FRANCIS SCHAEFFER:Vida & Pensamento-8/8-Guilherme de Carvalho

Apologetics in Acts 17:22-34

Introduction to Paul's Apologetic Approach

• The discussion focuses on the apologetic method of Paul, particularly his use of biblical texts to frame his understanding of apologetics.

• Reference is made to Acts 17:22-34, where Paul addresses the Athenians at the Areopagus, highlighting their superstitions and idolatry.

Critique of Pagan Worship

• Paul identifies an altar dedicated to an "unknown god," using it as a starting point for his message about the true God who created everything.

• He emphasizes that God does not dwell in man-made temples nor requires service from humans, as He is self-sufficient and gives life to all.

Connection Between Humanity and God

• Paul argues that all humanity shares a common origin ("one blood") and suggests that this unity points towards seeking God.

• He critiques the ignorance surrounding false gods while establishing a connection between their experiences and the Christian understanding of God.

Philosophical Engagement with Greek Thought

• Paul uses popular Greek concepts, such as human unity, citing poets like Erastus and Epimenides to bridge cultural gaps.

• His approach is not merely natural theology but rather an interpretation of pagan experience through the lens of the Gospel.

The Role of Tension in Evangelism

• The speaker notes that creating tension or discomfort regarding false beliefs can be essential before introducing the Gospel message.

• This method encourages individuals to recognize their lost connection with the true God amidst their worship of idols.

Conclusion on Paul's Methodology

• The speaker highlights that Paul's strategy was not syncretistic; he did not affirm pagan worship but instead pointed out its inadequacies.

Understanding Apologetics and the Nature of Incredulity

The Secularized Christian and Incredulity

• The speaker discusses a depiction of an individual who identifies as a Christian but lives secularly, highlighting the ambiguity in identifying true believers today.

• This individual is portrayed as blissfully unaware of their sinful state, ignoring their relationship with God and the reality of sin.

• A reference is made to a confrontation between an atheist and another individual, illustrating how atheism can lead to dehumanization when taken to its logical extremes.

Denial and Alienation

• The speaker emphasizes that the incredulous person must deny both their alienation from God and the implications of their disbelief.

• It is suggested that part of this denial involves living disconnected from one's true self and the consequences of idolatry.

Confronting Incredulity

• The role of apologetics is framed not merely as defending faith but inducing a crisis in the individual's belief system to confront them with reality.

• The approach should involve bringing individuals into awareness about contradictions in their beliefs versus reality.

Inducing Awareness of Tension

• The "point of tension" refers to recognizing contradictions between one’s beliefs and actual existence before God, which needs to be revealed or induced.

• Philosophical discussions on moral facts are introduced, suggesting that objective moral truths exist beyond subjective experiences.

Experiences That Challenge Incredulity

• Beauty is presented as a transcendent experience that can challenge an individual's disbelief by pointing towards something greater than mere pleasure.

• Engaging with beauty can soften incredulity; even non-believers may find meaning through aesthetic experiences that hint at divine glory.

Justice, Meaning, and Transcendence

• Social justice movements are discussed as manifestations of transcendental values; even atheists recognize these principles despite lacking faith.

• Historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. exemplify how beauty in justice struggles resonates deeply with human experience, contradicting disbelief.

Balancing Despair with Gratitude

Understanding Pre-Evangelization

The Role of Gratitude and Human Connection

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of showing gratitude to God, arguing that this can counteract disbelief. They suggest demonstrating reasons for thankfulness through practical examples.

• A scenario is presented where a Christian shares a meal with an atheist friend, highlighting how shared experiences can foster human connection and challenge disbelief.

Engaging with Humanity and Divine Image

• The discussion shifts to pre-evangelization as a means of bringing individuals to recognize their humanity, which reflects the image of God. This recognition is essential in understanding divine law written in our hearts.

Rationality and Philosophical Arguments

• The speaker references philosophical arguments supporting the idea that rationality cannot exist without belief in God, citing C.S. Lewis's "Miracles" as an influential work on this topic.

• They discuss how faith experiences highlight the order and meaning in life, contrasting these with worldviews that may lead to dehumanization.

Contradictions in Worldviews

• The speaker explains how recognizing moral justice can create tension against Marxist beliefs that deny absolute moral standards. This tension serves as a catalyst for deeper reflection on one's beliefs.

Inducing Tension Through Experience

• It’s suggested that inducing cognitive dissonance helps individuals confront contradictions between their beliefs and lived experiences, similar to Paul's approach in Acts 17.

The Importance of Reality in Evangelism

Revealing Divine Blessings

• Evangelism should not merely critique someone's worldview but rather reveal God's goodness and the inherent contradiction between their beliefs and reality.

