Book Review: True Spirituality

True Spirituality

Schaeffer, Francis A.,

Tyndale House Publishers,

c1971, 2001, 2011

171 pp

 

 

         Back in April, 1971, Francis Schaeffer dedicated this book to his wife, Edith, and his children and grandchildren—eighteen in total. I’ve read most of his books and I consider this one of his very best works—it is a true classic. The subtitle (not in the early editions) is “How to live for Jesus moment by moment.”

Farel House at L'Abri, Huémoz, Switzerland

         I became a bit of a Schaeffer fan in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and even visited L’Abri in Switzerland one clear, bright September Sunday in 1976. Schaeffer himself was away in Italy so his son-in-law, Udo Middelmann preached.

        A great deal of Schaeffer’s work is philosophical and perhaps difficult to follow. This book is right down to earth and practical for Christian living.

  

        In Section I, Freedom Now from the Bonds of Sin (Chapters 1-7), he lays down the very basis of any true spirituality— “It is impossible... to know anything of true spirituality before one is a Christian. And the only way to become a Christian is... by accepting Christ as Savior.” He points out that the very center of the Christian message “is not Christ’s life, nor his miracles, but his death.”



After-service discussions, Farel House



        Schaeffer talks about the order of things—through death to resurrection. Here he starts to use some of his self-coined words, but we can see what he means in context:— for instance “spaceness”, “space-timeness”, “until-ness”, “unfaith”. One detail he strongly points out about Jesus is, “What we see him to be after his resurrection... we shall be.”

 

         Section II, Freedom Now from the Results of the Bonds of Sin (Chapters 8-13), is more difficult to grasp. Schaeffer speaks of “freedom from conscience”, avoiding the equal extremes of “perfectionism”, and “looking lightly at sin in our lives.” He looks at “freedom in the thought-life” because “in relation to morals, the thought is the thing.” Chapters well worth reading look at “substantial healing in personal relationships” and “substantial healing in the Church.”

        At one point, Schaeffer writes in amazement, “How beautiful Christianity is!” We have to agree! And on the next page he says, “God means Christianity to be fun.” True again!

 

 

 

 

                         Snow-capped Alps across the Rhone valley

        Francis Schaeffer was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, January 30, 1912, and passed away May 15, 1984, in Rochester, Minnesota.

        Spin-offs from the whole L’Abri establishment/culture include branches in Canada (Bowen Island, BC), England, the USA, and five other countries. Books include the story of L’Abri by Edith Schaeffer; The Unhurried chase that Ended at L’Abri and A Song from L’Abri, both by Betty Carlson; and currently, Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young (see her comments in the Introduction). Other authors associated with L’Abri over the years have been Udo Middelman and Os Guiness.

Reviewed by Glenn Wilson Ì

How Jesus Treated Little Children

        “People brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.” (Mat.19:13-15)

         Jesus said, “You... know how to give good gifts to your children.” Mat.7:11

        Jesus said, “You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” Mat.11:25

        Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Mat.18:3

        ‘The children [shouted] in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David.”’ “From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise.” Mat.21:15-16

    These Scriptures are very clear in themselves in showing how we should deal with, talk to and generally appreciate children.  In our first passage, the disciples got in the way— the children couldn’t see Jesus. The disciples completely blocked Him off.

        So how do we relate these few thoughts to today’s world and today’s church?  First off, we would have to say that anything we do that blocks a child’s vision of Jesus, is a sin. Do they see us angry? spiteful? rude? unfair? unjust? Do they hear us lie? gossip? be hurtful?

        What should children see in us? The first thing they should see in us is Jesus. We should be easily approachable by them. We should be able to give them “good gifts”, and communicate with them on their level (“become like little children”). After all, they are children, not small adults.

        On the other hand what should we see in them? In some way “the kingdom of heaven belongs” to them. Something has been revealed to them that has been hidden “from the wise and learned.” We want to learn what that is. Finally (in this little study), we see the children praising the Son of David when adults missed Him. It almost seems like the heartfelt singing from a little Cubbie can surpass our best attempts at praise! Ì

Toronto Skyline, August 2, 2013