Was Francis Schaeffer a Creationist?

Francis Schaeffer and former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop made a groundbreaking video series Whatever Happened To The Human Race? on  abortion, euthanasia and related topics.  There is also a book version of this shocking documentary.  Life issues are critical, but what about the origin of life itself? 

Francis Schaeffer (d. 1984) helped popularize the importance of worldview.  Schaeffer, looking at his teachings  overall, falls into the creationist camp.  Schaeffer held to a non-tranquil Universal Flood, the possibility of man-dinosaur coexistence and that nuclear decay rates may not be constant. [1]  Schaeffer said this in his commentary on Romans:   

There is a tendency in our day to view the first three chapters of Genesis as merely myth or parable, an idea or an allegory.  But considering that both Paul and Christ accepted those chapters as real history, if we reject them we are rejecting the authority not only of Paul but even of Christ Himself. ...  There was a historical Fall, bringing death to all people, even those who lived before the giving of the law. [2]

That sure sounds like traditional creationism.  Genesis is indeed history.   Schaeffer was weak on certain points of the Biblical chronology, but if one takes the time to read his complete works, he clearly took a very conservative view on the book of beginnings.

Biographer Colin Duriez states that Schaeffer was "undoubtedly a  creationist" but the term itself has a number of shades of meaning. [3]  Sadly, theistic evolution is still popular among Christian academics.  A better term would be “Theo Evo.”  Francis Schaeffer said Theo Evo is not an option,

… I will now mention two limits that seem to me to be absolute. … The Bible gives a specific limitation:  Adam was created by God, and then Eve was made from Adam by God. … I have never heard anyone holding any form of theistic evolution who follows these two limitations [the 1st was that bara means original creation]. …even if I were still an agnostic, as once I was, I would not accept the concept of evolution from the molecule to man in an unbroken line. …this concept is weak and certainly has not been proven … [4]

Frank Schaeffer, who worked on the fantastic animated film The Great

Evangelical Disaster, in contrast, should not be tagged as a creationist.

For another interpretation of Schaeffer's vision for understanding origins, see the creation statement straight from L'abri itself (last page).

Notes:

1) Complete Works of Francis Schaeffer by Francis Schaeffer (Crossway, Wheaton, IL, 1982), Vol. 2, pp. 94, 95, 132, 134.

2) The Finished Work of Christ by Francis A. Schaeffer (Crossway, Wheaton, IL, 1998),  p. 141

3) Francis Schaeffer: An Authentic Life by Colin Duriez (Crossway, Wheaton, IL, 2008), p. 201.

4)  The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer, Vol. 2, 2e (Crossway, 1996), pp. 136, 137.

Audacity and Hope

Ray Comfort has a new film => Audacity.  According to Living Waters, "this film delivers an unexpected, eye-opening look at the controversial topic of homosexuality."  Ray's testimony was touched on in a prior blog.

This film has action, cool drama, and Todd Friel (Wretched Radio) has a small part.  This movie has comedians and lots of laughs, but also gets very serious.  If you are struggling with same-sex attraction, there is hope for you (1 Cor. 6:9-11).  The Lord Jesus Christ can save and transform anyone (Jn. 4).

Some doubt the historical reality of Adam and Eve.  Others question the purpose of Adam and Eve:

Husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.  "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." [Gen. 2:24]  This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. (Eph. 5:28-32).

If you have seen the movie, let us know what you think ...

  ned_oa_1657@yahoo.com

Many deny Christianity because of evolution.  This bold and fresh new book, YES - Young Earth Science packs a major punch against Darwinism (see ch. 3):

Tall Oak Tree – Adam & Eve

“Tall Oak Tree” by Dorsey Burnette (d. 1979) hit #23 on the charts in 1960.

There was a tall oak tree

That loved a babbling brook

And the babbling brook

Loved the mountain high

And the mountain high

Loved the sky above

The Creator looked down

And saw everything was

Love, love, love

Then he took a bone

And a piece of mud

He made a man and a woman

To be flesh and blood

And then along came the Devil

Up out of the ground

He tempted woman and

That spread sin all around

All around, all around

If she'd left that apple

On the apple tree

There'd be no tears and sorrow

We'd live eternally …

Here is a version by Johnny Rivers.  Glen Campbell also sang this song.

Born This Way – Adam&Eve Remyx

What matters is that you love Him capital H-I-M

Just raise your hands up
'Cause born-againers sing this way

My Daddy told me when I was young

We are all born sinners
He rolled up his sleeves and got to work
On the farm and on the stairs

There's nothin' wrong with how God made you

Adam and Eve went together
Just like male and female
That’s how babies are made!

We lost our beauty, sad to say

Adam and Eve made a big mistake
You’re off the track LADY
No one’s born to be gay

Don't hide way under a net

Trust Christ – your sins he’ll forget
Turn from sin, yearn for heaven
No one’s born to be gay

Don’t ever brag – just praise the King

With the Father’s love you can begin

Believe in capital H-I-M
I love Jesus, He gives life!

No matter gay, straight or bi

Christ can transform your life
Read the Bible, know your gender
Be a Radical Scripture defender
© ice-j  1-6-13

Sacred Cows in Science is a superb work helping us form a Christian WorldView.  It covers such hot topics as climate change, Intelligent Design, reality of the soul, Global Flood, dinos etc.  Dennis Jernigan, the well-known Christian musician and worship leader has written the last chapter, “No One is Born Gay.”  The Lord delivered Dennis from a homosexual background.  Here is an excerpt:

… those who identify as homosexual are statistically at a higher risk of drug use, suicide, depression, and other emotional problems.  In addition, in the October 1999 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, research on the relationship between homosexuality and mental-health problems found that men with same-sex partners were 6.5 times as likely as their co-twin counterparts to have attempted suicide. [1]

 
We also recommend The Same Sex Controversy.  You may contact us through the email in our profile.

 

Note:
1)  Sacred Cows in Science ed. by Norbert Smith (Create Space, 2011), p. 337.