Foolish Things
When Red Is Blue
Though I own several Bibles with the words of Christ printed in red, I've always found the concept a bit iffy. After all, we evangelicals believe in the plenary, or full, inspiration of Scripture, don't we? Setting off Jesus' sayings this way seems to imply that they are more holy than what is printed in ordinary black ink. Sure, Christians understand that Jesus the incarnate Word fulfills the written Word. But if all Scripture is God-breathed, then in principle Jesus' inscripturated statements are no more God's Word to us than are those from Peter, Paul, and Mary—or Ezekiel.
That's why I felt a bit queasy when I heard about a group calling itself "Red-Letter Christians." In the book Letters to a Young Evangelical, Tony Campolo says RLCs have an "intense desire to be faithful to the words of Jesus as recorded in the New Testament." That's a worthy start, of course—but only that.
This approach sounds reminiscent of a problem dividing the church in Corinth. Hear some cogent words printed, unfortunately, in black letters: "What I mean is that each one of you says, 'I follow Paul,' or 'I follow Apollos,' or 'I follow Cephas,' or 'I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided?" RLCs seem to say they have found a higher truth.
No doubt Campolo, a wonderful evangelist and professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University, would demur. But while in no way denying the genuine desire of RLCs to be faithful to Christ, it seems to me that the key color here is not red, but blue.
Campolo insists RLCs are strictly nonpartisan. "We are people who want to assure that Jesus is neither defined as a Republican nor a Democrat," he recently told the Associated Baptist Press. "When asked about party affiliation, the Red-Letter Christian is prone ...
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Foolish Things
Stan Guthrie
Stan Guthrie is an editor at large for Christianity Today and author of Missions in the Third Millennium and All That Jesus Asks. His column, "Foolish Things," ran from 2006 to 2007.
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Rick
One star for Guthrie and 5 for Tony. I am neither red nor blue, my allegiance is to God. Yes that allgeiance is way above my country and the hyper-political times we live. Increasingly I am disgusted by the two parties and most elected and public officials, as they pander to monied interest. My prayer is that I could turn my back on it all and concentrate on what is means to not only beleive but to follow in obediance without my culture, nation, or even what I desire affecting my becoming a follower of Jesu Christ ... a kingdom person.
Shayne
If Jesus really did replace ANY of the teachings of Moses, whether on marriage or diet or when to worship, then, by God's own definition in Deuteronomy 13, Jesus is a false prophet. He can be a false prophet or He can be the Messiah. He can't be both. We should study the Gopels through the lens of the Torah.... NOT the other way around. The Torah is the foundation of all God-Breathed Scripture.
cmrk3
The issue is not whether Christianity is Republican or Democrat (this is a side issue)- it is whether evangelical Christianity is pro-poor or pro-rich, blind to the needs of minorities or racially integrated, pro-war or pro-peace, sexist or non-sexist, progressive or old fashioned, pro-tattoo or anti-tattoo, pro-environment or anti-environment, pro-life or pro-death, right or wrong. If Christianity encourages people to be self destructive and greedy - why believe in it?
Ian Stewart
Dear Stan, I find that you seem to be of the quite strong left. I am writing from Australia and we have many issues here similar to your own. My views on your "know which lever to pull" are: I agree with increases in government spending to assist the poor and needy. Increasing the minimum wage would help. It is so pathetically low in USA (and even lower in Samoa where Nancy Pelosi's constituent has their fish canning factory). There might be global warming but man's contributions are less than 10%. The UK judge debunked Al Gore's movie quite sufficiently enough for me to see what a sham it is. What are school vouchers? I believe that homosexuality in all its forms is wrong and is fully condemned in both testaments. By all means have compassion for homosexuals but their lifestyle can't be supported. Doubly so for ordained ministers and bishops. I believe in abortion in the case of a rape victim or if the mother's life is at stake. I know which lever to pull!! Best regards.
F. Joseph Merlino
That Christ's words were a challenge to those of his time is why they killed him. That Christ's words are are challenge to us today is why we dismiss them by associating those who attempt to act upon them with an unpopular political figure or party. It is crucifixion by association. And in so doing, we become the same stone throwers that Jesus condemned as hypocrits. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, not Paul, not Peter, not Moses, not any prophet, not any vicar, not any human.