Schaeffer Lecture 1B: Schaeffer's Hobby Horses

Lecture for ST 540 The Apologetics of Francis Schaeffer, New Geneva Theological Seminary, Colorado Springs.

This lecture presents a comprehensive portrait of Francis Schaeffer as a passionate, polarizing, and deeply influential apologist whose life and ministry were marked by a relentless commitment to truth, evangelism, and cultural engagement. Central to his message was the conviction that Christianity offers the only coherent answer to life's deepest questions, particularly in the face of pervasive humanism, moral relativism, and the erosion of a shared Christian consensus. Schaeffer's approach combined rigorous intellectual engagement with personal hospitality, emphasizing the integration of faith across all spheres of life, the necessity of moral accountability, and the dignity of every person as an image-bearer of God. His work at L'Abri exemplified a radical dependence on divine providence, demonstrating that authentic Christian witness requires both truth and love, and that discipleship must follow evangelism. The lesson underscores Schaeffer's enduring relevance, calling contemporary believers not to imitate him, but to extend his mission by asking the right questions and offering Christ-centered answers in a culture increasingly marked by despair, nihilism, and the abandonment of human dignity.