Francis A. Schaeffer wanted to know the answer to a question. How does, healthy, whole, real, true, honest, thinking, feeling, Trinitarian, gospel focussed, biblically based growth of Christians happen? How does truly spiritual growth happen? How does sanctification actually work? once you become a Christian, how does real, lasting and healthy change happen? How can we connect more deeply with reality? How can we become more truly human?
I'm going to be reading, then summarising, and inviting discussion of each chapter of Schaeffer's answer. This is found in his teaching titled 'True Spirituality' which is available on cassette or CD from l'abri. And in the form of the book 'True Spirituality' which is available here: http://astore.amazon.co.uk/trgprice-21/detail/0842373519
Schaeffer breaks down his answer to these questions into two themes:
Section I. Freedom Now from the Bonds of Sin
Section II. Freedom Now from the Results of the Bonds of Sin
I don't really understand why he does this entirely. What is he doing by making a distinction between the 'results of the bonds' and the 'bonds' of sin? Why does he do that?
He develops the structure in the book like this...
Section I: Freedom Now From the Bonds of Sin
BASIC CONSIDERATIONS OF TRUE SPIRITUALITY
Chapter 1. The Law and the Law of Love
Chapter 2. The Centrality of Death
Chapter 3. Through Death to Resurrection
Chapter 4. In the Spirit’s Power
BIBLICAL UNITY AND TRUE SPIRITUALITY
Chapter 5. The Supernatural Universe
Chapter 6. Salvation: Past—Future—Present
MOMENT-BY-MOMENT PRACTICE OF TRUE SPIRITUALITY
Chapter 7. The Fruitful Bride
Section II: Freedom Now From the Results of the Bonds of Sin
MAN’S SEPARATION FROM HIMSELF
Chapter 8. Freedom From Conscience
Chapter 9. Freedom in the Thought-life
Chapter 10. Substantial Healing of Psychological Problems
Chapter 11. Substantial Healing of the Total Person
MAN’S SEPARATION FROM HIS FELLOW MAN
Chapter 12: Substantial Healing in Personal Relationships
Chapter 13: Substantial Healing in the Church
Appendix: The Dust of Life
I'm planning on moving through the book in order. It will help me to keep reading and to think about what I'm reading. I'll need to explain it to you. So can I invite you to get a copy, and to read the first chapter 'Chapter 1. The Law and the Law of Love' and I will post on this chapter before Christmas, so we can get our heads around what he means by 'The Law and the Law of Love'.
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2 comments:
Not sure I will be able to keep up but you convinced me to get round to reading my copy when I get home for Christmas.
Cheers!
I've got myself a copy. I need to read some Schaeffer, and the subject appealed to me.
I'm looking forward to reading what you make of it...
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