Page 91 - Heros of the Faith - Textbook w videos short

'spiritual ideas']); and to a general malaise in the population as a whole where the majority would settle for
'personal peace and affluence'.

He predicted that most would put up with any amount of moral change and evil as long as it was 'Not In My Back
Yard' and as long as there was ongoing material prosperity to keep filling the dull ache of the soul. The 'Christian
base' which for so long had informed Western thinking and public life would become only a folk memory as
secularism gradually became dominant. The ruling elites, who are in place in all areas of the culture - politics
and the bureaucracy of the modern state, the judiciary, the universities, the arts and media - have their thinking
and action informed by a 'worldview' where the God of the Bible and our Lord and Saviour are relegated to
'personal prejudice only'. He is not allowed to influence anything significant according to this outlook. Indeed
that 'tolerance of a belief in God' can soon become an antipathy to any mention of his claims on us, and that can
get enshrined in public law and attitudes. All this sounds familiar now doesn't it, but it was almost unthinkable
when he spoke about it in the 60s and 70s.

Tragically we are now living with many of the consequences he so powerfully preached and wrote about.
Though some of his writings now feel a bit dated (he used lots of contemporary illustrations to show his main
points were anchored in 'real life'), many of them are still enormously helpful. They are biblical, sane, wise and
insightful. They are passionate, heartfelt and godly. They are full of lament at sin, and sorrow at 'lostness'; they
are deeply imbued with love for God and Christ, and tender towards needy people. They are still a timely and
necessary cry we should listen to. Too many others who have written on similar 'cultural analysis themes' lack
Schaeffer's all-round spiritual credibility. In a short life where one cannot hope to 'read everything' that Francis
and Edith have written would repay the one who takes the trouble to delve into them handsomely.

God greatly blessed this 'man and wife team', and they have put many of us in their debt as they shared those
blessings in a life of gracious Christian self-giving. May you go on to prove that in your experience too as you
learn from these faithful servants of their risen Lord.

God gave Francis Schaeffer and amazing mind to understand how to apply the truths of God’s Word to
the culture of his day. He was a prophet for his day and for the future. He had an amazing ability to
take the Scriptures and apply them to life. He carefully handled the Word of Truth. He is a man to be
admired!

Dr. Francis Schaeffer – The Flow of Materialism

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