In light of the L'Abri conference coming up this February, I thought it might be a good idea to highlight five themes of the ministry of L'Abri and Francis Schaeffer. Hopefully they will give you a good idea of the perspective of Christianity that L'Abri is taking.
1. The Truthfulness of Christianity (True Truth)
We need to rediscover the objective reality of Christianity, really see the God who has acted concretely in time and space. Christianity is historically true; God has involved Himself in the flow of history. This means that it isn't just "my truth," or what works for me, because if Christianity is true at all, it is true for all. And whether we believe it or not, it remains true. It also means that it is consistent with all reality around us, and therefore that God speaks into all reality. We must see reality as God sees it.
2. The Reality of the Supernatural
Scrpture tells us that the God who is there is the God who is here. We must not live by simply what we can see. The unseen is just as real as what we do see, and our prayer life must reflect this reality. We will bear fruit that God has ordained because God is here. We need not pray in light of it as a ritual, but as a reality. God hears us. Really. Because the Christian life is not about the extraordinary, but about the ordinary that God works through. The spiritual aspect is the most important--once we are rooted in that reality, lives will be transformed.
3. The Humanness of Spirituality
To be spiritual is to fulfill our humanness--everything that it means to be fully human. We are called in Christ to rediscover what it means to be human in this world. We need to feel comfortable in accepting our Creaturely-ness--and to do this, we must bow before God as a creature, accepting our place in Creation. We must accept our limits, rest in being human, and be at peace with our Creator. We can look at our corner of Creation and find contentment. And ultimately, we can are reminded of what we are being saved to--a glorious, redeemed world in which that relationship will be completely made right and restored to its full glory and purpose.
4. The Significance of the Fall
The shadow of the Fall and the utter brokenness of this world runs very, very deep. There is a dissonance in all of creation, even to the Christian. The consequences of sin are hideous and corruption is so widespread. Much of the Western world has been convinced that we can fix everything, that we can civilize all of the world, but the problems we struggle with are so incredibly hard to get rid of: brokenness within our families, bigotry, educational reforms, politics, etc. Only with Christ will the groanings of creation be ceased--there are no quick fixes. While no enjoyment of creation should be taken away, we must live in light of the evil, carry an awareness of the shadow of the Fall, and we must bleed and weep with this broken world.
5. The Hope and Good News of the Gospel
God has saving designs for his entire creation.... a new heaven and a new earth, where he will restore not only our souls, but also our physical bodies and every aspect of creation. Brokenness happens at every level, therefore salvation will happen at every level. God's entire creation is given over to Christ. We have been born anew of God into this world, and we are working with God to redeem it. This has huge implications--every aspect of the world should be brought into the light of Christ; therefore we are called to be agents of change and transformation. We must look after our patch of Creation and love the man next door.
Showing posts with label l'abri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label l'abri. Show all posts
Monday, January 26, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
This Past Week at L'Abri
I experienced L'Abri.
I didn't just read about it, or talk about it, or think about it. I was there.
It was an incredible week of learning and studying, caving and hiking, running and reading. Living amongst people for a week who can appreciate you and love you after only having known you for hours can sometimes be a stark contrast to the world in which we live everyday. Taking, in a sense, a fast of technology, entertainment, and the daily grind opens our eyes to the simple things in life, the small things that matter in huge ways and force us to abandon ourselves until we are utterly free and alive. Like the way the snow sparkled against the the moonlit sky as it fluttered down. And the way the sun rose over the hilltop, creating a canopy of orange and pink, red and yellow. Bare trees cluttered the valley below us and stalagmites littered the cave we crawled through on our tummies. The fire roared in the hearth as heat flushed our faces. I don't even think the word "refreshed" can quite describe the feeling I felt. The gift of Creation on this earth is huge.
There's something about intentionality, opening up our lives and our questions to the few people around us and getting honest, thoughtful answers--or getting no answer at all, only left with more questions. Hearing the stories of others and sharing your own creates a new fascination and beauty for the people around you. God is incredibly faithful in carrying out his plan through us, and intervening in real time to bring about his will. Truly knowing that is a gift in itself.
There's something about community that lets you know that you were made for it.
I didn't just read about it, or talk about it, or think about it. I was there.
