Deceptions on Campus

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

And you believe it is wrong to preach the gospel when people are more open to it?

It's not about preaching the gospel -- but you knew that!

It's about being honest about who you are, and who you are associated with.

How much different was Apostle Paul towards others:

For this is our confidence: our conscience testifies, that in singleness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and even more so towards you.

(II Cor 1.12)

[clever sister]

Originally Posted by Ohio

It's not about preaching the gospel -- but you knew that!

I don't have a problem with Christian students coming together as a club on campus and preaching the gospel to their new classmates.

What bothers me, is that the saints were asked to put a lot of time and money into the campus work (because these young, vulnerable students were seen as 'easy' and 'ideal' targets.
What bothers me, is the deception that goes into make them look like just a bunch of students meeting together as a club on campus and preaching the gospel to new classmates, when it is actually being led by the LC and the students have little say in what is going on.

Ooops, quoted the wrong person

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by clever sister

I don't have a problem with Christian students coming together as a club on campus and preaching the gospel to their new classmates.

What bothers me, is that the saints were asked to put a lot of time and money into the campus work (because these young, vulnerable students were seen as 'easy' and 'ideal' targets.
What bothers me, is the deception that goes into make them look like just a bunch of students meeting together as a club on campus and preaching the gospel to new classmates, when it is actually being led by the LC and the students have little say in what is going on.

Ooops, quoted the wrong person

All Christian groups at colleges will engage in "deception" or marketing or activity designed to make convert. I heard that one group teach students to befriend classmates for that purpose. These groups are also led not by students but older missionaries, pastors or priests (the Catholic ones) who are part of a larger interdenominational organization.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

All Christian groups at colleges will engage in "deception" or marketing or activity designed to make convert. I heard that one group teach students to befriend classmates for that purpose. These groups are also led not by students but older missionaries, pastors or priests (the Catholic ones) who are part of a larger interdenominational organization.

You know what's great about this response? The ones who take the lead to bash " fallen Christianity" at every turn will, when you point out their fraudulence, do the equivalent of an indifferent shrug - "So what? Everyone does it".

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by aron

You know what's great about this response? The ones who take the lead to bash " fallen Christianity" at every turn will, when you point out their fraudulence, do the equivalent of an indifferent shrug - "So what? Everyone does it".

Your point is moot because I don't recall anyone "bashing" fallen Christianity for their on-campus ministry efforts.

Maybe you forget that:
a) all the college groups do similar, from Catholic to evangelical to parachurch organizations. I can easily prove this, I personally know paid missionaries/volunteers of other college groups in their 30's/40's and leaders who are in their 70's. Guess who is calling the big shots in these groups? The students? Of course not. And guess which churches they send new converts into - only specific churches which fit their denominational criteria. I am sure they "bend the rules" at times to fit within the secular college rules.

b) Witness Lee was probably inspired by the practices of the college groups and churches already operating on the colleges, and adopted similar methods.


It was in fact Bill Bright and others who started this idea of converting impressionable young minds far away from home at college:

http://campusministry.org/article/co...-on-the-planet

Each country sends their best and brightest to the university for education and training.

Focusing our evangelistic and multiplication efforts on this one percent is a very strategic way to expand the Kingdom of God and fulfill the Great Commission.


“If we can win the university today, we will win the world tomorrow.” ~ Bill Bright

Almost one fourth of the world’s college students reside in North America and they represent the most reachable, recruitable, trainable, and sendable category of persons on the planet


It's okay when Americans do it in other country's colleges, but not okay when Chinese people do it in American colleges:

Never before has God opened the doors and hearts of so many students world-wide to allow English speaking Christians from North America to have impact.

[A little brother]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Your point is moot because I don't recall anyone "bashing" fallen Christianity for their on-campus ministry efforts.

Dear Evangelical, obviously, Aron was talking about you instead of the CoC. And your repsonse validated his point again.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by A little brother

Dear Evangelical, obviously, Aron was talking about you instead of the CoC. And your repsonse validated his point again.

Where have I bashed on-campus ministry of other groups?

