SCHAEFFERS CULTURAL APOLOGETIC Background and Orientation Donald T

SCHAEFFER’S CULTURAL APOLOGETIC: Background and Orientation Donald T Williams, Ph. D Toccoa Falls College

SCHAEFFER’S CULTURAL APOLOGETIC: Background and Orientation Donald T Williams, Ph. D Toccoa Falls College

SCHAEFFER’S CULTURAL APOLOGETIC Background and Orientation

“True education means thinking by association across the disciplines, and not just being qualified in one field. ” F. A. S. , The God Who is There

Schaeffer’s Life: Chronology ¨ 1912: Born ¨ 1930: Converted by reading Bible ¨ 1935 – Grad. Hampden-Sidney College – Married Edith Seville – Entered Westminster Seminary ¨ 1938 – Grad. Faith Seminary – Ordained in Bible Presbyterian Church – First Pastorate in Grove City, PA.

Fundamentalism: The 5 Fundamentals ¨ The Inspiration/Inerrancy of Scripture ¨ The Deity of Christ ¨ The Historicity of NT Miracles – The Virgin Birth of Christ – The Literal, Bodily Resurrection ¨ The Necessity of Blood Atonement ¨ A Literal, Personal Second Coming

Fundamentalism: the Problem ¨ Separation: To Stay or Leave? ¨ Secondary Separationism ¨ Rise of “Neo-Evangelicalism” ¨ Schaeffer’s Choices > Bible Presbyterian Church (hardliners) > P. C. E. S. > P. C. A.

Schaeffer’s Life: Chronology ¨ 1947: Traveled to Europe w. Ind. Board for Presbyterian Missions ¨ 1948: Moved to Lausanne, Switzerland as missionaries with Children for Christ ¨ 1951: Spiritual Crisis over lack of love in the Separatist Movement ¨ 1953 -54: Furlough in U. S.

Schaeffer’s Life: Chronology ¨ 1955: Resigned from Mission; Began L’Abri in Huemoz, Switzerland ¨ 1968: Published The God Who is There ¨ 1974: Began work on How Should We Then Live ¨ 1984: Died of cancer in Rochester, MN. , May 15

Schaeffer’s Thought: 4 Principles ¨ Christianity is Truth. ¨ Christian Truth touches all of life: “The lordship of Christ over the total culture. ” ¨ Christian life & witness must show the whole character of God: “holiness and love. ” ¨ The truth of Christianity must be demonstrated both intellectually and practically through a life of faith.

Schaeffer’s Thought: Upper/Lower Storey Grace: God, Heaven, the Supernatural, Universals, Meaning, Faith (a rational trust) Nature: Man, Earth, the Natural World, Particulars, Facts, Reason (obedient to Revelation)

Christianity Absolute Universal GOD Eternity Meaning (reality) Christ (reality) Relative Particular MAN Time Facts

Secularism No Absolutes No GOD No Meaning (no reality) (reality) Relativism MAN Facts/Data

Schaeffer’s Thought: Upper/Lower Storey The non-rational/non-logical Universals; Meaning Irrational Mysticism: the “leap of faith” The rational and logical Particulars; Facts Reason, Science, Man as a machine

Schaeffer’s Thought: “The Line of Despair” Philosophy Art_ Music General Culture Theology

Schaeffer’s Thought: Evaluation ¨ Critique: Schaeffer as “Pseudo-Intellectual” – His disciples have sometimes contributed – Over-Simplifications • Thomas Aquinas • Renaissance vs. Secular Humanism

Schaeffer’s Thought: Evaluation ¨ Response: Schaeffer as Popularizer – Forest vs. Trees – Asks the right Questions – General Analysis is Sound • Flow of History • Importance of Presuppositions • Nature of Christian Truth Claims

How Should We Then Watch? ¨ Overlook hoky cinematic techniques ¨ Look for applications of ideas covered here ¨ Use as framework for integration of other courses, reading, etc. ¨ Digest Before Regurgitating ¨ Discuss as ongoing project

“What we need in the light of the accommodation which surrounds us is a generation of radicals for truth and Christ. ” F. A. S. , The Great Evangelical Disaster