(Christian News Network) — In an online interview that has been now viewed close to 80,000 times in just a few days, several Asbury students and an adjunct professor joined false teacher Tony Campolo’s pro-gay, progressive protégé, Shane Claiborne, to discuss what many are calling a “revival” at Asbury University on the YouTube channel for “Red Letter Christians”—a group headed by Campolo and Claiborne.
According to the Red Letter Christians (RLC) website, Tony Campolo, 87, a well-known self-identifying evangelical speaker and author who came out in support for “full acceptance” of homosexuality in the Church in 2015, is “professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University and a former faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania,” and, “[f]or 40 years, led the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education.”
The site states that RLC “began in 2007 as a community of Christian authors and speakers meeting for a time of fellowship to discuss the pressing issues of the day,” and then, in December 2010, “co-founders Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne launched a blog as a home for the RLC network of speakers and authors to promote,” what they call, “Red Letter living.”
The video, published to the RLC YouTube channel on February 12, called “Update from the Asbury University Revival” is a part of the duo’s YouTube channel and has attracted tens of thousands of views—far beyond any other views of the other videos posted on the RLC channel.
Claiborne (Campolo not present) talked about what is happening at Asbury in the now viral video—starting the interview by speaking to two university students, who would only be identified as “Leena” and “Lauren”, followed by another student, Asher Braughton.
During the interview, Leena said that she was a part of the gospel choir at the service that led to the “student-led revival”—later stating that she is “transitioning from using the word revival” to “an encounter”, which has been attracting people from across the country to take part in the ongoing meetings.
After the students explained what led up to the event, Claiborne brought on Asbury University adjunct professor, Clint Baldwin, to discuss the course of events from his perspective. Baldwin is the husband of Sarah Baldwin; she identifies as a “pastor” and is the Vice President of Student Life & Dean of Students at Asbury University.
The interview surrounded only the events occurring at Asbury with no mention of homosexuality, though Claiborne did note some on his progressive views at the end of the video.
“We’re part of a great cloud of witnesses. Not only of the ones who have gone before, but, right here, Asher and Leena, and all of us together, right, that have been on this call. We’re all part of this great cloud of witnesses, and it is the Lord’s. We are the Lord’s. That’s what it’s all about, so.” Baldwin stated. “Shane, thank you for facilitating this time to share the good work of the Lord.”
“Yeah, and we’ll keep doing it y’all. We’re gonna keep trying to lean in everywhere that we see the spirit of God moving, even if that’s marching in the streets for racial justice, if it’s grieving the life of, you know, someone killed by the death penalty or by the police or whatever,” Claiborne followed in his conclusion and encouraged those watching to “keep in touch with Red Letter Christians.”
It is unknown on how Claiborne was able to so quickly arrange the interview with a number of students and the professor. However, in a follow-up video reposted on Clint Baldwin’s personal Facebook page on February 14 from Shane Claiborne’s official public figure Facebook page, Baldwin calls Claiborne a “friend” and linked the Facebook pages of both Shane Claiborne and the Red Letter Christians.
“Had a grand time today sharing about the current outpouring of Holy Love at Asbury University with my friend Shane Claiborne today on a Red Letter Christians call,” the adjunct professor stated in promoting the video discussion.
Christian News Network reached out to Asbury University’s Director of Strategic Communications Abby Laub several days ago for comment when the video had only amassed 7,000 views—which is now quickly approaching 80,000 views. After addressing the matter surrounding false teacher Todd Bentley coming to the campus, she explained that she was not aware of the Shane Claiborne interview with students and the professor, requesting a link to review it. Laub, however, was subsequently not able to be reached for further comment nor was adjunct professor Clint Baldwin, who took part in the interview.
In an video interview entitled “What does Shane Claiborne think about gay marriage?”, Claiborne told Premier Christianity editor Sam Hailes that he is supportive of those engaged in the homosexual lifestyle who identify as Christians.
“Tony Campolo, who you work with on Red Letter Christians, he has had a well-publicized change of mind on that particular issue. On gay marriage, he would now say that God would affirm loving, committed same-sex relationships,” Hailes stated.
“So, I wanted to ask you, have you been on journey similar to Tony? Would you hold a traditional perspective on that, or have you, like Tony, changed your mind and would say that God would be in favor of committed same-sex relationships?” Hailes asked Claiborne.
After speaking on how differences on the issue of homosexuality are dividing, Claiborne answered with support.
“There’s only, like, 6 or 7 verses of the Bible that talk about same-sex attraction or relationships, sexual relationships, and they’re very different from how we’re talking about monogamous, equal relationships of life-long partners, that was a foreign idea to those contexts, which were more about abuse and exploitation of men and women in those situations, you know…,” Claiborne stated.
“So, at the end of the day, I know that Christians who love Jesus, who love the Bible, can arrive in different places. I believe a tree is known by its fruit. I have friends that are in life-long monogamous partnerships with the same gender, and the fruit of their life looks like Jesus. It looks like everything that I know that is beautiful, and I celebrate that with them,” Claiborne told Hailes.
On June 8, 2015, Tony Campolo announced that he had changed his mind on homosexuality and that practicing homosexuals should be accepted and welcomed into the Church.
“It has taken countless hours of prayer, study, conversation and emotional turmoil to bring me to the place where I am finally ready to call for the full acceptance of Christian gay couples into the Church,” Campolo wrote in his announcement that was published on his site with the tagline: “The Positive Prophet of Red Letter Christianity.”
Campolo’s wife, Peggy, has been a long-time homosexual activist with her husband joining her in the pushing for “full acceptance” of sin in the Church.
Both Claiborne and Campolo’s teachings run afoul of the clear teachings of Scripture in regard to homosexuality.
The Scripture declares in Romans 1:16-32:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
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