[leastofthese]

Originally Posted by aron

You know what's great about this response? The ones who take the lead to bash " fallen Christianity" at every turn will, when you point out their fraudulence, do the equivalent of an indifferent shrug - "So what? Everyone does it".

You know what is sad about his response? The fact that there are so many GREAT college ministries out there showing the love of Christ. They're dedicated to teaching, shepherding, and discipling countless young people to Christ. These groups are not about growing a local church or a denomination - they're about growing the Body. I hope that Evangelical someday gets to meet or fellowship with a group like that - it would be life changing.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by leastofthese

You know what is sad about his response? The fact that there are so many GREAT college ministries out there showing the love of Christ. They're dedicated to teaching, shepherding, and discipling countless young people to Christ. These groups are not about growing a local church or a denomination - they're about growing the Body. I hope that Evangelical someday gets to meet or fellowship with a group like that - it would be life changing.

They're not all led and run by students though, are they? They are run or sponsored by external organizations.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

All Christian groups at colleges will engage in "deception" or marketing or activity designed to make convert. I heard that one group teach students to befriend classmates for that purpose. These groups are also led not by students but older missionaries, pastors or priests (the Catholic ones) who are part of a larger interdenominational organization.

In the past few months the church I'm in has been supporting Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at the four year college in my county because they are trying to establish a club there.

True that they have full-timers (recent graduates from nearby colleges with Inter-varsity clubs) who are working with the Intervarsity organization regarding what they are doing to preach the gospel to students, organize student Bible studies, form a club, etc. They just don't lie about it to everybody There is no secret about who they are and what they are doing there.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by JJ

In the past few months the church I'm in has been supporting Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at the four year college in my county because they are trying to establish a club there.

True that they have full-timers (recent graduates from nearby colleges with Inter-varsity clubs) who are working with the Intervarsity organization regarding what they are doing to preach the gospel to students, organize student Bible studies, form a club, etc. They just don't lie about it to everybody There is no secret about who they are and what they are doing there.

What lies are you accusing us of? If asked we say who we are, we don't pretend to be Catholics or Muslims.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

What lies are you accusing us of? If asked we say who we are, we don't pretend to be Catholics or Muslims.

Not an accusation, just fact. Do they ever say “we are The Living Stream Ministry on Campus? No “we are Christians on Campus”. Half truth is half lie.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by JJ

Not an accusation, just fact. Do they ever say “we are The Living Stream Ministry on Campus? No “we are Christians on Campus”. Half truth is half lie.

We are Christians - a truthful statement
We are on Campus - a truthful statement

The statement is truthful and matches the beliefs of the church in being only Christians not "living stream Christians".

From Gods point of view it must be a kind of lie whenever Christians call themselves by a different name other than Christian.

[clever sister]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

What lies are you accusing us of? If asked we say who we are, we don't pretend to be Catholics or Muslims.

The lies that I referred to in the OP, was that the club was run by students, that I was the club's secretary, when I did no such role.

Also, they pretend there is no affiliation with the LC, but instead act like it is an interdenominational group when asked such questions, until they feel the target has taken the bait.

I have just had a look at every other Christian club on the campus I attended, and each one states who they are affiliated with, one even stating "We are the Young Adults of [Omitted] Church"

The only one that doesn't? You guessed it. Instead it says

Established in [year], we are composed of Christians from various backgrounds that hold the faith which is common to all believers (Titus 1:4).

I also have a feeling that while these groups may be supported by full time workers in the groups they are affiliated with, the actual students who are dedicated to the group have more say in what is happening with the club

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by clever sister

I have just had a look at every other Christian club on the campus I attended, and each one states who they are affiliated with, one even stating "We are the Young Adults of [Omitted] Church"

The only one that doesn't? You guessed it. Instead it says:

Established in [year], we are composed of Christians from various backgrounds that hold the faith which is common to all believers (Titus 1:4).

This statement is very deceptive. There is nothing in the "common faith" which requires Christians to adhere to only one dead teacher and one ministry. They appeal to what Christians have "in common," and then later introduce one of the most divisive factors known to the church.

Clever sister, did you know that all the Midwest LC's were quarantined because we refused to adhere to their "One Publication" policies?