CONTENTS AND REALITIES

At the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in 1974, Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984) philosopher and church leader delivered an address, which later became his essay, “Two Contents, Two Realities.” His overall point was this. If we hope to see profound gospel advance in our generation — and we do — then our churches must be marked by two contents and two realities.

The two contents are (1) strong doctrine and (2) honest answers to honest questions. The two realities are (1) true spirituality and (2) the beauty of human relationships.

Two Contents: Strong Doctrine and Honest Answers to Honest Questions.

Two Realities: True Spirituality and the Beauty of Human Relationships.

I have written on this before in this Journal. But in the 48 years since he said this, I must say that I agree and see very little chance of advance of the Gospel of Kingdom until these two Contents and Realities are actual Content and actual Reality. All four appear to be self-explanatory. We must keep diligently working on them.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper (advocate, counselor), to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Jesus