

There is an emerging group of young followers of Christ who call themselves Red Letter Christians. They are very much in line with the Fellowship in that they are trying to balance the strong emphasis that evangelicals have on the theology of St. Paul, with the lifestyle prescribed by Jesus that is found in those red letters in the Bible. I am not sure that the theology and lifestyle prescribed by the Fellowship is much different from that of Red Letter Christians.

So using this logic, one "could" conclude Campolo and his Red Letter Christians group do not have a problem with "the Family's" involvement in say promoting the recent Ugandan "Kill the Gays" bill. Perhaps a few of those who market themselves as "Red Letter Christians" will speak up and offer their insights regarding Campolo's perceptions of their group. However, I suspect that since almost all of this progressive crew failed to speak up when Sojourners rejected a gay welcome ad, that once again, they will choose the path of least resistance. In the 1960s, these evangelicals showed remarkable courage when they broke away from their more conservative brethren in the fight to end segregation. But yet they remain silent when it comes to extending the civil rights to LGBT people, not to mention their less-than-stellar record on women's rights.

Elie Wiesel, Nobel laureate, author, and activist, rebuffs those who remain silent in the face of injustice.

I swore never to be silent whenever wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must—at that moment—become the center of the universe.

Fellow Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu articulates the need to stand up for LGBT people as a matter of ordinary justice.

We struggled against apartheid in South Africa, supported by people the world over, because black people were being blamed and made to suffer for something we could do nothing about—our very skin. It is the same with sexual orientation. It is a given. I could not have fought against the discrimination of apartheid and not also fight against the discrimination that homosexuals endure, even in our churches and faith groups.

Now, can I get an "Amen"?

Portions of this article were excerpted from Jesus Died for This?

Page: 2 of 2

6/16/2011 4:00:00 AM

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