David Janzen,
Computer Science,
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
[Sept.3, 2012]–
I knew I wanted to hire Josh* (not his real name) for a summer research position based only on reading his application, but I asked him to come to my office so I could meet him. I wanted to make sure he was a good fit for the team. I included in that invitation a Christian graduate student who would be helping me lead the research team over the summer.

Josh showed up dressed for an interview with his resume in hand. He was taking this seriously – a good sign. He met all the criteria for the position: first-year software engineering major; bright, ambitious, and curious. After asking all my usual questions, I turned over his resume on my desk and said, “The interview’s over. You’re hired, but I noticed one more thing on your resume.”

Inquiring

Josh had noted activities from his high school church youth group. I asked him about those activities, and what he thought about church and Christianity. He responded that church was a good thing back in high school, but when he came to college, he took an anthropology course his first quarter that caused him to start questioning some things. He sheepishly declared he had decided that he was now an agnostic atheist.

He then asked, “Was that the right answer?”

Laughing, I told him there was no right or wrong answer to my question. After all, it was his story. And again I assured him that he already had the job. But then I asked him to consider how he would answer one more question. I challenged him, while wrestling with his software engineering and computer science courses, also to wrestle with the even more important question of “Who is Jesus?” Did He really live, die, and rise from the dead? Did He really perform miracles? Is He really God’s Son? And if so, what does that mean for you?

Challenging

I don’t know if this is the “right” or the “best” question to ask the many college students who enter my office, but I ask it every chance I get. It seems to me that when a person truly wrestles with “Who is Jesus?” they must make a decision that will affect everything else in their lives. After all, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7). If they become convinced that He is just part of a fairytale story, they may live their life however they like, bound only by the laws and norms of our country and culture. But if they realize that Jesus really is God’s Son, people will either knowingly reject Him, or they will respond in humble obedience to the transforming grace of the Gospel. I always pray for the latter response.

Josh’s story isn’t over. We have worked together through the summer and I continue to look for opportunities to talk as he wrestles to answer that question, “Who is Jesus?”

How about you? Do you have a question that you use to engage and exhort those you influence?

(c)2012 David Janzen

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