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Continuing in his discussion of how Christians are to respond when they disagree, in this next section of Francis Schaeffer’s book, The Mark of the Christian, Schaeffer helps us to understand proper “regret.”
Specifically, as follow up to the topic of disagreement deal with in the last section of the book, Schaeffer addresses the question: “How can we exhibit the oneness Christ commands without sharing in the other man's mistakes?” (p. 26)
REGRET
First, we should never approach such disagreement without regret and true sorrow, there must honest regret and humility that it has come to this point of disagreement. Schaeffer makes this point quite vividly: “The world must observe that, when we must differ with each other as true Christians, we do it not because we love the smell of blood, the smell of the arena, the smell of the bullfight, but because we must for God's sake” (p. 27).
Second, there should be a proportionate display of love equal to (if not more than) the importance and degree of the disagreement (p.28). The word he uses is that this love should be “seeable,” reminding us again of the apologetic nature and message of this text.
Unfortunately, the reverse is too often more true; when we have minor disagreements, it is easy for us to show love, but the test comes with, and is most important—because this is when the unbelieving will be most observant—when there are major rifts. This is when we should be most careful to display “seeable” love to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Key statements from this section (p. 26-28):
There is only one kind of man who can fight the Lord's battles in anywhere near the proper way, and that is the man who by nature is unbelligerent.
If it is only a minor difference, showing love does not take much conscious consideration. But where the difference becomes really important, it becomes proportionately more important to speak for God's holiness. And it becomes increasingly important in that place to show the world that we still love each other.
As the differences among true Christians get greater, we must consciously love and show a love which has some manifestation the world may see.
You can read the online edition of the entire book here >>
Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
In the next section of Francis Schaeffer’s book, The Mark of the Christian, Schaeffer carefully suggests to us how to properly disagree. [This is the 14th post in analytically blogging my way through Schaeffer’s book.]
In the previous two sections, he has introduced us to the need to say we’re sorry and to grant forgiveness; for without these two very practical steps, our love will only be a good idea. But how are we to handle honest disagreement, and disagreement that surfaces over matter of holiness, or lack thereof?
WHEN CHRISTIANS DISAGREE
First when dealing with sin or holiness, Schaeffer appeals to the example of how Paul admonishes the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 5:1-5) for their failure to directly and forcefully deal with a clear matter of sin in their midst. Thus, sin cannot go unattended by the church. To do so is to ignore the holiness of God, our witness to the world, and to violate God’s law (p. 25).
Conversely—and do not miss the irony—Paul will later write to scold them for not properly loving and accepting this repentant brother back into the fellowship of the church (2 Cor. 2:6-8).
The point: we must have, and display, a proper—and very delicate—balance between exercising rightful justice and giving proper love; that is, living and showing: “grace and truth.”
Why, Schaeffer reminds us again of the apologetical nature of our Christian relationships when he concludes with this imagined quote from Jesus to the church family at Corinth: "Don't you realize that the surrounding pagans of Corinth have a right to say that Jesus was not sent by the Father because you are not showing love to this man that you properly disciplined?" (p. 26).
Key statements from this section (p. 25-26):
What happens, then, when we must differ with other brothers in Christ because of the need also to show forth God's holiness either in doctrine or in life?
First, in I Corinthians 5:1-5 he scolds the Corinthian church for allowing a man in the midst of fornication to stay in the church without discipline. … After they have disciplined him, Paul writes again to them in II Corinthians 2:6-8 and scolds them because they are not showing love toward him.
These two things must stand together.
You can read the online edition of the entire book here >>
Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
Today I continue my blog review and analysis of Francis Schaeffer’s book,
The Mark of the Christian.
We are beyond the halfway point of this short text, and into the sections where Schaeffer carefully shows the applications of his thesis: that the final apologetic for the Christian is their love for other Christians.
In the last section, Schaeffer introduced us to the first step of observable love within the Christian community, learning how to say “I’m sorry.” The next step is receiving that act of humility: exercising forgiveness.
FORGIVENESS
If saying “I’m sorry is hard” (which it certainly is), then granting forgiveness is even harder. Schaeffer reminds us, however, that the Bible makes it very clear “the world must observe a forgiving spirit in the midst of God's people” (p. 24). And Jesus makes this very clear in His model prayer – the Lord’s Prayer. Moreover, the degree of our forgiveness towards other people directly affects our relationship with God our Father in heaven. The entire point is, of course, that an attitude of forgiveness is an act/”mark” of love towards each other.
Key statements from this section (p. 23-25):[The Lord’s Prayer] … has nothing to do with being born again . . . But it does have to do with a Christian's existential, moment-by-moment experiential relationship to God. We need a once-for-all forgiveness at justification, and we need a moment-by-moment forgiveness for our sins on the basis of Christ's work in order to be in open fellowship with God.
The Lord's Prayer does not suggest that when the other man is sorry, then we are to show a oneness by having a forgiving spirit. Rather, we are called upon to have a forgiving spirit without the other man having made the first step.
We are to have this forgiving spirit not only toward Christians but toward all men. But surely if it is toward all men, it is important toward Christians.
Such a forgiving spirit registers an attitude of love toward others. But, even though one can call this an attitude, true forgiveness is observable.
You can read the online edition of the entire book here >>
Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
(Chorus)
When the feeling's gone
Shine on, shine on
And onto something new
It's long I know I do
I will remember you
Shine on, shine on
And let the others see
You got your victory
Will you remember me?
