The Evangelical Error of Accommodation

Many people esteem Francis Schaeffer as, perhaps, the greatest apologist and Christian philosopher of our time. He founded L'Abri Fellowship, a Christian Study Center, in Switzerland, he wrote 23 books, and he produced several films which dealt with the subject of Christianity in view of our secular culture.

His last book was entitled, The Great Evangelical Disaster. In the preface he wrote: "I would say that the statement which I am making in the pages of this book is perhaps the most important statement I have ever written."

It is important to note that when Francis Schaeffer began his ministry, he was a Fundamentalist. But for various sincere and well-meaning reasons he, like many others, shifted away from that position to embrace the philosophies and positions of evangelicalism. However, at the end of his life, in what he calls his most important book, he says:

"Truth carries with it confrontation. Truth demands confrontation; loving confrontation but confrontation nevertheless. If our reflex action is always accommodation regardless of the centrality of the truth involved, there is something wrong" p. 64 - Francis Schaeffer, The Great Evangelical Disaster.

"Although Francis Schaeffer had not practiced separation as a Fundamentalist for most of his life, his statements about truth, as he approached his final years, are quite significant. If we truly love the Lord, and if we desire to stand for the truth of His Word, then we must be willing to separate from error and from disobedient brethren. Francis Schaeffer gave his life and ministry to the Evangelical cause, but finally had to admit that the spirit of accommodation within the Evangelical Christian movement had not preserved the truth as many, like himself, thought it would." The Rev. Mr. Paul Seger, Contending For The Faith.