November (Web-only) 2002

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Evangelical leaders join criticism of Chevrolet's sponsorship of Come Together & Worship Tour
Two weeks ago, when Weblog covered Chevrolet's sponsoring of the Come Together and Worship tour with Michael W. Smith, Third Day, and Max Lucado, the critics were Jewish watchdog groups like the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee. Publishers Weekly's Phyllis Tickle was a critic, too, but the main voice was the AJC's James Rudin.

But the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, and Tickle were all responding to reporters' questions. They didn't take the initiative as critics. Now, however, some voices are proactively criticizing the Chevrolet sponsorship. And — surprise — they're evangelical leaders.

Perhaps most critical is Christian singer Steve Camp. "Undiscerning believers think it a profound ministry strategy to join forces with unregenerate people in forwarding the gospel," he wrote in a six-page open letter to the contemporary Christian music community. "Unwittingly, they harness Jesus Christ, the Worthy One, with Belial or Satan, the worthless one, in an unholy alliance—the very essence of being unequally yoked. … Allowing the world to sponsor and partner in the work of the ministry is foreign to any biblical writer. I don't know of any other singular event that has allowed the world to conduct its business or trade where the worship of the Lord is to be given and the gospel proclaimed. … Has the church traded the great theme of 'Holy, Holy, Holy' and adopted as their new song of praise, 'Like a rock'?"

But Camp isn't just critical of the sponsorship. He's upset with the tour itself; specifically, that it's charging an admission fee. "We have now actually digressed to charging people money to ...