By Tony Campolo and Gordon Aeschliman

It’s tough enough to have a debilitating sickness that will kill you in the near future. Add to that the stigma of leprosy and sin and your life becomes a hell. This is the reality of hundreds of thousands of Americans who are dying because of AIDS.*

The church failed when AIDS first became a reality in North America. Pompous preachers proclaimed the condition a plague sent by God to punish the homosexual and drug communities. One must wonder if God gave these preachers special insight at the advent of TB and polio. And one must wonder if the call to remove the log from our eyes has a better contemporary application today than the double standard held by most of us "normal" Christians----regular sinners who are fortunate enough [not to] be judged by God according to our many sins.

Our suggestion is simple enough. Begin with a group of people who believe God is nudging them to care for those with AIDS. Pray together that God would protect you from an arrogant spirit, and pray for merciful hearts and discerning minds. Once you sense you are prepared by the Holy Spirit, inquire in your region about [persons living with AIDS]. Are there centers where they live? Are there individuals in your school system or workplace who have AIDS? Find ways to be in contact with them. Perhaps you’ll hear a friend mention having a friend with AIDS; ask to meet the person. Demonstrate that you simply want to offer nonjudgmental friendship.

And then begin the work of building relationships. We want to be clear this kind of work is fraught with the possibility of treating people condescendingly or "religiously." Avoid doing that, at all costs! Furthermore, you must be prepared to face rejection and anger from some who have experienced the judgment of the church and a cold reception by the culture. Your presence will be automatically suspect at first.

We recommend that your friendship be built on the desire to learn. To become equipped to spare others unnecessary suffering and pain. To become healed, yourself, of the prejudices and incompetence that prevent you from reaching out. This sort of attitude can build bridges of friendship and understanding.

Then you’ll be able to contribute to a richer life for these people in the limited time they have to live. And you’ll likely be able to talk honestly about life and death and faith. What you do with your new knowledge and your new friends is up to you!

[*Treatments for AIDS have changed significantly in the intervening years since this piece was originally written. A diagnosis of AIDS is no longer synonymous with a death warrant. And while judgmental attitudes may have softened somewhat, many still live with stigma and damaged emotions.—Ed.]

(Published in 1993, 50 Ways You Can Be Prolife is now out of print. Used by permission of the authors, 9/27/01.)