Campus Crusade for Christ Becoming “Cru”
Last week, Campus Crusade for Christ announced they are changing their name in 2012 to “Cru”. From their website: 
2. Why did Campus Crusade for Christ change its name? Our name presented obstacles to our mission. The word “campus” does not adequately represent all our ministries in the United States and confuses our constituency as well as potential partners. The word “crusade”-while common and acceptable in 1951 when we were founded-now carries negative associations. It acts as a barrier to the very people that we want to connect with. It’s also a hindrance to many Christians who would like to partner with us but find the word Crusade offensive.
10. Why did we take the name “Christ” out of our name? We were not trying to eliminate the word Christ from our name. We were looking for a name that would most effectively serve our mission and help us take the gospel to the world. Our mission has not changed. Cru enables us to have discussions about Christ with people who might initially be turned off by a more overtly Christian name.
I have read the information at their website, and the text of interviews with Campus Crusade for Christ representatives, and they keep repeating: “this is not about political correctness”; “twenty percent of the people willing to consider the gospel are less interested in talking with us after they hear the name”; “our ministry remains the same”.
They are upset that people (like myself) are calling them out for putting political correctness ahead of proclaiming Christ, but everything I’ve read about the purpose of the name change screams “political correctness”. Their reasons for removing the name of Christ make no sense. If your purpose is to proclaim Jesus Christ and Him crucified and resurrected, then come right out and say so. Hiding behind a word that has no meaning (cru) to the vast majority of people on this planet so as not to offend anyone is political correctness at its worst.
There is a Greek word “scandalon” (the origin of our word scandalous) that is defined as that which gives offense or causes revulsion, that which arouses opposition, an object of anger or disapproval. In I Peter 2:4-8, Jesus is described as the cornerstone (capstone) and is precious to those who believe, but to those who do not believe He is the stone that causes them to stumble and fall.
Michael Card wrote a song called Scandalon
It seems today the Scandalon offends no one at all
The image we present can be stepped over
Could it be that we are like the others long ago
Will we ever learn that all who come must stumbleHe will be the truth that will offend them one and all
A stone that makes men stumble
And a rock that makes them fall
Many will be broken so that He can make them whole
And many will be crushed and lose their own soul
In some of the interviews with Campus Crusade for Christ, they have said “We believe Jesus is the most attractive person in history, so we don’t need to force him on people”. The Gospel of Christ – His death on the cross to pay for all of our sin and His resurrection from the dead is not attractive, nor is it pleasant or easy to admit our own depravity, helplessness, and our need for the Savior.
Campus Crusade for Christ is doing a lot of spinning regarding their name change, but their reasons and justifications do not align with the Bible. Unfortunately it appears they are presenting an image that can be “stepped over” instead of presenting Christ as
… the truth that will offend them one and all
A stone that makes men stumble
And a rock that makes them fall
Many will be broken so that He can make them whole
And many will be crushed and lose their own soul
Even most non-Christians would easily identify what “Campus Crusade for Christ” represents, but the word “cru” is meaningless. To me this appears like another Christian organization that is watering down the Gospel of Christ in the interest of feel-good inclusion and political correctness.
OneMom
One thing that I noticed about Jesus when reading the Gospel: He didn’t change his message to not offend people. He didn’t “make it more palatable (sp?)”. He was in your face with a lot of people including his disciples and the Pharisees.
Jesus was also not a “shock jock”. He didn’t say rude or abrasive things just to get people riled up. But he did rile a lot of people up.
Anyway, thanks for the post.
Good points Frances.
I agree. My husband and I met in Campus Crusade for Christ when we were at college at Virginia Tech. We loved our time with Crusade. They really helped grow us in our faith.
We have quite a few friends on staff and it seems like they are just “puppeting” back what is on the website. I know these people and know they love Jesus, but feel they are buying into a lie.
We likely will no longer financially support “Cru” but continue to support the local church.
Just an added opinion, their new graphic logo is terrible! They should have hired someone better!
Hi Abbey – yes, they do all seem to be parroting the same responses. The logo is dreadful. They said the new logo would still have a cross in it, but those four right angles are pretty loose for portraying a cross like the one on which Jesus died.
Its also been my gut feeling that from about my senior year til now (10 years), things have been getting a bit more and more “watered down” within the ranks and staff of CCC. I cant put my finger on it, (Besides the name change) but things just aren’t the same. I also matured a lot in my faith and am much more conservative than my college years – perhaps that attributes a lot to my perspective.
Abbey – unfortunately that “watered down” feeling is permeating through too much of Christianity in the United States … I attribute much of that to the “purpose driven” movement, but that’s a post for another day.
I’m glad they changed their name. They were known as “Cru” on our campus, anyway, when I was in college. I think “crusade” is an offensive word and should not be used in conjunction with Christ. I don’t think that removing “Christ” from their name has any bearing on anything. If they remove Christ from their ministry, that’s another matter entirely…
I was a part of another college ministry in college, but I always appreciated Cru and their ability to reach out to those who wouldn’t necessarily walk into a church on their own.
Hi Ronnica – I get that “cru” is part of a local lingo on campuses. However, if “crusade” is the offensive word, why use is it the only word associated with the new name? Also, the reason for Christ being removed from the name is very concerning.
Christianity is waning in popularity.
Islam and Atheism are on the rise.
Deal with it.
David – do you ever have anything positive to say to anyone?
I dont know how my original comment can be construed as negative.
I’m merely stating what I see happening in the country/world.
Statements like “deal with it” don’t really inspire open, constructive conversation.