When I went to college I hooked up with a group of students who were with Campus Crusade for _________ . They were vibrant in their faith and loved Jesus. The leaders of Campus Crusade for _______ were some of my early mentors in the Faith. I became involved in Campus Crusade for _________ by going on their retreats and even worked for a summer at one of their youth camps. Campus Crusade for _______ was so much a part of my life that God used that organization to call me into the ministry.
Given all those things, you can imagine my heartache when Campus Crusade for _______ decided recently to remove “Christ” from their name. The organization is no longer “Campus Crusade for Christ.” Click HERE to read the article in its entirety. Campus Crusade For Christ is now just… “CRU.”
Why did they drop “Christ” from their name? It was getting in the way. Those are their words, not mine (Read the article linked above)! The name “Christ” had become a hindrance to their ministry! If Bill Bright (The Founder of Campus Crusade for Christ) that would not have happened.
It seems that the leaders of Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) think that the name “Christ” will keep people from coming to salvation. Honestly… I can’t fathom that! I don’t think there is any amount of “logic” that would make me favor taking “Christ” out of the ministry’s name. After all it is written…
Romans 9:32 They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
1 Corinthians 1:23 We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Peter 2:5 Offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”
The cross IS an offense. The name Christ WILL cause some people to stumble. It’s always been that way and always will be that way. To take either the cross OR Christ out of the message is not proper, appropriate, or right in my estimation. If the word “Christ” causes people to stumble, then I suggest we take our cue from the Scripture… not the world.
Just my thoughts… in my study… one day this week.
Hey Ron, Here’s some real info on our namechange. http://www.ccci.org/about-us/donor-relations/our-new-name/commitment-to-christ.htm Feel free to check it out!
Matt… I appreciate the link. Thanks. But honestly what is in the link article does not address the point I made in my post.
Absolutely horrendous. I can not imagine this group even considering leaving the name of Christ much less have the audicity to say that having it in there hinders them bringing people to Christ. What will be next. The song, “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.” We are in a warfare and we best march together and stand up for Christ.
The Bible does say God will “draw all men unto Himself” and we don’t have to manipulate people into coming to something that involves Christ. Hmm… interesting post. Thanks PR!
So…sad
This is another reflection of where our world is heading. I can’t imagine what the leaders of this organizaton were thinking. I can only hope that Christ does not remove their name from His book. Crusade for Christ, rethink your decision!
Your point is that you don’t have to take Christ out of a name to reach people. I can totally agree with that. The issue is that the headline “Campus Crusade takes Christ out of their name” is the wrong heading. The organization did not sit down and say the name Christ was hindering them from reaching people. That was never said. They said the name, as in “Campus Crusade for Christ”, was hindering ministry. Not “Christ” but “Campus Crusade for Christ”.
The organization took a survey among believers and non. They sat down with people and described the organization. Then, halfway through the survey, they mentioned the organizations name. The survey saw 20% of participants decline interest in the group after reading the name. The organization says 3% is considered significant.
Cru is, to this day, still all over the world. Many staff are sharing with unreached people groups & sharing the gospel daily. This week alone the staff team at The University of Montana shared the gospel to multiple students. To sit here and put down an organization that, to this day, God uses to change lives around the world, is exactly what Satan wants. What about the organization samaritans purse? The name christ is not in there. They do incredible things around the world. There are multiple churches and massive organizations that didn’t even start with the name Christ. MarsHill, Intervarsity, Chi Alpha, Compassion international. The new slogan for Cru is “a caring community of people passionate about connecting people to JESUS”. The logo for Cru carries a cross in the upper right.
The media has manipulated a headline. Campus was removed because the organization is bigger than campus ministry. Crusade was removed because of the negativity that comes with that name. Christ was removed simply because Campus Crusade was removed. “for Christ” sounds cool but Cru sounded better.
Finally, Vonetta Bright, bill brights wife, says that bill wanted to change it’s name a long time ago. He was not stuck with the name “campus crusade for Christ.”
In no way did they change the name because of the name “Christ”. This organization is still one of the most bold groups to claim the name Christ. Just like your past with campus crusade for Christ, students this very week at UM met together and heard a gospel presentation. It is still a plan to help them grow in their faith and learn how to boldly proclaim the name Christ is every student on every campus.
I could care less about media manipulation (As you put it). It doesn’t matter to me if Bill or Vonetta both thought it was a good idea either… man isn’t the standard. What other organizations name themselves is of little consequence as cases in your point. You are right about “crusade” being negative, especially to Muslims. All be told, you have your opinion and I have mine. You will stay with yours and I will stay with mine that taking the word “Christ” out of the organization’s name was not a wise decisions.
Let me give you a better and Biblical argument than pointing to surveys, other organizations, and founders. I’d suggest to you that using Scripture as a defense goes a lot further and carries more weight than anything else you have or will ever write. I believe it is recorded in John 6:37 that Jesus said, “All that the Father gives to me will (Notice that… WILL) come to me.” Your arguement should be… “Regardless of a name, God is the one who calls and saves… in spite of what we may think or do, INCLUDING our failures and mistakes… INCLUDING whatever our name is.” An even better approach would be to ignore all of us who disagree with the name change and let your actions speak for you. Like they say in football…. “I’ll let my talking be done ON THE FIELD.”
Had you done that… I would agree with you! Even though I may not like the removal of the name of Christ… there is no arguing with Scripture! Do I think the decision was wise and proper? No. Does what I think have any consequence? No. Does my opinion carry any weight? No! So could I suggest that instead of writing long multiple paragraphs to dispute a matter that you give a soft answer supported by Scripture? You could have possibly used Paul’s thought of “I am all things to all men that I may win some.” Tough to argue with that one too.
I was in Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) for many years. It was during that time God called me to ministry. Dave Simmons of King’s Arrow Ranch (A “CCC” camp) is the main one who taught me to study the Scripture and preach it. I wouldn’t have had as much a problem w/ “Tri-C” or “C-3” or “C (w/ an exponential 3).” But then my own arguements could be used against me! Does it sound like I’m contradicting myself? I hope not. I hope you hear that I prefer to work to a middle ground… a place of agreement rather than being a Pharisee.
I agree that Campus Crusade for Christ has and is effective for the overall cause of spreading the Gospel as a help to The Universal Church. My bottom line is to magnifiy, glorify, and honor Christ. Whether it is called “Cru,” “CCC,” “C-3,” or something else won’t be argued in eternity.
You could half understand CCCI taking the Campus for Christ out of their name thinking Cru is a fluke because it is a “nickname” but I believe It might stop being a fluke when CCCI is taking the “Christ” out of their Navy Ministry replacing “Sailors for Christ” with “Military Connection” which might only sound to me more like a dating group