University of Wisconsin Eau Claire - Periscope Yearbook (Eau Claire, WI)

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by Rich Toftness “I thought any idiot could refute Christianity, and I qualified. During the first half of October 1981, UWEC students were puzzled by the abundance of the word Josh on campus. Josh was on blackboards, buttons, posters, stickers, banners, sidewalks, desk tops and bathroom walls. Some students were beginning to feel that the publicity was a bit much, when the week of October 19 came and a new wave of publicity rolled in. Students were blitzed with fliers, more posters and banners, display cases, mummies, bears and a five-minute film that promoted Josh. But this time they announced who Josh is, what he does and why he was coming to UWEC. Josh McDowell, an international speaker with degrees in economics, languages and theology, has brought his message to over 500 universities and to nearly 60 countries. He is the author of seven best-selling books, and in 1965, he was winner of the Lyman Strauss Speaker of the Year Award. McDowell came to UWEC to give two lectures October 23-24: The Great Resurrection Hoax(?) and Maximum Sex. McDowell gave his personal testimony in his Hoax lecture. At Wheaton College, he said, he realized his teachers could teach him how to make a better living, but he wanted to learn how to live a better life. He said he noticed they were Just as frustrated and unhappy as he was. He also noticed, however, a small group of people, especially one cute girl, who seemed to be happy all the time. Eventually McDowell said he got so jealous he sneered and asked her why she was so happy. She smiled and said two words — 'Jesus Christ,' McDowell said. McDowell said that after he had finished laughing, she challenged him to try and prove that Christianity is invalid. After two years of research he came to the conclusion that Jesus Christ was really who he claimed to be. McDowell, speaking to a crowd of about 2,500, explained why he believes any theory of why the tomb was empty other than the biblical explanation would need a greater miracle than the resurrection itself. The maximum sex lecture involved less direct emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ — McDowell's definition of Christianity — and focused on the personal relationships that lead to love, sex and marriage. McDowell said he believes the greatest problem with relationships today is self-ccntered-ness or the I want what I want when I want it attitude. He said there are three types of love: I love you if ... I love you because of... and I love you . . period. McDowell said the latter group is a love spelled G-l-V-E, and explained how his acceptance of the free love of God motivated him to join this group. The crowd's reaction to McDowell seemed overwhelmingly favorable. It was practical information and entertaining, said one student. The humor made it acceptable, remarked another, he talks more like a neighbor than a lecturer. I'm going to leave here a better person, said McDowell. It's rare when I find students so generous and hospitable, who treat me as a person and not just a speaker, he said of the audience at Saturday night's lecture.