Book Review: Truth with Love by Bryan Follis

January 27, 2008 Posted by Roger Overton

Francis Schaeffer has drawn many people to the feet of Jesus
through his persuasive writings and personal relationships. But not everyone
has been satisfied with that legacy. One journalist recently claimed that, “The
tragedy of Francis Schaeffer is that, at some deep inner level, he knew what he
preached was a con.” With statements like these, it’s helpful to look to fresh
perspectives on what Schaeffer taught and how he lived and what that means for
Christians today.

Bryan A. Follis has provided such a perspective in his book
Truth with Love: The Apologetics of Francis Schaeffer. Dr. Follis traces the
intellectual roots of Schaeffer’s theology and apologetics in order to expose
the true picture of one of the 20^th century’s most noted apologists.

After a brief introduction and biography, Dr. Follis explores
the theology of John Calvin and Reformed interpretations since. This lays the
groundwork for Schaeffer’s understanding of the dignity of humanity despite its
depravity and the role of reason in his apologetic. The second chapter
considers the various arguments Schaeffer put forward, including the well-known
“taking the roof off,” and places Schaeffer’s love and compassion in proper
relation to his apologetics. Francis Schaeffer has been accused of rationalism
by some evangelicals, so Dr. Follis seeks to defend him against that charge in
the third chapter. He argues that Schaeffer’s argumentation cannot be separated
from his spirituality and that critics simply do not consider the full canon of
Schaeffer’s work and life.

In the fourth chapter, Dr. Follis explores methodology,
noting that Schaeffer was not a presuppositionalist in the tradition of
Cornelius Van Til, but more like a verificationist in the tradition of Edward
Carnell. He makes the important note, however, that Schaeffer did not believe
“there is any one apologetics which meets the needs of all people. The
concluding chapter considers the role of love in Schaeffer’s work and life,
which Schaeffer called “the final apologetic.” Dr. Follis explains the personal
nature of Schaeffer’s evangelism and the importance of community.

Truth with Love by Bryan Follis not only sets the record
straight about the beliefs and life of Francis Schaeffer, but also puts forwards an
inspirational vision for apologetics in our current postmodern culture. It’s
main fault is that some of the points are placed repetitively throughout the book, but
with such important points that may be forgiven.