Francis A. Schaeffer’s Pastoral Letter (1976)

On March 31, 1976, American Presbyterian apologist Francis A. Schaeffer wrote a private letter to a discouraged Christian who had been shaken by a minister’s failure. Schaeffer, widely known for founding L’Abri (“the shelter”) in Huémoz, Switzerland, and for offering patient counsel to troubled believers, addressed a common spiritual crisis: when disappointment with a shepherd tempts a believer to doubt the Shepherd.

His central warning was plain and protective: “You must not lose confidence in God because you lost confidence in your pastor. If our confidence in God had to depend upon our confidence in any human person, we would be on shifting sand.” The words combine tenderness and firmness, acknowledging real wounds without granting them the power to redefine God’s character.

Schaeffer’s letter reflects a biblical realism about human weakness. Pastors are called to be examples, yet remain sinners in need of grace. The heroism here is not celebrity or charisma, but steadfast faith—choosing to anchor trust in God when a trusted voice has proven unreliable.

L’Abri and the Ministry of Listening

L’Abri, begun in the postwar years by Francis and Edith Schaeffer, became a place where questions were welcomed and spiritual bruises were treated with patience. Situated in the Swiss Alps, it drew students, seekers, and weary Christians from across the world. Schaeffer’s apologetics were never meant to be merely academic; they were aimed at restoring confidence that Christianity is true and that God is present even in confusion.

In that spirit, the 1976 letter models pastoral wisdom: separate the unchanging Lord from the changing servant. Scripture repeatedly calls believers away from personality-driven faith toward God’s sure foundation. “Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save” (Psalm 146:3). When leadership disappoints, the remedy is not cynicism but clearer devotion.

Steadfast Trust Beyond Human Failure

Disillusionment can become a hidden test of faith. Schaeffer’s counsel urges believers to grieve honestly, seek accountability where needed, and continue in worship without making an idol of any minister. The church must prize integrity, repentance, and truth, yet believers must not confuse God’s holiness with man’s inconsistency.

The heart of the matter is stability. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). The Christian life grows sturdier when confidence rests on God’s unchanging character—faithful when people are faithless, near when leaders falter, and sufficient when expectations collapse.