Schaeffer & his letters

From a recent book report on Letters of Francis Schaeffer.

A Culture of Letters
To our great loss, this seems to be a neglected and even forgotten practice. (Ironic, given our age of "easy" communication?!)
Considering it is so thoroughly a biblical template for discipleship, its abandonment suddenly now worries me. We must ask, can it
truly be said that a handful of "sound-bite" emails, text messages, 30 minute coffee meetings and the like are comparable to a well
thought out letter joined to the receiver's meditative reading? Certainly the former things have their place, but I believe we are due
for a renaissance of letter writing. Even as I write this, I've opened a new document and begun writing a long overdue letter to a
young man I am currently discipling. I do hope this is the beginning of a kind of rediscovery of--if just in my own ministry--letter
writing for the sake of intensely heart-directed discipleship.

Taking Seriously the Concerns of Others
Consistently, Dr. Schaeffer takes the concerns and struggles of his friends seriously. His words in the letter "What is the Normal
Christian Life?" are emblematic of the entire collection: "I read your letter with care and would certainly want to do everything I can
to help" (159). Not once did I find a flippant comment, sarcastic or minimizing remark. The credibility this must have given him is
incalculable. How can I begin to grasp effective pastoral work if I first do not weigh and contemplate the words and thoughts--and
the pain therein--of my people? In the limited experience I have had in the ministry, there have been times I have attempted to
diminish one's hardships trying to help when in reality it came across as unloving or indifferent. Here I must learn from Dr.
Schaeffer.

Spirituality
Ringing out, again and again, is Dr. Schaeffer's emphasis on spirituality--an urgent and real devotional life before the Triune God.
Frankly, this shocked me. The Schaeffer I have assumed to understand for years is one of gargantuan intellect and rigorous
apologetics. (Really, I think I've been exposed as a one who has read very little Schaeffer!) He faithfully calls his friends and
correspondents to make certain the spiritual--communion with the God who is there--is in fact the center of their lives. Yes, the
other outer circles of the doctrinal and apologetic must be in place but not without the blazing center--the glory of the Most High
God, the beauty of the Son and the power of the Spirit. If, through vibrant prayer, fellowship with other believers, and pouring over
his Word, this is not in place, all is lost. Nothing can replace this; not organizational machinery, not tailored programs to people's
needs--nothing. This core will be shown to be properly in place when the person, the community, the ministry, etc. is led in full
surrender wherever the Spirit might lead. Few things grate as hard against our default functioning of autonomy, predictability and
control.

Casting Off the Approval of Men
My heart was penetrated when I read the following: "[Through the recent difficulties I have faced], the Lord taught me more than I
ever knew of the greatness of the Lord and the smallness of any man--and the corresponding importance of pleasing the Lord, and
the lack of importance of pleasing any particular man...[In spite of all that has happened there is no question of] personal
discouragement, for I am probably less discouraged than I have ever been since those bright days when I first saw the face of the
Lord, and before my feet got stuck in the problems of the prestige of man" (40-41). How much of my service in the church thus far
has been prompted and sustained by the approval of man?! Surprising it is to think of a man of Schaeffer's stature being susceptible
to such a stumbling block. Realizing the smallness of man in light of the glory and greatness of my God I have got to cast this off.
Lord, let my heart not tremble at their words, their looks, their silence, their anger or their pleasure with me. I belong to You and
You alone. Please, Father, let me live in the reality of your love for me above any other man, no matter their position or opinion.
Their prestige or the poverty they may bring is but a vapor. You alone are eternal, unchanging and Your promises are sure. Blessed
be Your name.