The God Who Is There

Francis A. Schaeffer (1912–1984) was a pastor, theologian, and speaker with an international ministry who became one of the most influential figures in American evangelicalism during his lifetime. With his wife, Edith, he founded the L'Abri Fellowship in Switzerland. He was the author of many books, including Escape from Reason and How Should We Then Live?, which have sold millions of copies worldwide. James W. Sire (1933–2018) was a widely-respected apologist, author, and lecturer who served for more than thirty years as senior editor at InterVarsity Press. He is the author of more than twenty books, including The Universe Next Door, Apologetics Beyond Reason, Beginning with God, Habits of the Mind, Naming the Elephant, and A Little Primer on Humble Apologetics.

Foreword by Steven Garber

Introduction by James W. Sire



Section I: The Intellectual and Cultural Climate of the Second Half of the Twentieth Century


1. The Gulf Is Fixed

2. The First Step in the Line of Despair: Philosophy

3. The Second Step: Art

4. The Third and Fourth Steps: Music and the General Culture

5. The Unifying Factor in the Steps of Despair



Section II: The Relationship of the New Theology to the Intellectual Climate


1. The Fifth Step: Theology

2. Modern Mysticism: Despair Beyond Despair

3. Modern Mysticism in Action: Art and Language

4. Modern Mysticism in Action: Music and Literature

5. The Next Phase of Modern Theology



Section III: How Historic Christianity Differs from the New Theology


1. Personality or a Devilish Din

2. Verifiable Facts and Knowing

3. The Dilemma of Man

4. God's Answer to Man's Dilemma

5. How Do We Know It Is True?



Section IV: Speaking Historic Christianity into the Twentieth-Century Climate


1. Finding the Point of Tension

2. From the Point of Tension to the Gospel

3. Applying the Gospel



Section V: Pre-evangelism Is No Soft Option


1. Commending the Christian Faith to Our Generation

2. The Importance of Truth



Section VI: Personal and Corporate Living into the Twentieth-Century Climate


1. Demonstrating the Character of God

2. The Legal, but Not Only the Legal



Appendix A. The Question of Apologetics

Appendix B. The Problem of the Middle-Class Church in the Latter Half of the Twentieth Century

Appendix C. The Practice of Truth

Glossary

Notes

Index