The question before us is what the Christian life, true spirituality, really is, and how it may be lived in a twentieth-century setting. The first point which we must make is that it is impossible even to begin living the Christian life, or to know anything of true spirituality, before one is a Christian. And the only way to become a Christian is not by trying to live some sort of a Christian life, nor by hoping for some sort of religious experience, but rather by accepting Christ as Savior. No matter how complicated, educated, or sophisticated we may be, or how simple we may be, we must all come the same way, insofar as becoming a Christian is concerned. As the kings of the earth and the mighty of the earth are born in exactly the same way physically as the simplest man, so the most intellectual person must become a Christian in exactly the same way as the simplest person. This is true for all men, everywhere, through all space and all time. There are no exceptions. Jesus said a totally exclusive word: “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
– Francis Schaeffer
Reading Reflection:
One of the most significant errors we can make is thinking that living the Christian life is possible as if it were merely a philosophy. Sometimes, we might even attempt to impose Christianity on others in this way. However, we must recognize that the activities accompanying the Christian life and true spirituality demand a radical and irreversible change in the human heart. Without becoming a Christian and placing our faith in Jesus, experiencing the Christian life becomes impossible. A dramatic implication of this truth is that our ability to walk in true spirituality is not contingent upon external factors such as education, sophistication, or life circumstances. A king is no more capable of living out the Christian life than a common person, and vice versa. Just as everyone is born into the world the same way, anyone becoming a Christian must be “born again” in the same way. Christianity is not a mere philosophy to be followed; it is being apprehended by God through Jesus Christ and transformed by the Holy Spirit. This serves as the starting point for all genuine spirituality.
