True Spirituality
by Francis A. Schaeffer
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Francis Shaeffer had been serving as a pastor for over a decade when he began to wonder if Christianity really made a difference in people's lives. True Spirituality, a twentieth-century spiritual classic, outlines the result of his effort to "start at the beginning" and re-examine his faith. The book is a treasure trove of wisdom for Christians trying to discover what true spirituality looks like in everyday life. Includes a foreword by Chuck Colson and an introduction by Dr. Jerram Barrs, show more director of the Schaeffer Institute. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Really enjoyed reading this again after over 30 years. These are some of my favorite quotes:
We do not come to true spirituality or the true Christian life merely by keeping a list, but neither do we come to it merely by rejecting the list and then shrugging our shoulders and living a looser life.
desire becomes sin when it fails to include love of God or men.
The inward area is the first place of loss of true Christian life, of true spirituality, and the outward sinful act is the result. If we can only get hold of this -- that the internal is the basic, the external is always merely the result -- it will be a tremendous starting place.
The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our savior, we were justified and our guilt was gone once for all. show more That is absolute. But if we want to know anything of reality in the Christian life, anything of true spirituality, we must “take up our cross daily”.
in our thoughts and lives now we are to live as though we had already died, been to Heaven, and come back again as risen
Upon the basis of your promises I am looking for you to fulfill them, O my Jesus Christ; bring forth your fruit through me into this poor world.
Christianity is not to love in abstraction but to love the individual who stands before me in a person-to-person relationship. He must never be faceless to me or I am denying everything I say I believe. This concept will always involve some cost. It is not a cheap thing.
God means Christianity to be fun. There is to be a reality of love and communication in the Christian-to-Christian relationship, individually and corporately, which is completely and truly personal. show less
We do not come to true spirituality or the true Christian life merely by keeping a list, but neither do we come to it merely by rejecting the list and then shrugging our shoulders and living a looser life.
desire becomes sin when it fails to include love of God or men.
The inward area is the first place of loss of true Christian life, of true spirituality, and the outward sinful act is the result. If we can only get hold of this -- that the internal is the basic, the external is always merely the result -- it will be a tremendous starting place.
The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our savior, we were justified and our guilt was gone once for all. show more That is absolute. But if we want to know anything of reality in the Christian life, anything of true spirituality, we must “take up our cross daily”.
in our thoughts and lives now we are to live as though we had already died, been to Heaven, and come back again as risen
Upon the basis of your promises I am looking for you to fulfill them, O my Jesus Christ; bring forth your fruit through me into this poor world.
Christianity is not to love in abstraction but to love the individual who stands before me in a person-to-person relationship. He must never be faceless to me or I am denying everything I say I believe. This concept will always involve some cost. It is not a cheap thing.
God means Christianity to be fun. There is to be a reality of love and communication in the Christian-to-Christian relationship, individually and corporately, which is completely and truly personal. show less
It has a different topics to think about, apply to daily life. Off and on, I go back to the book to find the topic for a day. Well-thought.
Christianity 101 for the 20th century man!
My first Schaeffer book, and it was a phenomenal read. So much treasure here!
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Author Information

176+ Works 29,643 Members
Francis A. Schaeffer authored more than twenty books on theology, philosophy, art, and culture, selling millions worldwide. He and his wife, Edith, founded L'Abri Fellowship (international study and discipleship centers). Schaeffer passed away in 1984, but his influence and legacy continue to this day.
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Is contained in
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- True Spirituality
- Original title
- True spirituality
- Original publication date
- 1971
- Dedication
- To my very good friends Edith, Priscilla / John, Elizabee, Becky, Jandy, Susan / Ran, Margaret, Kirsty, Fiona, Debby / Udo, Natasha, Samantha, Franky / Genie, Jessica April 1971
- First words
- The question before us is what the Christian life, true spirituality, really is, and how it may be lived in a twentieth-century setting.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And having come this far, true spirituality - the Christian life - flows on into the total culture.
Classifications
- Genres
- Religion & Spirituality, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 248.4 — Religion Christian practice & observance Christian experience, practice, life Christian Living
- LCC
- BV4501.2 .S285 — Philosophy, Psychology and Religion Practical Theology Practical Theology Practical religion. The Christian life
- BISAC
Statistics
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- 2,022
- Popularity
- 10,397
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (4.15)
- Languages
- 6 — Chinese, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 16
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 12




















































