The Jack Miller Archive

Letter on article by F. Schaeffer (35:147-48), Volume 36, Number 3, March 1967, Page 41 http://opc.org/cfh/guardian/Volume_36/1967-03.pdf

EDITOR'S MAIL BOX

Dear Sir:

The recent letter (February) by Harry Schat and Raymond Commeret discussing Francis Schaeffer's article "The Practice of Truth" (Guardian, December 1966) reveals a commendable concern for maintaining a biblical apologetics in the modern world. At the same time, it does not seem to me that the writers of the letter have quite understood the purpose of the article by Dr. Schaeffer.

He does not appear to be teaching a nature-grace opposition when he reasons that truth must be practiced as well as affirmed. As I understand his article he is saying rather that cooperation in evangelism with those who do not accept the authority of Scripture is dangerous — that such a practice, in effect, undercuts and relativizes the truth we affirm.

Moreover, although his language could have been more precise, in speaking of "brute facts" Dr. Schaeffer is not presupposing a modern philosophical interpretation of existence. Instead he is merely saying that history is taken seriously by the Christian, that he refuses to accept a dialectical relativizing of the past.

For myself, I too wish that the article had mentioned the Scriptures as the truth in a more explicit way. Yet even here I think, the authors of the letter go too far when they state that "without the revelation of the Bible there would be no truth anywhere for blinded sinful man." Is this to be understood to mean that general revelation to man does not exist? I am sure that the writers of the letter do not really want to take this position, a point of view which is clearly not that of the Scriptures themselves, of the Westminster Confession, of Calvin or Dr. Cornelius Van Til.

Fruit of L'Abri

In the Mechanicsville Chapel, where I have carried on a part-time pastorate, I have found numerous co-workers in the young men converted through the ministry of the Schaeffers at L'Abri in Switzerland. These young men have spoken in our services and at present two of them are conducting a children's Bible club with consecration and Christian zeal. Two things stand out in our association with them: 1) the love these new Christians have for the Bible as the Word of God and 2) their dependence upon Him in prayer. I haven't seen the slightest evidence of a "sort of neo-rationalism and neo-humanism" in these young men.

Cordially yours, C. JOHN MILLER Jenkintown, Pa