Frank Schaeffer's Disappointing Testimony

Gary reviews the works of Frank Schaeffer, and how they contradict each other and send mixed signals about Schaeffer's worldview and life.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• frank schaeffer
• francis schaeffer
• crazy for god
• a time for anger
• myth of neutrality
• patience with god
• is capitalism christian

[edgwaterprog]

@twitcher73 There may be a difference between "liberating" doctrine from the right-wing Christian corporatist leaders that Schaeffer discusses and "libertine" doctrines that the right-wing always accuses the left of supporting.

[edgwaterprog]

@taosimplicity Great point.

[edgwaterprog]

@c42u You people just cannot accept the moral bankruptcy of the religious right. When someone who knows about the problems, they accuse him of being mentally unbalanced. Sounds like he is more like a prophet than Samson to me.

[lueffee]

guess what!!!! Christianity is not the only religion, Frank who maintains his christian beliefs, he just shed the light on the judging nature of what Christianity has become. This was not Jesus' aim to judge, and condemn like so many Christian do. Jesus loves us ALL, God loves us all, the only ones who can judge would be God him/herself. The Christian Right would like to control you, and make you give up you freedoms. Frank is just now making an act of contrition. Yes, he is sorry.

[NevilleRhysBarnes]

I read and was convinced by Francis Schaeffer when I was young and impressionable. With hindsight, I can see the superficiality of his arguments--an ounce of skepticism and they fall apart.

Franky is in a better position that anyone to comment on the Christian right, and his analysis of American Christianity is the most accurate--and courageous--of any contemporary commentator.

DeMar's argument against Franky is ad hominem and partisan. I would trust Franky over DeMar any day.

[frozenmonarch]

Here's the issue. The church has gone downhill. A lot of what frank Shaeffer has said about the church is absolutely right. There is far to many hate filled Christians who are looking to control rather than to bless. Schaeffer though seems to have decided to instead see the faults for what they are, and from a Christian perspective go after the "sins" he has decided to use mockery and put downs to try to control people himself. It's a shame.

[twitcher73]

I'm reading Patience With God right now, and I actually agree with much of what Frank says about the current church culture in North America. I struggle with many of the same conclusions he has come up with: It is consumer driven and celebrity populated; it is about entertainment and self aggrandizement; there is far too much of the "us vs them" mentality. While his case resonates with me, I also don't feel that the answer is to essentially attack and "liberalize" the doctrine of the church.

[Mojosbigstick]

Frankie switched? So did Saul.

It's not possible that a man can (God help us), see the light.

[maajoour]

Maybe Franky made a switch because he saw the truth. What else could he do? So, Gary, you need to allow for the possibility that Franky is right. Or are you afraid of the truth?

[PenSword35]

FINALLY!!!!!! Someone with some BALLS! Thank you Frank Schaeffeer!!!!!