On the second day of the New Baptist Covenant Celebration we had the joy of hearing Tony Campolo speak to us. He began with the challenge to preach Christ, but which one. We were reminded that the Bible tells us that others will try to trick us into believing they are prophets. The truth is that they are false prophets. We are called to preach the Jesus of the scriptures. Campolo said that the Jesus of the scripture challenges us to live radical lives and get our values straightened out.
I felt challenged by the story that he shared of the Lawyer versus the Doctor. Campolo tells of one former student that he had that was one of the brightest students he ever had. This student went on to law school and was in the top of his class. He could have opened his own practice but instead he moved to Southern Alabama and practices law representing inmates of the jails that would otherwise have no one to even care about them. He compared this lawyer to another student he had. This student went on a mission trip to South America with Campolo. He saw the lives of the poor people there and said that he was going to come back to that place and practice medicine. After medical school this doctor opened his own practice in New York and was in the practice of giving breast implants. When Campolo saw him years later he asked him about the commitment he had once made to going and helping those poor people. The doctor said, well I am helping people. Campolo said no son, you sold out. One went on to help people truly in need, the other completely forgot about his commitment.
Jesus called us to take up our cross and follow him. He wasn't kidding when he said this.
Campolo gave us a few challenges and shared stories of why he belonged to a black church, including the "Goodnight Clarence" story. The final challenge from Campolo came in his words:
"Rise up you suckers and go out and do the work of Jesus."
What a challenge we are called to. Let's rise up suckers.
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