Francis Schaeffer (Research Proposal Sample)

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE DISTINCTIVE CONTRIBUTION OF FRANCIS SCHAEFFER TO THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN AGE
Introduction
Francis Schaeffer was among the pioneers in the subject area of Christian apologetics and the advancement of a Christian reaction to the anti-supernaturalism that dictated western thought throughout the 20th century. He developed a biblical and evangelical attitude which attested to be a demanding substitute to emptiness and hopelessness which typified secular Europe in the era. Schaeffer also recognized that cultural change was particularly replicated in the arts and was capable of helping a number of people who were attempting to forge a Christian viewpoint to creativity in influential aspects of life. Francis Schaeffer in no way promoted himself as an intellectual apologist, as a thinker, as a theologian, or as an academician. Instead, he presented himself as a cleric and an evangelist, and this, in fact, is the manner in which he thought of the ministry that had graciously been bestowed unto him by God.[Bahnsen, G. L. (2011, March 10). A Critique of the Notion of Antithesis in Francis Schaeffer's Apologetic. Retrieved January 20, 2014, from ] [Bebbington, D. W. (1989). Evangelicalism in Modern Britain. Grand Rapids: Baker Book.]
Francis Schaeffer transpired to be one of the most prominent Christian leaders the twentieth century had seen. He hailed from a modest working-class environment in Philadelphia, learned under the tutorage of Gresham Machen in Westminster Seminary, was the minister of a number of small houses of worship in the USA, and later spent the larger part of his life in Europe, where he had moved to at the stop of World War II as a missionary. One identifying factor is his never seeking ‘recognition’ or 'a name' which led to God using him to aid the church at a point when the church battled, and still battles, the immense challenges resulting from the widespread and adoption of the western culture.[FrancisSchaeffer. (1985). A Christian View of the Bible as Truth. Vol. 2 of The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer: A Christian Worldview. Wheaton: Crossway Books.]
Background
Francis A. Schaeffer was born in a modest background in Germantown, Pennsylvania on January 30, 1912 to his parents Franz A. Schaeffer III and his wife Bessie Williamson and spent the majority of his grown-up life with his spouse Edith together with their four kids Deborah, Priscilla, Frank and Susan in Switzerland where in the long run the renowned L’Abri Fellowship was founded in 1955. According to Colin, Schaeffer would constantly remind his children how lucky they were to have spent their lives Europe. He continues to assert how the kids enjoyed a prosperous family life living in Europe.[Follis, B. A. (2006). Truth with Love . Wheaton: Crossway books.]
Brought up in a working-class locality, subsequent to graduating from high school, he joined Drexel Institute eying a profession in engineering fields. However, his life took a turn around in a different course within a year as a result of transformation into Christianity.
In September 1930, when he was only eighteen years of age, Schaeffer dedicated his life utterly to Christ and found salvation at a tent convention. Over a time frame of some months, he had been reading the Bible all through which later turned into an annual norm that he continued all through his life as substantiated by the highlighting in his Bible. This was because he convicted that the Bible tackled life in a stern and honest manner- later, this would come to serve as a strong point for him in his ministry and a lesson to the church with regards to the seriousness while studying the Bible. He was clout with the candidness with which the Bible presented answers to the queries of life. For Schaeffer, the responses the Bible brought forth handled life factually; intricate and tricky at times but provided answers spot on to the reality of life. According to his understanding, the Bible was not on a make-believe world, but a propos of the truth in which all humankind lived and elucidated how things were so iniquitous and out-of-joint. Precisely since this world was so iniquitous, Schaeffer would, frequently, say that was the reason as to why he had become a Christian. The precision of Christianity edifies that though the human race lives in the middle of tragic circumstances due to sin there is a bona fide answer in Christ which offers optimism to the human heart. This was perhaps the first and earlier contribution he made to contemporary church by ascertaining that the church was the lone place where individuals could find hope. Through this assertion, he helped establish the church as a credible institution where humankind could source for hope and optimism.[Morris, T. V. (1976). Francis Schaeffer's Apologetics. Chicago: Moody.] [Packer, J. (2011, March 10). No Little Person. Retrieved January 25, 2014, from ] [Parkhurst, L. (1986). Francis Schaeffer: The Man and His Message. Eastbourne: Kingsway.] [Schaeffer, E. (1969). L'Abri. Sussex: Norfolk.]
