Tony Campolo

For our meeting on 10th June a couple of us went to hear Tony Campolo speak at Westminster Central Hall. This was part of Premier Radio's birthday celebrations.

He spoke about power and authority and what characterises these two ways of being/leading. He felt that power was always cooercive, if someone has power you do what they say becasue they have the ability to punish you or force you. In contract someone with authority is followed because people regognise that they are right. He felt that Jesus was someone who had power and authority, but chose to give up his power and seek to persude people thorough his exercise of authority, which comes from his love and sacrifical vunerablity.

He felt that at times the church tried to get political influence (ie. power) when it should be trying to gain authority through the exercise of loving service.

(Doug if you have anything to add please do...)

Tony Campolo

Jesus the Jew

At the house group on 27th May we watched an episode of a Channel 4 series - 'The History of Christianity'. This episode was fronted by Howard Jacobson, an atheist Jew. He looked at the Jewish of Jesus and the disciples. The programme also explored the history of Jews and Christians and how for a long time Christians blamed Jews for the death of Jesus and how this has lead to persecution of and discrimination against Jews.

It was interesting to get an 'outsiders' view of Jesus. Jacobson was ultimately impressed with the Jesus he saw in the Gospels, with the message that he was preaching. He was less taken with the Church!