Review: Schaeffer on the Christian Life by William Edgar
Book info
P. #: 192, 206 after appendix, index and scriptural index.
All links to books that are mentioned will be provided below.
Crossway sent me this book in exchange for a fair and honest review
Author: William Edgar
Life: William Edgar is known for his work that spans philosophy, apologetics, and cultural critique. He is a respected scholar, recognized for his ability to explore the interplay between faith, reason, and the world. Edgar is known for his skill in making complex ideas accessible, making him a popular speaker and writer. He champions the idea of integrating faith and learning, encouraging Christians to think deeply about the world and to engage with culture thoughtfully (like Shaeffer). His work frequently underscores the importance of a Christian perspective in understanding and navigating the complexities of modern life.
General info about author: Edgar is a professor of apologetics, a philosopher, a cultural commentator, and the author of several books. He's known for bridging the gap between academic theology and daily life, inspiring others to live out their faith with intellectual rigor and cultural relevance.
Overall Summary/review:
Positives:
Builds on personal experience and relationship with Schaeffer, which gives it a very first-hand feeling throughout the book, and we also learn a good deal about the author. (p. 25)
The book first walks us through Schaeffer’s life and times (table of contents) (p. 55, 30)
Then walks us through his views on the Christian Life (table of contents) (p. 83, 89, 90, 92)
I was unaware of some of the connections Schaeffer had with other men that we’ve reviewed here on the channel including Machen, Van Til, and Lloyd-Jones.
Throughout this whole book, we see Schaeffer's strong view of prayer. Shaeffer believed that prayer needed to become reality (p. 122, 126, 62, 58)
Negatives:
Overall, I found William Edgar’s writing to be very pessimistic and down, despite his passion for what he is writing about.
I also think that the dimensions of this book are slightly off-putting, and the text size is slightly too small. I would much rather have a longer book with different dimensions and larger text.