The One True Mark . . . Schaeffer

Today I come to the conclusion of Francis Schaeffer’s book, The Mark of the Christian. And it is anticipated and obvious. In this section, Schaeffer returns to the passage he has hung this entire discussion upon, John 13:34-35 (and John 17: 21), and uses the account of the Good Samaritan as one last illustration of the type of love Jesus is calling us to in this passage.

THE ONE TRUE MARK

Schaeffer concludes by holding up the Samaritan as an example to us in how to love both the stranger, and those we may have differences with, within the church; and, all in such a way “that the world may be able to observe” (p. 35), and see Christ in that love.

Key statements from this section (p. 34-35):

What then shall we conclude but that as the Samaritan loved the wounded man, we as Christians are called upon to love all men as neighbors, loving them as ourselves.

This means showing love to our brother in the midst of our differences — great or small — loving our brothers when it costs us something, loving them even under times of tremendous emotional tension, loving them in a way the world can see.

In short, we are to practice and exhibit the holiness of God and the love of God, for without this we grieve the Holy Spirit.

Love — and the unity it attests to — is the mark Christ gave Christians to wear before the world. Only with this mark may the world know that Christians are indeed Christians and that Jesus was sent by the Father.

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

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.