Most people catch their presuppositions from their family and surrounding society the way a child catches measles.
Francis SchaefferRead
The ancients were afraid that if they went to the end of the earth they would fall off and be consumed by dragons. But once we understand that Christianity is true to what is there, true to the ultimate environment - the infinite, personal God who is really there - then our minds are freed. We can pursue any question and can be sure that we will not fall off the end of the earth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the liberation that comes from understanding a profound truth about existence.
Francis Schaeffer discusses the fear of the unknown that ancient people had, represented by the belief in falling off the earth and encountering dragons. In contrast, he suggests that recognizing the truth of Christianity, which he describes as aligned with the 'infinite, personal God,' liberates the mind to explore and seek knowledge without fear, assuring us that questioning does not lead to dire consequences.
Themes
TruthFreedomKnowledgeFaithExploration
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon about faith and understanding, I could use this quote to emphasize the freedom that comes from true belief.
More from Francis Schaeffer
All quotes →In two areas above all others the Christian demonstration of love and communication stands clear: in the area of the Christian couple and their children; and in the personal relationships of Christians in the church. If there is no demonstration in these two places, on the personal level, the world can conclude that orthodox Christian doctrine is nothing but dead, cold words.
Francis SchaefferRead
Christian art is the expression of the whole life of the whole person as a Christian. What a Christian portrays in his art is the totality of life. Art is not to be solely a vehicle for some sort of self-conscious evangelism.
Francis SchaefferRead
There are two main reasons why we may not be bringing forth the fruit we should. It may be because of ignorance, because we may never have been taught the meaning of the work of Christ for our present lives.
Francis SchaefferRead
We should not view men with a cynical eye, seeing them only as meaningless products of chance, but, on the other hand, we should not go to the opposite extreme of seeing them romantically. To do either is to fail to understand who men really are--creatures made in the image of God but fallen.
Francis SchaefferRead
You must not lose confidence in God because you lost confidence in your pastor. If our confidence in God had to depend upon our confidence in any human person, we would be on shifting sand.
Francis SchaefferRead
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