Francis A. Schaeffer pointed out three principles for "orthodox evangelicalism to be a thing of strength and beauty in the second half of the twentieth century."
1. The full doctrinal position of historic Christianity must be clearly maintained.
2. Every honest question must be given an honest answer. It is unbiblical for anyone to say, "Just believe."
3. There must be an individual and corporate exhibition that God exists in our century, in order to show that historic Christianity is more than just a superior dialectic or a better point of psychological integration.
So, how do these principles find us beyond the 20th Century?
Now, more than ever before, I think the full doctrinal position of historic Christianity is being attacked from underneath, above, behind, face-on and most horribly from within. While it is no longer okay to say, "Just believe," people are not doing it because it is unbiblical but because the world is demanding "honesty" on their own terms. This leaves most of us scurrying around looking for a way of fitting into the world's set of presuppositions. In response to #3, I end with a question: Do I live and think in such a way that the personal, infinite God captivates every ounce of my being? Is my daily experience living in community with God overflowing into others? Am I caught up with God? Does practicing the presence of God mean anything to me?
The strength is lacking... the beauty is commonplace. We rest on a hinge of opportunity, if only we will champion and celebrate our relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. This, of course, being based upon the majesty of the Scriptures, from which honest answers meet real questions. When "the dogma [becomes] the drama" (Sayers) and the Word is the foundation of honest answers meeting honest questions... and when we live every moment in communion with our Creator God through His Son, our Savior and Lord, in the powerful indwelling of the Holy Spirit... then orthodox evangelicalism will be a thing of strength and beauty. In other words, the world will have to turn its ugly head and take notice of a life-giving, God-glorifying, ground-shaking, Christ-exalting worldview, irresistable and secure in every way.
For the beauty and strength of the Gospel.
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2 comments:
Oh I wish you could have heard Bishop Zac's (from Uganda) sermon last Sunday on Peter and Cornelius and how God stretches us at the edge and does things sometimes we think He ought not to do ;-) Your last paragraph resonates with his admonishment to step out and see, not only what God will do, but what He is already doing! I love you Josh!
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