Removing Barriers to Understanding

• The metaphor of "removing the roof" illustrates helping individuals see contradictions within themselves—this process may cause discomfort but ultimately leads to hope and self-discovery.

Human Completeness Through Faith

• Evangelizing is framed not as coercion but as guiding someone towards being more fully human by acknowledging their divine image amidst disbelief.

Apologetics: A Pathway to Self-Awareness

Honest Engagement with Beliefs

• Effective evangelism involves confronting individuals with reality rather than imposing beliefs; it aims at helping them realize they are living contrary to their true nature.

Existential Contradictions

• When rejecting knowledge of God, people often create contradictory worldviews. This analysis reveals how modern man’s rejection of God leads to societal contradictions.

Practical Application

Understanding the Role of Friendship in Communication

The Importance of Building Relationships

• Emphasizes the necessity of establishing friendship before addressing sensitive topics, highlighting the importance of trust and connection in communication.

• Discusses how revealing internal conflicts allows for a more authentic presentation of faith, integrating individuals back into a relationship with God through genuine understanding rather than ignorance.

Artistic Representation and Reality

• Introduces a Christian painter, Ruo Ryô, who contrasts with his contemporaries by portraying subjects like prostitution realistically rather than romantically.

• Mentions Marc Chagall's work, noting that his depiction of Christ’s crucifixion reflects Jewish historical suffering and connects to broader themes within Judeo-Christian perspectives.

Apologetics and the Quest for Authenticity

Francis Schaeffer's Apologetic Approach

• Outlines Schaeffer's first aspect of apologetics: creating tension between an individual's human experience and their beliefs to encourage doubt about their worldview.

• Highlights Schaeffer's personal crisis of faith in 1951 as pivotal in shaping his understanding of reality versus orthodoxy.

The Problem of Reality

• Quotes Schaeffer on his struggle with reality during his spiritual crisis, emphasizing that many orthodox believers lack genuine engagement with biblical truths.

• Argues that true authenticity involves living in accordance with reality rather than merely adhering to correct doctrines or theories.

Living Authentically Within God's Sovereignty

Acceptance and Awareness

• Stresses the need for individuals to acknowledge their own sinfulness and God's sovereignty as essential components for living authentically.

Understanding the Role of Gratitude and Divine Communication in Christian Life

The Context of Belief

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's belief system, questioning whether one lives in a secular world or acknowledges God's presence in their life.

• A distinction is made between living with faith in God versus a secular existence, suggesting that without divine acknowledgment, evangelism becomes ineffective.

The Foundation of Christian Life

• Gratitude is presented as the cornerstone of Christian life, rooted in the understanding that salvation is a gift from God’s grace.

• Reference to Romans 1 highlights how ingratitude leads to idolatry; failing to glorify God results in spiritual blindness and moral decay.

The Importance of Gratitude

• The speaker discusses how ingratitude underpins idol worship, indicating that failure to thank God can lead to significant spiritual consequences.

• Paul’s teachings are cited to illustrate that gratitude is essential for maintaining a proper relationship with God and avoiding spiritual pitfalls.

Living Out Faith Through Action

• Recognizing the centrality of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection is crucial for living as part of a new creation; this ties into the concept of "already but not yet."

• The example of Mary from "Little People, Little Places" illustrates active participation in God's plan through surrendering oneself for divine purposes.

Active Participation vs. Passivity

• The metaphorical marriage to Christ signifies an active role believers play in producing spiritual fruit through reliance on God's grace.

• This concept introduces "active passivity," where believers engage actively while remaining dependent on divine action.

Critique of Quietism and Activism

• A critique against quietism suggests it promotes inactivity under the guise of waiting for divine intervention rather than engaging with faith actively.

• Conversely, activism without acknowledging God's grace can lead to burnout; true engagement must stem from an awareness of divine support.

Demonstrating Faith Through Experience

• Emphasizes the necessity for Christians to demonstrate their faith through tangible experiences and relationships rather than mere declarations.

Understanding the Depth of Love and Existence

The Nature of Love

• True love transcends mere actions; it is about one's identity. According to Corinthians 13, even self-sacrifice without love lacks true meaning.

• A genuine relationship with God brings joy and hope, contrasting with a life filled with despair and lack of gratitude.

Integration vs. Disintegration

• One cannot claim integration through God if their life is marked by being insufferable or unlovable; personal transformation must precede evangelism.

• Engaging in online debates over faith can be fruitless; the focus should shift from arguments to authentic demonstrations of faith.

The Call for Authenticity

• Evangelical Christianity needs less rhetoric and more lived experience; doctrine alone is insufficient without genuine existence.

