Republicans and Evangelicals I Frances Schaeffer and the Shaping of Christian Nationalism

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Frances Schaeffer is one of the most important theological thinkers of the 20th century. He urged fundamentalists and evangelicals to think outside of their separatism and consider how they could reach the world and expand their worldview. He began his career as a preacher in the United States, but a foreign missions board asked him to assess the state of fundamentalism in Europe after WWII. While there he saw great works of art and met fascinating people. Eventually, Schaeffer moved to Switzerland to start L'Abri, a chalet community where wanderers could come, live, and discuss the gospel.

That's where the story may have ended. But his lectures were turned into audio cassettes and books. Then, from this small mountain village, Schaeffer became one of the best-known evangelicals in the world. Once he returned to the United States, his books took on a Christian nationalist tone which sticks with us today.

Our guest for this episode is Barry Hankins. He's the author of Frances Schaeffer and the Shaping of Evangelical America. He is a professor of history at Baylor University.

Sources:

• Francis Schaeffer and the Shaping of Evangelical America by Barry Hankins
• The Evangelicals by Frances Fitgerald
• Reaganland by Rick Perlstein
• A helpful article about the Renaissance
• A helpful article about the Enlightenment
• Schaeffer's film How Should We Then Live?
• Gospel Coalition article about secular humanism
• A Christian Manifesto by Frances Schaeffer

Discussion Questions:

• Have you read any of Schaeffer's work?
• What is your "worldview"? How did you get it? How did you become aware of that concept?
• Should all Christians have an idea of their worldview? Should it look a certain way?
• What do you think about the middle part of Schaeffer's ministry when he was preaching in L'Abri? How does it differ from the last third of his ministry?
• How have you seen Christian nationalism? What parts of the Bible do people use to justify it?

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