It was an incredible week of learning and studying, caving and hiking, running and reading. Living amongst people for a week who can appreciate you and love you after only having known you for hours can sometimes be a stark contrast to the world in which we live everyday. Taking, in a sense, a fast of technology, entertainment, and the daily grind opens our eyes to the simple things in life, the small things that matter in huge ways and force us to abandon ourselves until we are utterly free and alive. Like the way the snow sparkled against the the moonlit sky as it fluttered down. And the way the sun rose over the hilltop, creating a canopy of orange and pink, red and yellow. Bare trees cluttered the valley below us and stalagmites littered the cave we crawled through on our tummies. The fire roared in the hearth as heat flushed our faces. I don't even think the word "refreshed" can quite describe the feeling I felt. The gift of Creation on this earth is huge.
There's something about intentionality, opening up our lives and our questions to the few people around us and getting honest, thoughtful answers--or getting no answer at all, only left with more questions. Hearing the stories of others and sharing your own creates a new fascination and beauty for the people around you. God is incredibly faithful in carrying out his plan through us, and intervening in real time to bring about his will. Truly knowing that is a gift in itself.
There's something about community that lets you know that you were made for it.
Monday, March 17, 2008
the "new story:" why christianity must change?
i've had my nose in by demonstration: god, by wade bradshaw for about a week now, and it raises some really good points. one thing bradshaw said was really interesting to me:
bradshaw says there are two stories going on today, an Old one and a New one. in the Old Story, if someone wanted to be good they would go to the church and the God of the Bible. forgiveness was available to them there. even though this might have been the "moral high ground," non-christians were in agreement with it--if they wanted to climb this moral high ground, they would go to where goodness resided--in the church.
but now there is a New Story. people no longer feel that the church is the moral high ground, but instead they think themselves morally superior to the God the church proclaims. they might look to spirituality for guidance if they decided to be good, but not the church. why would someone want to go back there to find a good ethical life?
"our neighbors think we are calling them down to something they are already above, a god they are sure they have outgrown." it is inferior and immoral. bradshaw goes on to say:
so what do we do, how do we respond to this? i think some have given up insisting that our God is a personal God, and some have given up on doctrine that is theologically sound. they throw it away for something that is easier to swallow, replacing it with something that has a bitter taste, but a taste nonetheless. but we cannot be unfaithful to the revelation of God. we must listen and understand where the arguments are coming from and do this carefully, even if it is frightening or displeasing, as bradshaw says. "we cannot do everything else that others may require of us in order to be acceptable." we cannot simply say that we live in a culture which will not tolerate sound doctrine and leave it at that. we must react and explain things in such a way that they do make reasonable and moral sense today--because they should and they do.
bradshaw says there are two stories going on today, an Old one and a New one. in the Old Story, if someone wanted to be good they would go to the church and the God of the Bible. forgiveness was available to them there. even though this might have been the "moral high ground," non-christians were in agreement with it--if they wanted to climb this moral high ground, they would go to where goodness resided--in the church.
but now there is a New Story. people no longer feel that the church is the moral high ground, but instead they think themselves morally superior to the God the church proclaims. they might look to spirituality for guidance if they decided to be good, but not the church. why would someone want to go back there to find a good ethical life?
"our neighbors think we are calling them down to something they are already above, a god they are sure they have outgrown." it is inferior and immoral. bradshaw goes on to say:
"think of the hot religious issues of our day; the points on which our culture really disagrees with evangelicals on the way to live a good life. the God of the Bible is seen as homophobic. the God of the Bible is considered misogynistic. he is regarded as violent and cruel, as revealed by his acts in history. he is prejudiced and partial in his judgments, treating some people as more important than others" (142).
so what do we do, how do we respond to this? i think some have given up insisting that our God is a personal God, and some have given up on doctrine that is theologically sound. they throw it away for something that is easier to swallow, replacing it with something that has a bitter taste, but a taste nonetheless. but we cannot be unfaithful to the revelation of God. we must listen and understand where the arguments are coming from and do this carefully, even if it is frightening or displeasing, as bradshaw says. "we cannot do everything else that others may require of us in order to be acceptable." we cannot simply say that we live in a culture which will not tolerate sound doctrine and leave it at that. we must react and explain things in such a way that they do make reasonable and moral sense today--because they should and they do.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
"The Challenge of Hospitality in Our Contemporary Culture"
This past weekend was the L'Abri conference up in Rochester, MN (check out their website--www.labri.org) and like last year, I am left with so much to think about and process.