• The essence of spirituality involves accepting oneself as created by God, acknowledging human limitations while seeking reconciliation with one's identity.

Acceptance of Human Limitations

• Refusing to accept one’s finite nature leads to rebellion against self, resulting in despair and a desire for death.

• The struggle against finitude often manifests as an existential crisis, where individuals seek autonomy apart from God.

Faith as Resting in Identity

• Faith involves embracing one’s identity before God rather than striving for independence or self-definition outside divine context.

• Accepting oneself as a creature means recognizing God's placement in our lives as inherently good, leading to contentment regardless of circumstances.

Embracing Divine Purpose

• Life's challenges should be viewed through the lens of divine calling; acceptance of one’s situation is crucial for spiritual growth.

• Aligning oneself with God's will requires surrendering temporal desires for eternal significance, reflecting Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son out of love for God.

Mortality and Spirituality

• To be "dead to sin" means relinquishing attachment to worldly matters and fully entrusting one's life to God.

Understanding Life and Death in Christ

The Concept of Mourning for the World

• The speaker discusses how individuals often abandon the search for meaning without God, paralleling Solomon's reflections in Ecclesiastes about confronting death and sin.

• Emphasizes that the current age is doomed, likening it to a sinking Titanic, urging listeners to recognize that their temporal lives are fleeting.

• Addresses how Christians can overcome the fear of death by understanding they have already died with Christ; this realization diminishes the fear associated with mortality.

Facing Fear and Embracing New Creation

• Suggests that if one still fears death, they may be clinging to worldly attachments rather than embracing their new identity in Christ.

• Stresses the importance of mourning one's past life and worldly desires to experience true liberation through faith.

• Quotes 1 John, highlighting that perfect love casts out fear, indicating a spiritual maturity where believers should not fear death.

Living Beyond Temporal Attachments

• Discusses how early Christians exhibited a lack of fear regarding death; this does not imply immaturity but rather an understanding of their eternal perspective.

• Encourages living as though one has died to worldly pursuits while still engaging in daily responsibilities without being consumed by them.

The Call to Existential Mortality

• Explains that living fully for God requires recognizing one's death with Christ and letting go of earthly ambitions while fulfilling duties as if they hold no ultimate value.

• Clarifies that this concept is not merely psychological but involves a genuine existential shift towards prioritizing spiritual over temporal realities.

Balancing Temporal Life with Spiritual Reality

• Highlights the necessity of accepting that happiness cannot be found within worldly pursuits; instead, one must seek fulfillment through God as Jesus did.

• Defines being dead to sin as both a moral stance and an existential position against present life challenges, emphasizing continuous reliance on God's reality.

Supernatural Living in Present Existence

• Describes supernatural living as aligning oneself constantly with God's presence rather than seeking extraordinary signs alone.

Understanding Eschatological Concepts

The Nature of Miracles and Resurrection

• The concept of eschatology is introduced, highlighting that Lazarus' resurrection was a miracle but not a permanent one; it serves as a sign pointing to the new creation.

• In contrast, Jesus' resurrection is described as an eschatological sign because it represents the definitive victory over death and fulfills divine future promises.

Spiritual Gifts and Their Transience

• Reference to 1 Corinthians chapters 12 to 14 emphasizes that spiritual gifts are temporary and will eventually cease, while faith, hope, and love remain eternal.

• Paul asserts that the only enduring elements of God's kingdom experienced today are faith, hope, and love—these are seen as signs of immortality in believers' lives.

The Supernatural Life of Believers

• The discussion highlights the importance of balancing spiritual gifts with the fruit of the Spirit; faith, hope, and love are essential for living a supernatural life.

• It is noted that miracles or spiritual gifts serve merely as scaffolding for God’s ultimate project; true sustenance comes from living in alignment with new creation principles.

Living in New Creation

• Emphasis on how believers draw from a source invisible to non-believers; their lives reflect a different logic rooted in resurrection life.

• Faith, hope, and love mark Christians distinctly; they embody supernatural qualities that transcend present realities.

Apologetics and Communication Challenges

• Sheffer discusses the privilege of living supernaturally now rather than waiting for eternity; this includes demonstrating faith before seeing Jesus face-to-face.

• Modern individuals question reality's significance. Sheffer argues that Christians must effectively communicate personal experiences with God amidst societal communication failures.

Church's Role in Demonstrating Reality

• The church should represent humanity restored through divine reality by teaching truth and exhibiting God's holiness through love.

• Effective apologetics require genuine human interaction rather than mere theoretical arguments; being authentic is crucial for meaningful engagement with others.

