REMEMBERING FRANCIS SCHAEFFER
I was at a Central Baptist Seminary faculty retreat in the Muskokas in May of 1984—Dr George Bell had become the President of the school that year and one of my best friends, Mr. Keith Edwards, had come on board to help me as my assistant registrar (what a joy to be working with him again!)—when I heard news of the death of Dr. Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984). He died on May 15, 1984.
Schaeffer, along with C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), were my two earliest Christian mentors as authors. Schaeffer helped me realize that honest questions deserved honest answers. He showed me that being an intellectual was a definite Christian calling and indirectly helped confirm my calling as an historian, though the latter took years to work out. And he gave me a distinct preference for presuppositional apologetics, the only reasonable approach to apologetics for a Calvinist. I still have great admiration for his work, though I recognize that some of his discussion of philosophers like Kant and Kierkegaard was not terribly deep.
Schaeffer, along with C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), were my two earliest Christian mentors as authors. Schaeffer helped me realize that honest questions deserved honest answers. He showed me that being an intellectual was a definite Christian calling and indirectly helped confirm my calling as an historian, though the latter took years to work out. And he gave me a distinct preference for presuppositional apologetics, the only reasonable approach to apologetics for a Calvinist. I still have great admiration for his work, though I recognize that some of his discussion of philosophers like Kant and Kierkegaard was not terribly deep.
I have vague memories of Schaeffer, but cannot say I have ever read any of his writings or listened to any of his talks. However, from reading some people who were influenced by him, I know I would like to.
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:09 a.m.
I well remember Dr. Schaeffer preaching in Gt. Victoria St. Baptist Church, Belfast. One illustration in particular I have often recalled. He said that if a tape recorder was placed aroung a person's neck the moment they were born and it recorded everything that they said throughout their life, their own standard, which is infinitely lower that God's standard, would condemn them. How much more then, will God's standard.
Posted by
Anonymous |
7:50 p.m.
Early on in my pastoral ministry I was influenced by Schaeffer's writings. I don't regret in any way the purchase and reading of the 5-volume set of his works. What a gracious spirit he demonstrated in communicating truth to a culture filled with anti-truth.
Posted by
Unknown |
11:54 p.m.
I remembered it was May 1984 because I was graduating from Moody but forgot the date. Thanks for the reminder. I heard him speak once at Moody Church dressed in his ubiquitous knickers.
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:44 p.m.
Thanks for this post. Schaeffer was also quite influential in my thinking. I too appreciate his passion and desire to engage culture from a presuppostionalist pou sto.
Kind regards,
Cynthia
Posted by
Cynthia R. Nielsen |
9:57 a.m.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Posted by
Anonymous |
5:14 p.m.
Thanks for your post on Schaeffer. It makes me wish I was more familiar with his works.
Hm, actually, and speaking of which, any recommendations as far as which one of his books might be good to begin with?
Thanks again.
Posted by
Patrick Chan |
11:56 a.m.
It seems that every philosophy class that I took at Heritage I ended up trying to defend presuppositional apologetics on the class discussion board. Do you have any links or books you would recommend as a good starting point when trying to introduce it to someone who doesn't know the first thing about it?
Posted by
Mark D. Smith |
11:49 p.m.
Mark
Thanks for the question. On presuppositional apologetics, probably Frame's APOLOGETICS TO THE GLORY OF GOD would be a good place to start.
By the way, I fully agree with Dr Howson about the ridiculousness of suggesting pastors and church planters need PhDs. What we all need desperately is the Spirit reprodcuing Christ in us.
Posted by
Michael A G Haykin |
8:20 p.m.
Patrick
On Schaeffer: ESCAPE FROM REASON is a good place to begin.
Posted by
Michael A G Haykin |
8:21 p.m.
Cynthia
Thanks for stopping by. I appreciated checking out your blog. I like the questions you are raising and the answers you are giving.
Posted by
Michael A G Haykin |
8:22 p.m.