Francis Schaeffer was one of three writers (the others being Lewis and Tozer) who influenced me most profoundly when I was a new believer in the early 1970’s. I remember like it was yesterday reading his The Church Before the Watching World, where he said the following.
First let me say that many sincere people believe in the Bible and also believe in an old earth. They do this via the gap theory or day age theory or some other means of interpretation.
Secondly, let me say that I am not certain about the age of the universe, the age of the earth, or when the first humans walked the earth. I have read very persuasive scientific arguments for an old earth, and have read some counterarguments that may have merit. I don't feel qualified scientifically to make the judgment.
I've recently been reading G. K. Chesterton's book Orthodoxy and his little book on St. Thomas Aquinas.
Also, I've read several books on intelligent design, by Johnson and Dembski, and Stephen Meyer’s excellent Signature in the Cell, regarding DNA and its incredible complexity.
As a brand new Christian in 1970, I read every Christian book I could get my hands on. Several, including Born Crucified, were by L. E. Maxwell, who my friend Doug Nichols speaks so fondly of in this reflection. I asked Doug if I could use it in my blog. Some of you will remember another powerful story of Doug’s I featured in this blog, concerning Francis Schaeffer, who made a profound impact on my life.
One of my heroes, L. E. Maxwell, died in February 1984 at age 88.
Mr. Maxwell was President and Principal of Prairie Bible ...
I believe in the inspiration and authority of Scripture, but I don't think this means I have to believe in inerrancy. The Bible isn't meant to be a textbook, and we don't need to believe in the details of the creation account, and the first man and woman in the garden, or about Jonah being swallowed by a whale. The Bible contains parables and metaphors. Do I really have believe it has to be correct in all the little details to be God's Word?After seeing my recent post about Francis Schaeffer, my friend Doug Nichols, founder and international director emeritus of Action International Ministries, emailed me this story. To me, given my respect for both men, it's priceless. Thanks for sharing it with us, Doug. And thanks for being the same kind of man Francis Schaeffer showed himself to be the night you met him.
Francis Schaeffer slept here
by Doug Nichols
In 1966 I joined Operation Mobilization for a year of ministry in France, but spent two years in India instead. While in London that summer, at the one-month OM orientation ...
Friday, May 15, is the 25th anniversary of the home-going of Francis Schaeffer, intellectual and Christ-lover. When I was a new believer, I was profoundly influenced by what he wrote; Schaeffer's philosophical and apologetic writings, among them He Is There & He Is Not Silent, shaped my thinking in the seventies. (For those unfamiliar with Schaeffer, you can find excerpts from nearly all of his books at www.rationalpi.com/theshelter/sitemap.html)
I have only one Lord, but many spiritual heroes. I'd love to hear about some of yours. Here are seven of mine.
Last week, same sex couples were married all over California.
The future is predictable. Streams of people will come from all over the country to be married in California, and then will go back to their home states and argue that their marriage licenses should be honored. What will the states decide?
Books and bookstores have had an enormous influence on my own life. I came to Christ as a teenager, at Powell Valley Covenant Church in Gresham, less than a mile from where I live now. My first youth pastor, Paul Siwick, did me a huge favor—he gave me a key to his office, so I could go in any time and read his books, hundreds of them. I read everything I could get my hands on.
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