Practical Application Through Community

• Labri community exemplifies practical hospitality where philosophical discussions occur alongside daily demonstrations of Christian values like respect and understanding differences.

• Sheffer’s approach combines argumentation with real-life application to show what he preaches about Christianity effectively.

Critique of Orthodox Practices

• A critique is made regarding many orthodox churches lacking vibrancy due to insufficient expressions of love and communication within local communities.

Understanding the Integral Mission and Personal God

The Nature of God and Humanity

• The discussion begins with the assertion that belief in a personal God is foundational, emphasizing that everything starts with this understanding. The church must demonstrate that humanity is transcendent, created in God's image.

• It is essential to connect all aspects of life to faith in God. This perspective, referred to as "theoretical reference," suggests viewing life through a lens centered on God.

• A point of absolute reference is necessary for meaningful existence; without it, one cannot navigate or describe life's coordinates. This absolute reference point is identified as God.

Integral Mission and Its Implications

• The concept of integral mission posits that Christ's lordship encompasses every aspect of human existence—spiritual, intellectual, cultural, legal, sociological, and psychological dimensions are all included.

• If Christianity holds true, it should influence every area of life. Visualizing life as a pie chart illustrates how Christianity impacts each segment—Christ should be acknowledged as Lord over all spheres.

Historical Context and Challenges

• The speaker references a significant statement made by Schaeffer during his 1974 Lausanne Congress lecture about preaching the whole Gospel to the whole person—a key tenet of integral mission theology.

• There are concerns regarding ideological colonization within some contexts of integral mission due to socio-analytical hermeneutics leading to confusion between God's Kingdom and historical transformation efforts.

Engaging with Progressive Ideologies

• While some proponents of integral mission may not endorse Marxist ideologies theoretically, there exists a trend among younger advocates who have been ideologically influenced.

• Despite these challenges, rejecting Lausanne or the concept of integral mission entirely would be misguided. Emphasizing dialogue within evangelical communities about progressive ideologies' impact on understanding integral mission is crucial.

Call for Dialogue and Action

• The speaker encourages conservative Christians not to abandon the concept of integral mission but rather engage in discussions with progressive counterparts about its implications and potential pitfalls.

• Practicing communication among differing beliefs within the evangelical community is vital for embodying faith in a personal God who communicates with humanity.

Understanding the Role of Humanity in Society

The Call to Serve Society

• Jesus defeated principalities and powers on the cross, emphasizing that Christians should serve society rather than dominate it.

• In various sectors like economics and politics, there is a lack of humanity; thus, efforts must be made to restore human dignity and values.

• The importance of combating dehumanizing ideas in academia is highlighted as part of witnessing God's reality.

Introduction to Labri Community

• Labri was founded in 1955, with multiple locations worldwide including England, Holland, the USA (two), Switzerland, Canada, South Korea, Australia, and Brazil.

• The Brazilian Labri community is located in Belo Horizonte, known for its hospitality and cultural significance.

Concept of Hospitality at Labri

• "Abir," meaning shelter in French, reflects the idea of hospitality—creating space for others while teaching biblical principles and discussing apologetics.

• Labri serves as a refuge for exhausted or disillusioned Christians seeking to recover their faith through community engagement.

Educational Emphases at Labri

• Four key emphases include:

• The Bible as God's word and Christianity as truth about the world.

• Christianity's relevance across all life aspects—not limited to church activities.

• True spirituality involves grace that allows individuals to be fully human before God.

• Acknowledgment of human fallibility without striving for perfectionism.

Engaging with Life at Labri

• Authenticity is valued over perfectionism; showing humanity often means being genuine without pretense.

• Daily life at Labri includes communal meals, prayer times, philosophical discussions, and engaging experiences that foster understanding what it means to be human before God.

Activities Offered by Labri

• Various activities include weekend retreats and summer study terms lasting up to six weeks where participants can immerse themselves in community life.

• Public lectures are held in neutral venues like cafes; one notable event attracted both Christians and non-Christians interested in philosophy discussions.

Conclusion on Mission Spaces

Understanding Humanity in Contemporary Contexts

The Essence of Being Human

• The discussion emphasizes the importance of creating environments where individuals can experience and appreciate beauty, justice, truth, morality, family, and meaning.

• It is suggested that these contexts allow people to realize that being human is a rich and fulfilling experience beyond their previous understanding.

• The speaker advocates for providing opportunities for individuals to engage with these concepts actively.

Conclusion and Acknowledgments

• The session concludes with gratitude expressed towards Guilherme for his impactful contributions over three days.

• There is an acknowledgment of the positive experiences shared during the course on Francis Schaeffer.