In the fall of the year 1930 whilst attending the Drexler, Schaeffer got a growing pressure in his spirit. Later in the summer while attending a tent meeting, he gave his life entirely to Christ in salvation. On that fateful night, he departed from the meeting with a rejuvenated sense of delight, but over time it brought an increasing conviction that God was directing him to get ready for Christian ministry. The pressure mounted between reverencing his parents, who at that period were of the view that preachers were not of much essence to society, and preparation for specifically that position (preacher, pastor and minister) in life. Nevertheless, true to his dedication to living entirely for the Lord, he comprehended he must take suitable steps in that path. Without a doubt, he made a major contribution to contemporary church by showing that once a calling was made, it was critical to follow it. He also served as an epitome of following one’s heart and not paying heed to the opinions of other for he opted to follow his heart till the end.[Schaeffer, F. (1985). A Christian View of Philosophy and Culture. Vol. 1 of The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer: A Christian Worldview. Wheaton: Crossway Books.] [Schaeffer, F. (1985). A Christian View of Spirituality. Vol. 3 of The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer: A Christian Worldview. Wheaton: Crossway Books.]
When he reached nineteen on 30th Jan 1931, he ceased going for evening classes at Drexel and enlisted in both Latin and German languages lessons at a neighbourhood high school. In the spring of 1931, he started attending Hampden-Sydney College specializing in pre-ministerial reading. According to Edith in her novel, The Tapestry, the sunrise Francis departed for Hampden-Sydney was a hard one in the both the lives of father and son. His dad was lucid that turning into a preacher was not his dream for his son. All the same, at those the early morning hours meeting, just prior to his dad left for his job, and Francis departed for Hampden-Sydney, his dad concurred to clear the first semester fees of college. That fateful morning, as Schaeffer departed for Hampton-Sydney, he verified that his dedication made nearly a year past to dedicate himself fully to Christ was no sheer momentous emotion. Furthermore, his meek determination to learn for the ministry had a helpful resolve on his dad deciding to get saved. Through such acts, he demonstrated how determined preachers were in their quest- to give their lives to Christ- and how they were relentless in their activities. This might be the grounds as to why the church receives such reverence from everyone all due to the lessons obtainable from the life of Schaeffer.[chaeffer, F. (1985). A Christian View of the West. Vol. 5 of The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaffer: A Christian Worldview . Wheaton: Crossway Books.] [Schaeffer, F. (1986). The Letters of Francis Schaeffer. (L. T. Dennis, Ed.) Eastbourne: Kingsway Publications.]
At Hampden-Sydney, he persisted in a life dedicated to Christ by truthful study and unrelenting witness even though the majority of students were more attracted to the party life in comparison to salvation. Nevertheless, nothing daunted Schaeffer in his salvation and dedication to pursuing the Lord’s command in his life. It was in 1935 that he graduated a magna cum laude from Hampden-Sydney which attested no tiny accomplishment bearing in mind that he was dyslexic.
He got married to Edith Seville in the summer of the same year who hailed from missionary family with her parents having doled out with the China Inland Mission. It was that same fall that Francis got into Westminster Theological Seminary situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to prepare for the ministry. Schaeffer also entered Carl McIntire’s International Council of Christian Churches (ICCC). That connection persisted until a short time later, subsequent to Schaeffer moving to Europe, when the affiliation (both individually and managerially) came to an end later. McIntire had founded the ICCC as a conformist counter to the laissez-faire Federal and World Council of Churches (FWCC) which was what originally attracted Schaeffer to the group.
Contributions to Contemporary Church
1 Christianity and Secularism
He was resolute to show quite a few items through the ministry of L'Abri which he founded. Foremost there was to be a proper outworking of faith and reliance on God in all situations - a revelation that the concealed supernatural world truly exists. Subsequently, for instance, they dedicated themselves to supplication and prayer, requesting that God would provide the persons to them that would get their ministry useful, and that God would offer all essential resources of funds, housing employees and et cetera. They perceived, and the work persists to s...