Reality and Evangelism in the Lives and Works of C.S. Lewis and Francis Schaeffer

The thesis of this paper is that the shared commitment of C.S. Lewis and Francis A. Schaeffer to metaphysical realism formed the basis of their development and practice of pre-evangelism. Pre-evangelism is defined as a work to be done prior to evangelism. It appears each developed his views independent of the other suggesting it was their mutual commitment to metaphysical realism that accounts for their similar views of pre-evangelism. These shared ontological commitments led Lewis and Schaeffer to ask defining questions of the naturalists (Lewis) and the existentialists (Schaeffer to lead the non-believer to consider held beliefs in light of the way things are. In this way, the non-believers’ beliefs were not first measured against Christian beliefs, but against the way creation presents itself to everybody. As Schaeffer would say, allow the non-believer to see the conclusions of his own beliefs. Put another way, Lewis would say that it was to show a person that he was wrong before showing him why he was wrong. Both believed mind independent reality as precisely the way to do this. The conclusion here is that metaphysical realism offers the same advantages for evangelism in the post Christian and atheistic atmosphere of the 21st Century

Epistemology · Evangelism · Existentialism · Metaphysics · Realism · Sociology · Philosophy · Religious studies · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices · Theology and Philosophy of Evil