Francis Schaeffer in an Age of Fragmentation (Part II): The Loss of “True Truth”

Jun 3
5 min read

Last week, we introduced the life and ministry of Francis Schaeffer, the pastor-philosopher who helped an entire generation understand the spiritual roots of Western culture's decline.

We saw how Schaeffer believed that ideas have consequences and that the cultural upheavals of the twentieth century were not random events, but the result of a long intellectual journey away from biblical truth.

This week we turn to one of Schaeffer’s most important concerns: the loss of what he famously called “true truth.”

When Truth Becomes Preference

For most of Western history, people assumed that truth existed outside themselves. Something was either true or false, whether we liked it or not. The laws of nature, the facts of history, and the moral commands of God were understood as realities to be discovered rather than invented.

Schaeffer observed that during the twentieth century this assumption began to collapse. Increasingly, truth was treated not as something objective but as something personal. What mattered was no longer, “Is it true?” but “Does it work for me?” or “Is it meaningful to me?”

This shift has become so familiar that many people hardly notice it. We hear phrases such as:

“That may be true for you, but not for me.”
“Everyone has their own truth.”
“Who’s to say what’s right or wrong?”

To Schaeffer, these were not harmless expressions. They revealed a profound change in how people understood reality itself. One such journey of corruption has been falsely named "the Enlightenment.:(1685-1815)

Once truth becomes merely subjective, society loses any stable foundation for morality, justice, or human dignity. What begins as intellectual relativism eventually affects every area of life.

The Two-Story House

One of Schaeffer’s most memorable illustrations was the image of a two-story house.

On the lower floor were facts, science, technology, and the physical world—things that could supposedly be measured and verified.

On the upper floor were religion, morality, meaning, beauty, and personal values.

Modern society increasingly treated these two floors as completely separate. Facts belonged downstairs. Faith belonged upstairs. Christianity was tolerated so long as it remained a private preference rather than a public truth claim.

Schaeffer believed this division between facts and values was fundamentally unbiblical. Scripture presents one unified reality under the lordship of God. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1),

and Paul declares that through Christ “were all thin

gs created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible” (Colossians 1:16). Because God is the Creator of both the visible and invisible realms, Christians need not choose between faith and facts.

The God who made the physical universe is also the source of morality, meaning, beauty, and purpose.

To Schaeffer, this was the heart of the Christian worldview: all truth is God’s truth because all reality belongs to God.

The division of the two stories was therefore disastrous. The Bible does not present faith as a leap into the dark or a collection of private feelings.

Christianity makes claims about real events in history. God created the world. Christ entered history. Jesus died and rose again. These are either true or false.

As Schaeffer repeatedly argued, Christianity is not merely “religious truth.” It is truth about reality itself.

Why Human Dignity Matters

Schaeffer was deeply concerned that abandoning biblical truth would eventually undermine human dignity.

If human beings are simply accidental products of matter and chance, why should they possess inherent worth? Why should justice matter? Why should one person sacrifice for another?

The Christian answer is that men and women are made in the image of God. “So God created man in his own image” (Genesis 1:27). Though fallen, human beings retain a unique dignity and significance.

Human value does not depend on intelligence, wealth, productivity, race, age, or social status. It rests on the fact that God created us and loves us.

To Schaeffer, this was not merely a theological doctrine. It was the foundation for human rights, compassion, and meaningful relationships.

A Warning for the Church

Schaeffer was never content simply to criticize the culture. He believed Christians must examine themselves as well.

He worried that many churches were retreating from serious thinking, offering emotional experiences while neglecting the hard work of understanding and defending the faith.

Christianity, he insisted, is not afraid of honest questions. Believers should love God with their minds as well as their hearts.

Jesus commanded His followers to love God “with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37). To Schaeffer, this meant that Christian faith should engage every aspect of life, including the intellect.

His ministry at L'Abri became famous because people were encouraged to ask difficult questions and wrestle honestly with doubts. Schaeffer believed Christianity could stand up to scrutiny because it corresponds to reality.

Those who visited L'Abri often found not only thoughtful answers but also genuine Christian community and love.

Why Schaeffer Still Matters

More than forty years after his death, Schaeffer’s observations seem remarkably relevant. We live in a world saturated with information yet uncertain about truth, connected by technology yet often fragmented in meaning and purpose.

His challenge remains timely.

If truth is real, then we must seek it. If God has spoken, then His Word must shape every area of life. And if Christ is Lord, then Christianity is not merely one opinion among many—it is the truth about the world as it really is.

That conviction shaped Schaeffer’s life, his ministry, and his message. It is also the foundation upon which Christians are called to stand today.

Reflection

Schaeffer believed that every culture eventually asks the same question:

What is true?

How we answer that question will shape not only our beliefs, but our understanding of morality, human dignity, freedom, and the meaning of life itself.

Next Week

In Part III, we will explore Schaeffer’s famous analysis of modern culture and the arts, examining how philosophy, literature, music, and painting revealed the spiritual crisis of the modern world long before many people recognized it. We will also see why Schaeffer believed Christians must engage culture thoughtfully rather than retreat from it.

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Almighty God, Creator and Ruler of heaven and earth, help us stand for You and Truth. I thank You for Psa_119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Help me stand for Your Word, Truth and your righteous judgments. Thank You for Your immutability and most of all for the gift of Your Only Son Jesus, to wash away our sins and open the door to eternal life with You. I pray in His name and ask for Jesus' sake. Amen.

If you want to join me in this prayer, please write your agreement in the Comments section below and start standing for Truth and the One who is the Truth, our Lord Jesus Christ. --Ken

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1 He's got the whole world in his hands.