My favorite lecture this year was one that I went to hesitantly on hospitality in our culture--I am so glad that I went to this one because it changed and affirmed my views on what this really looks like and why it is so necessary.
Andrew Fellows, who gave the lecture, referenced Matthew 25, where Jesus offers a good description of hospitality: "when i was a stranger, you welcomed me." Early church fathers saw hospitality as central to the gospel, the primary means of imitating Christ. This is the heart of L'Abri's purpose and function, and this is what makes it such a unique ministry. I think that's why I liked the talk so much, because so many examples of L'Abri were used.
A lot of times we think of hospitality as welcoming in friends, and I think it is that, but I think it is also welcoming the stranger, the person who truly needs to feel loved and welcome and who needs a place to go.
The welcome we give strangers reflects the heart of Christianity and enacts the gospel, showing it in a real and concrete way. It is the most powerful sacrament of the love of God. What helps people the most at L'Abri is receiving the welcome that is offered to them. There were multiple people who commented during the discussion about how much that meant to them. Tears flowing down their faces showed their gratitude that there was a shelter they could go to, with someone opening up their lives to them, truly loving them as someone who is made in the image of God. That is the welcome of Christ to us: his door is opened wide and his love is there for us to run to, and when we enter his presence we are filled with a gratitude that this is even possible.
I think this is so counter-cultural to everything we see: we walk down the street and don't make eye contact, people are uncomfortable if you smile at them, and the thought of meeting your neighbors--much less having them over for dinner--strikes an uncomfortable nerve. We hang out in Memorial and talk to only the people we know, and we feel like someone has invaded our space if they sit at our table at a coffee shop, simply because this drives us out of our comfort zone.
Welcoming people gets to the heart of the "glorious ruin" principle that Francis Schaeffer talked about so much. While sin has damaged the goodness of creation, there is still a glory there that is reflected from God. You touch the glory and dignity of a person when you welcome them, but you also touch someone who is very broken and needy, no matter who they are. What is so cool about this picture of hospitality is that it solidifies the position that everyone is on level ground at the foot of the cross. We need his grace and welcome, and hospitality enacts this. There is something glorious to that.
My favorite lecture this year was one that I went to hesitantly on hospitality in our culture--I am so glad that I went to this one because it changed and affirmed my views on what this really looks like and why it is so necessary.
Andrew Fellows, who gave the lecture, referenced Matthew 25, where Jesus offers a good description of hospitality: "when i was a stranger, you welcomed me." Early church fathers saw hospitality as central to the gospel, the primary means of imitating Christ. This is the heart of L'Abri's purpose and function, and this is what makes it such a unique ministry. I think that's why I liked the talk so much, because so many examples of L'Abri were used.
A lot of times we think of hospitality as welcoming in friends, and I think it is that, but I think it is also welcoming the stranger, the person who truly needs to feel loved and welcome and who needs a place to go.
The welcome we give strangers reflects the heart of Christianity and enacts the gospel, showing it in a real and concrete way. It is the most powerful sacrament of the love of God. What helps people the most at L'Abri is receiving the welcome that is offered to them. There were multiple people who commented during the discussion about how much that meant to them. Tears flowing down their faces showed their gratitude that there was a shelter they could go to, with someone opening up their lives to them, truly loving them as someone who is made in the image of God. That is the welcome of Christ to us: his door is opened wide and his love is there for us to run to, and when we enter his presence we are filled with a gratitude that this is even possible.
I think this is so counter-cultural to everything we see: we walk down the street and don't make eye contact, people are uncomfortable if you smile at them, and the thought of meeting your neighbors--much less having them over for dinner--strikes an uncomfortable nerve. We hang out in Memorial and talk to only the people we know, and we feel like someone has invaded our space if they sit at our table at a coffee shop, simply because this drives us out of our comfort zone.
