William Edgar - Schaeffer on the Christian Life: Countercultural Spirituality

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Friendly, passionate, intellectual, and constantly engaged with people as well as ideas and contemporary affairs, Francis Schaeffer comes alive in Edgars objective but affectionate portrait. Rescued from the distortions of both lionizers and demonizers, here is Schaeffer as so many of us knew him in the great years of LAbriand with so much to contribute to our world today.

Os Guinness, author, A Free Peoples Suicide

An engaging, fascinating account, seasoned with unusual insight into one of the truly original apologists of our time.

David F. Wells, Distinguished Research Professor, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

For many years I hoped that I could spend some time at LAbri, but that was not Gods plan for me. Instead, God enabled me to become friends with many LAbri alumni, of whom Bill Edgar is one. I have been impressed with the intellectual caliber of those men and women, but even more with their godly character. LAbri evidently had a way of leading people from intellectual atheism, to conversion, to spiritual maturity. Bills book focuses, more than other LAbri books, on this process of what we now call spiritual formation. The whole church can learn much from it. I commend this excellent book to all who seek to draw nearer to God.

John M. Frame, J. D. Trimble Chair of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando

Francis Schaeffer was small of stature but a giant in his tenacious concern for truth, for God, for people, and for reality. He became convinced that Christian faith is the radical path for our own day, the realistic answer to the hard questions of a troubled modern world. William Edgars compulsively readable study of Schaeffers thought is set in the context of Schaeffers rough-edged life and his brilliantly inspired work in the LAbri community he established with his remarkable wife, Edith. LAbri, perched high on the slopes of a remote alpine valley, drew a motley procession of mainly young travelers from the ends of the earth. Schaeffers own, sometimes anguished, quest to communicate the ancient biblical text in a century of unprecedented historical changes attracted and opened doors for a generation of Christians. It also convinced many outside the faith with honest questions (like Bill Edgar himself) to follow the way of Christ. This engaging book captures the fire of Francis Schaeffers thought and concerns, and revisits and reinvigorates the still-urgent challenge he presented to the church in the modern world.

Colin Duriez, author, Francis Schaeffer: An Authentic Life

Dr. Edgars book on countercultural spirituality is a much-needed and trustworthy guide in the dark confusion of the postmodern world.

Wim G. Rietkerk, Trustee, LAbri Fellowship, Holland

In a brilliant combination of personal recollections and thorough analysis, William Edgar demonstrates convincingly that the Schaeffers encounter with the triune God who is there is central to the rise, growth, and impact of LAbri. This refreshing study will arouse the enthusiasm of all who yearn for a true spirituality that transforms minds and lives, regenerates the church, and flows into the total culture.

Pierre Berthoud, Professor Emeritus, Facult Jean Calvin, Aix-en Provence

THEOLOGIANS ON THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

EDITED BY STEPHEN J. NICHOLS AND JUSTIN TAYLOR

Augustine on the Christian Life:
Transformed by the Power of God,
Gerald Bray

Bavinck on the Christian Life:
Following Jesus in Faithful Service,
John Bolt

Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life:
From the Cross, for the World,
Stephen J. Nichols

Calvin on the Christian Life:
Glorifying and Enjoying God Forever,
Michael Horton

Edwards on the Christian Life:
Alive to the Beauty of God,
Dane C. Ortlund

Lewis on the Christian Life:
Becoming Truly Human in the Presence of God
Joe Rigney

Lloyd-Jones on the Christian Life:
Doctrine and Life as Fuel and Fire
Jason Meyer

Luther on the Christian Life:
Cross and Freedom,
Carl R. Trueman

Newton on the Christian Life:
To Live Is Christ,
Tony Reinke

Owen on the Christian Life:
Living for the Glory of God in Christ,
Matthew Barrett and Michael A. G. Haykin

Packer on the Christian Life:
Knowing God in Christ, Walking by the Spirit,
Sam Storms

Schaeffer on the Christian Life:
Countercultural Spirituality,
William Edgar

Spurgeon on the Christian Life:
Alive in Christ,
Michael Reeves

Warfield on the Christian Life:
Living in Light of the Gospel,
Fred G. Zaspel

Wesley on the Christian Life:
The Heart Renewed in Love,
Fred Sanders

Schaeffer on the Christian Life: Countercultural Spirituality

Copyright 2013 by William Edgar

Published by Crossway

1300 Crescent Street

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Cover design: Josh Dennis

Cover image: Richard Solomon Artists, Mark Summers

First printing 2013

Printed in the United States of America

The authors Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 2011 Text Edition. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-3139-2

PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-3140-8

Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-3141-5

ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-3142-2

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Edgar, William, 1944

Schaeffer on the Christian life : countercultural spirituality / William Edgar.

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

To Dick and Mardi Keyes,
who embody the spirit of LAbri
for our generation

Some might call us spoiled. We live in an era of significant and substantial resources for Christians on living the Christian life. We have ready access to books, DVD series, online material, seminarsall in the interest of encouraging us in our daily walk with Christ. The laity, the people in the pew, have access to more information than scholars dreamed of having in previous centuries.