Sharing Schaeffer

"I'm here, not to speak to you so much about Francis Schaeffer, but about Francis Schaeffer's God." That's how our Schaeffer book group began Friday night, as David shared his own journey of his immersion in Schaeffer's works, and then on to a time of study at L'Abri. David's upbringing was very troubling to him; he was constantly told that Christians were to "be like Jesus," but he didn't see that being lived out in his home or in his church. He became cynical about Christianity. Then as a college freshman, his philosoply professor assigned Schaeffer's He is There, and He is Not Silent, but after reading about thirty pages, David gave it up in frustration. It wasn't until a couple years later that he was bored enough one summer to pick up the book again, this time determined to read it from cover to cover. Once he did, he was hooked on Schaeffer's writings, devouring everything of his that was in print at the time (early 1980s). David then wrote to Francis Schaeffer with theological questions, and received a letter in response, which David shared with our group. In the letter, Schaeffer invited David and his family to spend some time in study at L'Abri in Switzerland. While David was there, he did get a private audience with Schaeffer, a time when he could ask him anything that was on his mind. What an opportunity! Just think of all the topics of theology or philosophy that could be covered! But this is the question David desired to have answered more than any other..."How do I be like Jesus?" David relayed some of their discussion to our group, then shared the admonition Schaeffer had for him. Sensing David's intellectual proclivity, Schaeffer warned him not to find his satisfaction and pleasure in being intellectual. Rather, he should find his satisfaction and pleasure in the person of Jesus.

It was an amazing time of listening and sharing, but it was especially interesting to observe the two non-Christian men in the group fixated on David's testimony of Christ's working in his life. It's difficult to describe, but it was great just to be on the sidelines, so to speak, as David answered Matt's and Chris' questions. Concerning man's free will and the sovereignty of God, David explained that since the fall of Adam and Eve, man can only exercise his will according to his fallen nature. The Bible is clear that all men are spiritually dead in their sins and have no ability to seek God on their own. Man can and does exercise his will according to his flesh, but that's all he can do, unless the Holy Spirit chooses to do an act of regeneration in his life. Concerning God's very difficult command to Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, David explained that God did provide the ram in the thicket before the sacrifice was made. He then went on to explain how that incident was a picture pointing to the sacrifice of God's own Son on the cross for the redemption of sinners. God followed through with His sacrifice; He completed what He did not require of Abraham. There were other questions, and I've only relayed a brief account of the dialogue, but we were all so blessed to be part of a very unique evening. To God be the glory for the things He has done!

As we were leaving, I told Julian and Dorothy that David should be a speaker at Camp Barakel since he lives so close to the camp. Julian replied with a smile, "David is the pastor of the church where most of the Barakel staff are members." Oh. : )