Campus Encounter

[Page 110]

     On May 7, I was privileged to be on the campus of Illinois State University, for a full day of testimony of faith in Christ. My coming was arranged through the combined efforts of Inter-Varsity, Christian Collegians, Campus Crusade, The Navigators, and Baptist Student Union. It was the first time these had joined to present Jesus as our hope of peace. The happening was simply called "The Way" and was publicized on campus and in the daily newspaper. The time turned out to be fortuitous. The unrest and ferment created by the killing of the Kent students was at its peak.

     At 9:00 a.m. I spoke to students in the lounge of Adlai Stevenson Hall on the subject, "How Did Jesus Get in Here?" I answered questions for two hours, following which a number of us ate together and continued informal discussions. At 1:00 p.m. I began a public encounter with three faculty members who are agnostics. Included in the audience which filled the lounge were several black activist students and a Buddhist. The attention was excellent.

     My theme was "The Transforming Dynamic," in which I affirmed the intrusion of God into history on a revelational and personal plane. Reactors were Dr. Joel Vernon of the Department of Political Science; Dr. Joseph Grabill of the Department of History; and Dr. Martin McGuire, of the Department of Anthropology. Dr. Vernon, in a speech larded with profanity, branded the new covenant scriptures as a compilation of "myths and damned fairy tales." Dr. Grabill charged Christianity with creating a cover-up to evade reality, by use of traditional words. Dr. McGuire asserted there was only a brotherhood of the flesh created over millions of years of developmental progress in kinship with animal life.

     While I was answering the professors a Black Muslim arose and demanded to be heard. I acceded to his request, and this articulate young black man argued that Christianity was a white man's religion used to enslave his ancestors. It was a privilege to reply to him in the presence of all. Later that evening I spoke to a student rally at Wesley Foundation headquarters on "How to Really Get in the Way." I answered questions for another hour, as we explored the Christian attitude toward sex, social reform and other pertinent themes.

     It was my suggestion that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ of the scriptures, take over the quadrangle for a full day, and that we affirm our conviction and offer to take on all-comers.