Looks Can Be Deceiving

By Seminarian Joshua Genig

Have you ever noticed how looks can be so deceiving? Maybe you’ve invested your money in a pair of FOAKLEY (“F”ake Oakley) sunglasses. Maybe you responded with haste to one of those “You’ve just won a million dollars” phone calls or letters. Day after day, people are deceived by looks. Sadly though, the way of our world is to try and get an advantage through deception. Although it hurts our ego and our wallet when the world deceives us, it is even more damaging when we are deceived in the Church.

To date, nearly thirteen hundred college campuses have made room for one of the oldest campus ministries: Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC). It was started in 1951 by Bill and Vonette Bright. Since the inception of the organization, the mission has been to share the Gospel with college students and eventually win them to Christ. By powerfully bringing the message of Jesus to college campuses, CCC looks to enable students to make a decision for Jesus.

In many respects, the core beliefs of CCC look quite similar to what one would find in many Lutheran churches. Although CCC allows for freedom of belief and practice in many areas, the group is quite adamant about upholding what it would deem the “fundamentals of faith.” It promotes the teaching of the Holy Trinity, the two natures of Christ, His virgin birth, His atoning death, His resurrection from the grave, and the work of the Holy Spirit to bring spiritually dead sinners to new life. This is not unlike many Christian churches; yes, even the Lutheran Church. Consequently, deciphering between the teachings of CCC and the Lutheran Church can be quite difficult. But remember: looks can be very deceiving. So we need to take a closer look. We need to lean in and see if there’s an “F” next to our Oakleys or a fine line on our winning letter. However, when we discern between practice and doctrine that is true or false, we do not base our decision on a hunch or a guess. We take a closer look by turning to God’s Word for illumination, which shows us the foundation of our faith, Jesus Christ.

Although CCC should be commended for its endeavor to share Jesus with college students, its members present Him in such a way that He seems an abstract figure. It is though they say, “Yes, He did a gracious thing nearly two thousand years ago, but He is no longer integrally connected to us and His creation.” Their Jesus is far off. He is in heaven giving advice and demanding a decision. But that is not the Jesus of the Bible.

The Bible doesn’t leave us with an abstract, intangible Jesus. The Bible teaches that Jesus comes to us. When He comes, He comes concretely. He joins us to Himself in the life-giving waters of the font. He gives us His Holy Spirit. He forgives our sins. He grants eternal life. We are made His precious bride, and our faithful bridegroom promises that He will never leave us. There is no room for decisions and dedications here. He does the choosing and the dedicating! He has chosen and dedicated us for Himself. He has made us His own in the waters of Holy Baptism. He graciously feeds us with the tangible food of heaven: His own body and blood. Our Jesus is Emmanuel. He is God with us in a fleshly and concrete way.

This is real. Jesus gives Himself to us. He is not in heaven pointing fingers. He is on every Christian altar that confesses Him and celebrates His Supper. He is at every font where water and Word make disciples. And He is on the lips of every pastor who speaks in His stead and at His command His words of absolution and grace. He is there physically. He is there with His precious body, dripping blood, sanctified waters, and life-giving Word. All who are wearied by the changes, chances, and trials of this life, especially the college life, are given Christ concretely. There is nothing abstr act about Him. He is with us. He feeds us. He restores us. Jesus Christ has made us bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. You also, who dare to be Lutheran, Christ has made you His own. He will never leave you. He will continue t o sustain you in a tangible, life-giving way. He will come to you—concretely.

Seminarian Joshua D. Genig is a student at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and vicar at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Illinois. His email address is jgenig@stjohnwheaton.org.