Former adviser to President Bill Clinton and lifelong evangelical Baptist Pastor Tony Campolo has now endorsed the church’s acceptance of homosexuality. Stating that it has taken him hours of “prayerful study” and emotional agonizing to come to his new conclusions, Campolo’s change is a dramatic reversal of his formerly held position!
For some time, Peggy Campolo has supported monogamous, same-sex relationships, and believes that marriages should be recognized in the church for both heterosexual and homosexual couples. For years, the Campolos have spoken publicly about their differences on the issue.
This confusing shift by the 80 year old minister will no doubt add fuel to an already raging fire of support for the aberrant lifestyle and those who support it! Most disturbing is the fact that the Scripture predicts just such changes in the last days. 2 Thessalonians 2: 3, clearly states, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first…” The words “falling away” come from the Greek word “apostasia”, from which we get the English word “apostasy.” The term actually refers to a “falling away” from a prior held position of truth! Campolo’s strange and unbiblical shift is a fulfillment of that apocalyptic prediction!
The question that demands an answer is “why” would an aged minister take such a stance? Perhaps the answer is no more difficult that this. First, his wife has supported this stance for years. The old saying, “If mama ain’t happy, there ain’t nobody happy” could explain a lot! To share your life, love, and lifestyle with an individual who holds as dramatically different a position on this important issue has to be a challenge, especially for two people who have been so visible and vocal. Second, Mr. Campolo is 80 years old. Though not necessarily always the case (and it need NEVER be so), when a man ages in the ministry, it is often quite easy to justify an unscriptural position merely because one grows weary of the fight! For a man desiring to end his ministry in peace and on a positive note, Campolo may be indicating his willingness to place his legacy above God’s unwavering truth!
The bottom line is this! At a time when unflinching commitment to truth on ALL subjects, especially God’s definition of marriage, Campolo’s choice could not come a a worse time! This tragic scenario underscores the absolute necessity for all genuine men of God to stand where God stands on this issue! Men, may we NEVER compromise God’s clarion truth for the sake of temporary, legacy-building motivations! Though one might gain approval here on earth for such decisions, that man/woman will never procure the approval of the One Who really matters–the Sovereign God of heaven!!
Dave Kistler
President, HOPE Ministries International
President, North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN)