Morning Roundup - January 31, 2012

The Works of Francis Schaeffer -- Tim Challies

Yesterday, we celebrated the 100th birthday of Francis Schaeffer, the 20th century American pastor, theologian, and philosopher. Udo Middleman, President of The Francis A. Schaeffer Foundation, describes him as one who "communicated the truth of historic Biblical Christianity in a way that combined intellectual integrity, artistic sensitivity and a practical loving care. With a sharpened analytical mind he understood and uncovered the roots of modern thinking and its logical conclusion across a wide range of disciplines."

Here is a link to his bestselling titles on Amazon, as well as some additional resources.

As for free online content, thanks to Joe Carter for listing these in his post on The Gospel Coalition blog last week. They are either by or about Schaeffer.

• A Christian Manifesto (A lecture based on the book of the same title.)
• Francis Schaeffer's Philosophy of History [PDF]
• Schaeffer on Education
• FrancisSchaefferStudies.org YouTube channel

What Is Essential to Being a Christian? -- Desiring God

Being a Christian doesn't only mean that you assent to a certain set of doctrines. There are other equally important things that must be true. Jonathan Edwards explains.

It is essential to Christianity

• that we repent of our sins,
• that we be convinced of our own sinfulness,
• that we are sensible we have justly exposed ourselves to God's wrath,
• that our hearts do renounce all sin,
• that we do with our whole hearts embrace Christ as our only Saviour;
• that we love him above all, and
• are willing for his sake to forsake all, and
• that we do give up ourselves to be entirely and forever his.

"Do not, therefore, consider that soul winning is or can be secured by the multiplication of baptisms and the swelling of the size of your church. What mean these dispatches from the battlefield? 'Last night... fifteen souls were justified...' I am weary of this public bragging, this counting of unhatched chickens, this exhibition of doubtful spoils. Lay aside such numberings of the people, such idle pretense of certifying in half a minute that which will need the testing of a lifetime. Hope for the best, but in your highest excitements be reasonable... if [a harvesting of responses] leads to idle boastings they will grieve the Holy Spirit, and work abounding evil."

Read the full article here