The God Who Is There
Not wanting to write a review or some half-baked overview I’ll just say that this book was great. It wasn’t great like a movie or a ride in a nice car, it was great because books like this present you with ideas and challenge you to change. I’m not necessarily talking about changing behavior, although there is plenty of that in this book, but, more fundamentally, changing your mind. Sometimes changing your mind is much more difficult than changing some outward behavior. Nothing was so new that I didn’t recognize the concepts or ideas, but Schaeffers compassion and sensitivity towards others is amazing and inspiring. Schaeffer is compassionate not because he supposes he is better or right (he does think he is ), but because he posssess some understanding about the plight of humankind. Okay, any more words here at it may become a report.
Here’s some of the ideas Schaeffer presents in this book. I won’t go into anything more that superficial detail here because, well, that’s what the book is for right?
The root of the problem is the erosion of truth and antithesis. Basic properties of truth and knowing have been ripped apart as a result of the Enlightenment and we are reaping the bountiful rewards.
Art, music and culture have been following in the wake of the redefinition of truth and knowledge.
Schaeffer provides the reader with the reasons why this redefinition is fundamentally flawed and leaves human beings more empty. He outlines the struggle out of the nothingness that many face. Finally, Schaeffer presents us with the solutions.
Schaeffer presents the reader with the god who is there. A god who truly exists and is not a fabrication. People should not take some mysterious leap into the void because this god is anchored to the reaility of this world.
It seems Schaeffer had years of practice here. His humility is anything but contrived. Understanding the situation we are in, he begs for compassion rather than arrogance, impatience and laughter. Real, honest communication with others regarding reality requires sensitivity, patience and real sacrifice. It costs everyone involved something to talk about the big ideas. We should therefore approach these encounters with respect.