Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 85:2 (Fall 2023)
Article: “The Sun Came Out And The Song Came”: Francis Schaeffer And Deconstructionist Spirituality
Author: Christopher Talbot

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“The Sun Came Out And The Song Came”: Francis Schaeffer And Deconstructionist Spirituality

Christopher Talbot

Christopher Talbot is an Instructor of Ministry and Program Coordinator for Youth and Family Ministry at Welch College in Gallatin, TN.

Francis Schaeffer experienced a crisis of faith that he and his wife, Edith Schaeffer, called his “hayloft experience.” Due to inconsistent Christian practice around him, and within his own life, Schaeffer announced that he would go back and think through his whole belief system regarding Christianity. In doing so, he emerged from his doubt and concluded that Christianity is in fact true, and true for all of life. Because of Schaeffer’s own experience with spiritual doubt, and his apologetic ministry to those who doubted, he offers a unique perspective for engaging with modern “deconstructionist” approaches to Christian theology and living. Specifically, Schaeffer’s own experience, as well as his ministry to others, utilized his apologetic method, one that may be defined as both verificational and pastoral. He sought to test fundamental beliefs about Christianity and see whether they correspond to reality, but did so with care. Moreover, he dealt with his belief system as a whole, rather than separating out his beliefs arbitrarily. This article argues that Francis Schaeffer’s own spiritual crisis and its tacit influence on his life offer an example of how a Christian may experience significant doubt and crisis while simultaneously avoiding destructive “deconstructionist” practices popular today.

In 1951, Francis Schaeffer experienced a crisis of faith that he and Edith Schaeffer came to call his “hayloft experience.” After observing inconsistent Christian practice from those around him and within himself, Schaeffer declared he needed to go back and rethink his whole position regarding Christianity. He announced that he went back to the beginning of his thought and worked his way through all his beliefs related to Christianity, concluding that Christianity was in fact true. Because of his own experience, and consequent theological convictions, Francis Schaeffer offers a unique model to engage with modern “deconstructionist” approaches to Christian theology and living. Of special note, Schaeffer utilized his own apologetic method, a seeming

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verificational and pastoral approach, in his own crisis of faith. His subsequent convictions and resulting applications about the Christian faith provide a helpful guide and model to the larger “deconstructionist” discussion.

This article, then, will seek to argue that Francis Schaeffer’s own spiritual crisis and its tacit influence on his life off...