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Thursday, December 03, 2009

Divided but Love . . . Schaeffer

As we head towards the conclusion of Francis Schaeffer’s book, The Mark of the Christian, he continues to help us understand what "observable" love looks like in practice in the church.

In the section before us today, Schaeffer gives us a second example of such observable love:

DIVIDED BUT ONE

In this second example, Schaeffer seeks to show us what it might look like when two groups of people in the same church agree to separate because of a real difference, but yet still choose to love each other. And they did so in such a way that the outside, watching, world was effectively able to see the love Jesus speaks of in John 13:34-35. And to see that love in both why and how they separated to form the two new churches. “Now they have two churches and they are consciously practicing love toward each other” (p. 34).

Key statements from this section (p. 33-34):


After explaining the details, Schaeffer concludes with the statement copied below. I want to say with all my heart that as we struggle with the proper preaching of the gospel in the midst of the 20th century, the importance of observable love must come into our message. We must not forget the final apologetic. The world has a right to look upon us as we, as true Christians, come to practical differences and it should be able to observe that we do love each other. Our love must have a form that the world may observe; it must be seeable.

You can read the online edition of the entire book here >>

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

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