Page 8 - Good News October 2005 paper

HIS LIFE TOUCHED MILLIONS! the United States. It was largely the
Continued from p. 1 US Supreme Court's 1973 Roe vs.
In the late 1940's, he toured Europe on behalf of the Wade decision, which opened the
American Council of Christian Churches. To his door to legal abortions on demand,
astonishment, he saw even greater needs there and that drew Schaeffer's interest back
moved to Switzerland to work with youth. The to America. In the book How Should
Schaeffers founded the Children for Christ Ministry in We T h e n L i v e ? S c h a e f f e r
1948 in Lausanne. Having three daughters, Schaeffer addressed the foundational
was familiar with the challenges of teaching young problems which led to this
people. In the meantime, he continued touring, devaluing of human life.
lecturing, and studying history and philosophy. Such a breakdown of values could
In 1951, Schaeffer's heart became troubled. He wasn't eventually lead to further violations
sure where God was leading him, and he questioned of human life in the forms of
his convictions. He remembers, "I felt a strong burden euthanasia (the killing of the
to stand for the historical Christian position, and for elderly) and infanticide. With former
the purity of the visible Church. As I rethought my Surgeon, General C Everett Koop
reasons for being a Christian, I saw again that there and his son Franky, Schaeffer
were totally sufficient reasons to know that the infinite, published Whatever Happened To
personal God does exist and Christianity is true." But The Human Race? which tackled
what was the best way to reach cultures so closed to these social issues specifically.
God's Word? Schaeffer was convinced to start right Schaeffer was frequently criticized
where he lived in Switzerland. In 1955, he formally by non-believers, but more sur-
opened his chalet in Huemoz as a "home" for solid prisingly by many believers who
Bible teaching, where anyone could come and listen to were worried by the explicit stand
thought-provoking analysis of Scripture. This haven of he took for the bold and consistent
spiritual rest and discovery was named L'Abri. application of the Bible.
Throughout the remainder of the 1950's, but especially However, Schaeffer continued to
in the 1960's when authority and "the establishment" proclaim the message of the
were most severely questioned, L'Abri drew inerrant Word. Professor Dr Gene
thousands of visitors. How did it keep going? Edith Veith, Jr says: "Schaeffer showed
Schaeffer explains: "We prayed that God would bring that orthodox Christianity, uncom-
the people of His choice...send in the needed financial promised and undiluted, is strong
means to care for us all, and open His plan to us." enough to challenge secularist
Pastor and author Dr Harold Brown says, "L'Abri's thought in its own territory."
initial theological impact was not made institutionally... When Schaeffer was diagnosed
but indirectly, through individuals whom the with cancer in 1981 and given only
Schaeffers came to know and whose lives they six months to live, he did not cease
changed." The Lord continued to unfold His purposes. his labour. The Lord gave him three
In 1968, Schaeffer published his first two books more years of active teaching and
Escape From Reason and The God Who Is There. In exhorting. His illness, with its long
these landmark works he explored ways in which other and sometimes debilitating treat-
philosophies have failed to adequately come to terms ments, gave him fresh oppor-
with real-world problems. tunities to address nationwide
Gradually, the work that Schaeffer had been medical concerns. Schaeffer died in
developing for years gained recognition, especially in his home on May 15, 1984. As
President Ronald Reagan said: "It
can rarely be said of an individual
that his life touched many others
and affected them for the better; it
will be said of Dr Francis Schaeffer
that his life touched millions of
souls and brought them to the truth
of their Creator."
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