I cannot express completely how excited and attention drawn I was (back in the late 70s) when I came across my first book by Dr. Schaeffer (How should we then live). I was excited though. I was very comfortable in what I had learned as a Christian on doctrines and my reading of the Bible, but reading Dr. Schaeffer made me aware of how intelligent and real the Christian position (or worldview) really is. It came to life in a more universal way. That God is there, that Jesus died for our sins, that our worldview lives in antithesis, etc. explains best reality and the world we observe. It answers in a reasonable way life as we know it. Many are not aware of this because a counterfeit Christianity has rose up to be what many find unacceptable, and misdirecting many away from the proper priorities of what Jesus taught. Upon investigating carefully, Christianity explains best what is and what will be. The world has changed since I first became a Christian. The internet has reduced the size of the world and allowed people from all walks of life to connect. This is good in some ways, and difficult in other ways. I have had the opportunity to debate, Atheist, Agnostics, Evolutionist, and religious people and have had the chance to see how Christianity can provide intelligent answers and stand on it’s own. Why not? Truth can stand. Dr. Schaeffer stated on many occasions that if Christianity is not true then it should not be accepted. If it is true then we have a responsibility to act on that truth as well as to recognize that to reject it brings accountability. I have learned through debates that FACTS are not always what these people rely on or want to hear. Usually it is more on a psychological level because of some life experience with Christianity that left a person with a bad taste in their mouth. Because of a void left they grabbed onto something to fill that void…thus an opposing view of Christianity. Christianity confronts all of us with facts of life and about ourselves that we don’t like to see at times. It also explains and offers hope that what is now will not remain this way. There will be a new heavens and earth in which righteousness will dwell. There will be no more sin. Well…I’m all for that! Dr. Schaeffer brought it down to earth and made it real. Why I didn’t grasp that fully to begin with I take responsibility for. Perhaps my focus wasn’t what it should have been. Regardless, I thank God that through the writings of Dr. Schaeffer (which put me back in a serious frame of mind toward the Bible) that my focus was sharpened. I am eternally grateful to him for that.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 16:17:48 +0000