Somewhere between the end
And the point where we began.I love this band ... learn more here: NeedtoBreathe Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
A free eBook on Discipleship: I'm about halfway through and have a very positive impression so far. For those of you in Church's Min., this seems to be an excellent complement to what we're doing in there. You can download the book at: Grow: Reproducing Through Organic DiscipleshipThis was posted on Between Two Worlds, and it was so good I had to pass it on: A Young Man's Testimony to Suffering and the Sovereignty of GodIn it he writes:I’m saying that no matter where we are in life, no matter what challenges God has brought or will bring us through, you and I need an eternal perspective. Both pain and pleasure are meant to point us to the same reality; namely, that Jesus Christ is infinitely beautiful and so much more than enough for our every need. Living for Him, even suffering for Him, is worth every moment of affliction! Why? Because Jesus shows you such beauty in pain, because He is there and He is carrying us through. C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers in our pleasure and screams in our pain.” That is so true.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -BBC students, below is our class schedule for this week. If you have any questions, drop me an email. Otherwise, I'll see you in class!This week’s schedule:The Church's Ministry:M (11/9) – Guest Lecturer: Missional Applied - Pastor Mark DeverW (11/11) - Missional Passage Work
F (11/13) - Group PresentationsEducational Ministries of the Church:
M (11/9) – The Educational Cycle PresentationW (11/1) – The Educational Cycle Presentation
Foundations of Ministry Leadership
T (11/10) – Team Leadership
Th (11/12) - K&P Leadership PracticesEffective Bible TeachingT (11/10) – Lesson Development ContinuedTh (10/12) - **Lesson Presentations Begin**Luke (Grad School)Outline & Summary of Luke 4-6Forum Discussion (2)1P2FWeek Assessment QuizStart "Redemptive Presence" ProjectBlessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
In this next section of Francis Schaeffer’s book, The Mark of the Christian, Schaeffer begins to answer the question that he has begging the reader to ask: “So, what does this Christian love look like? How is it exercised by the believer?” [This is the 12th post in working my way through Schaeffer’s book: The Mark of the Christian.]
VISIBLE LOVE
The answer he warns is a “very simple thing.” This may seem like a simple thing, even a letdown; it truly does have profound implication (p. 22). Indeed, this is the first step to renewed fellowship in any relationship that has been damaged.
He will explain more of this process in the sections, but Schaeffer never wanders too far from his main thesis, again in this section he writes: “if I not willing to say “I’m sorry” when I have wrong somebody else . . . let me say it again, if I am not willing to do this very simple thing, the world has a right to question whether Jesus was sent from God and whether Christianity is true” (p. 22).
Moreover, he reminds us this unwillingness to say we’re sorry not only affects individual relationships, it is also poisonous to Christian groups (and church organizations) as well: “What divides and severs true Christian groups and Christians . . . Invariably it is lack of love — and the bitter things that are said by true Christians in the midst of differences” (pp. 22-23).
If you would like to hear a more recent conversation about this very issue, the link below will take you to a spirited conversation from four Godly, yet quite different, well know Church personalities about this very issue (Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan; Albert Mohler, and CJ Mahaney). More specifically, they talk through how it can actually look, without compromising their distinctiveness, in working together. I encourage you to listen to their wise counsel: Cooperation in the Church
Key statements from this section (p. 21-23):
What, then, does this love mean? How can it be made visible?
First, it means a very simple thing: It means that when I have made a mistake and when I have failed to love my Christian brother, I go to him and say, "I'm sorry." That is first.
It may sound simplistic to start with saying we are sorry and asking forgiveness, but it is not. This is the way of renewed fellowship.
If, when we feel we must disagree as true Christians, we could simply guard our tongues and speak in love, in five or ten years the bitterness could be gone. Instead of that, we leave scars — a curse for generations. Not just a curse in the church, but a curse in the world.
You can read the online edition of the entire book here >>
Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
In answer to the false notions of unity discussed in the previous section of Francis Schaeffer’s book, The Mark of the Christian,
Schaeffer now seeks to emphasize the core of true unity. (Note: This is the 11th post of my review of this book.)
TRUE ONENESS
True oneness is visible; it is something that can be seen by an outside, watching, and observing world.
Schaeffer adds, however, that the Christian has the double task of being loving, and being holy (p. 21). He explains: “Not his (God’s) holiness without his love: that is only harshness. Not his love without his holiness: that is only compromise.” And this is opposed to the four false notions of love; conversely, it is to be a strong visible love that leaves no doubt about its veracity and motive. That is the love Jesus is calling us to in John 13 and 17.
Key statements from this section (p. 21):In John 13 and 17, Jesus talks about a real seeable oneness, a practicing oneness, a practical oneness across all lines.
Anything that an individual Christian or Christian group does that fails to show the simultaneous balance of the holiness of God and the love of God presents to a watching world not a demonstration of the God who exists but a caricature of the God who exists.
According to the Scripture and the teaching of Christ, the love that is shown is to be exceedingly strong. It is not just something you mention in words once in a while.
You can read the online edition of the entire book here >>
Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
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Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
Continuing in his discussion of how Christians are to respond when they disagree, in this next section of Francis Schaeffer’s book, The Mark of the Christian, Schaeffer helps us to understand proper “regret.”
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