Welcoming people gets to the heart of the "glorious ruin" principle that Francis Schaeffer talked about so much. While sin has damaged the goodness of creation, there is still a glory there that is reflected from God. You touch the glory and dignity of a person when you welcome them, but you also touch someone who is very broken and needy, no matter who they are. What is so cool about this picture of hospitality is that it solidifies the position that everyone is on level ground at the foot of the cross. We need his grace and welcome, and hospitality enacts this. There is something glorious to that.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
living in reality.
this post came from an e-mail i sent a couple days ago, just a culmination of some things that i've been learning about lately and where my heart's been.
"i've been learning so much about prayer lately and what that looks like to really be faithful to the Lord and what is looks like for the Lord himself to be faithful. i for sure do not pray enough, yet i want to live in this reality of a holy God who is continually present in my life and in my actions. to live in this reality means that i must be praying continually, living moment by moment in the supernatural, believing that there truly is this living God that who is always at work.
1 thessalonians 5:16-19 says: "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. do not quench the Spirit." (ESV)
to do this means that i really am acting as if God is always present in my life, always present in every moment, not just in my morning quiet time or in my quick prayer before i head to bed. and he is present because i need him to be present always, an hour in the morning can't and won't sustain me all day.
be encouraged: "for to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people," (1 timothy 4:10). guys, we are working because we believe that God is going to use that work, because he is a living God and He is working in all of our actions. that is our hope, and that is what keeps us going. we can go on because we know that God is active and is busy at work.
this weekend i started and am almost finished with a book called "L'abri" by edith schaeffer. it is FANTASTIC and i really recommend it to you because it will challenge you so much, and you will be AMAZED at the power of God. here's an excerpt that i really like near the beginning of the book:
"One morning at Chalet Bijou's breakfast table, Fran (Francis Schaeffer) had said to me, "Supposing we had awakened today to find everything concerning the Holy Spirit and prayer removed from the Bible--that is, not removed the way liberals would remove it, but that God has somehow really removed everything about prayer and the Holy Spirit from the Bible. What difference would it make practically between the way we worked yesterday and the way we would work today, and tomorrow? What difference would it make in the majority of Christians' practical work and plans? Aren't most plans laid out ahead of time? Isn't much work done by human talent, energy and clever ideas? Where does the supernatural power of God have a real place?" Challenged by this, we began to think and look over our own lives and work...and, we asked God to give us something more real in our work of the future.""
"i've been learning so much about prayer lately and what that looks like to really be faithful to the Lord and what is looks like for the Lord himself to be faithful. i for sure do not pray enough, yet i want to live in this reality of a holy God who is continually present in my life and in my actions. to live in this reality means that i must be praying continually, living moment by moment in the supernatural, believing that there truly is this living God that who is always at work.
1 thessalonians 5:16-19 says: "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. do not quench the Spirit." (ESV)
to do this means that i really am acting as if God is always present in my life, always present in every moment, not just in my morning quiet time or in my quick prayer before i head to bed. and he is present because i need him to be present always, an hour in the morning can't and won't sustain me all day.
be encouraged: "for to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people," (1 timothy 4:10). guys, we are working because we believe that God is going to use that work, because he is a living God and He is working in all of our actions. that is our hope, and that is what keeps us going. we can go on because we know that God is active and is busy at work.
this weekend i started and am almost finished with a book called "L'abri" by edith schaeffer. it is FANTASTIC and i really recommend it to you because it will challenge you so much, and you will be AMAZED at the power of God. here's an excerpt that i really like near the beginning of the book:
"One morning at Chalet Bijou's breakfast table, Fran (Francis Schaeffer) had said to me, "Supposing we had awakened today to find everything concerning the Holy Spirit and prayer removed from the Bible--that is, not removed the way liberals would remove it, but that God has somehow really removed everything about prayer and the Holy Spirit from the Bible. What difference would it make practically between the way we worked yesterday and the way we would work today, and tomorrow? What difference would it make in the majority of Christians' practical work and plans? Aren't most plans laid out ahead of time? Isn't much work done by human talent, energy and clever ideas? Where does the supernatural power of God have a real place?" Challenged by this, we began to think and look over our own lives and work...and, we asked God to give us something more real in our work of the future.""
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
