Pushing The Antithesis – Part 2 – Destroying Philosphical Fortresses

The second part of the series has to do with taking down philosophical fortresses. Although we have not covered chapter 3 on worldviews you may consider this prep work as a number of principles will nicely lead into the next series.

Try to understand why the unbelieving mind is hostile to the Christian worldview; understand why no one can be neutral and still remain philosophically consistent; what is meant by the “noetic” effects of sin.

 

The main points to be observed from this chapter are:

  • Factually we must recognize that the unbeliever is not neutral.
  • Morally, we must understand that the believer should not be neutral.
  • Any claim to neturality is a pretense, and it is philosophically impossible.
  • “Noetic” is derived from the Greek word, nous, which means “mind”.
  • This is one aspect of the doctrine of “total depravity”, which declares that the fall reaches deep down into a man’s very being, even to his mind, and his reasoning faculties.
  • The world and the universe do not operate randomly by blind chance or under their own inherent power.
  • In fact, you will even give account for every “idle word” that you speak (Matt 12:36).
  • None of your words is neutral; each one is subject to God’s evaluative judgement.
  • We are not saying unbelievers “know nothing.” We are saying that they do not know anything “truly,” because they do not recognize the most fundamental reality: All facts are God-created facts, not brute facts.

Recommended Reading

Flashing, Sarah J., “The Myth of Secular Neutrality: Unbiased Bioethics?

Kruger, Michael J., “The Sufficiency of Scripture in Apologetics

Oliphant, Scott, “The Noetic Effects of Sin

Woodward, Thomas E., “Staring Down Darwinism: A Book Review

Pushing the Antithesis – Part 1: The Myth of Neutrality

I had acquired through a friend on Twitter, a copy of Greg Bahnsen’s, “Pushing the Antithesis“. As such I have decided to publish a blog post for each chapter. This is the first of twelve blog posts. Each post will consist of some key bullet points along with some recommend reading links where available.

As the chapter title suggests, Dr. Bahnsen puts to bed the supposed “neutrality” that anyone has let along the Christian.

 

The main points to be observed from this chapter are:

  • This “neutral” approach is neither biblical nor effective.
  • Christians must not set aside their faith commitment even temporarily in an attempt to approach the unbeliever on “neutral ground”.
  • If you don’t start with God as your basic assumption, you can’t prove anything./
  • The assumption of God’s existence required to all reasoning.
  • Evolution theory is taken for granted throughout the college curriculum, just as it is in all aspects of modern though and experience.
  • Modern education is effectively subliminal advertising for atheism.
  • The university and the media supposedly encourage neutrality by urging tolerance of all views.
  • But we are all aware that the Christian view is seldom given equal tolerance.
  • The Christian who strives for neutrality unwittingly endorses assumptions which are hostile to his faith.
  • Simply put, you cannot adopt a position of neutrality toward God if you are to remain faithful to Christ.
  • The Bible claims infallible and obligatory authority which demands commitment to its truth claims.
  • Such neutrality actually amounts to skepticism regarding the existence of God and the authority of His Word.
  • He (Satan) suggested that she must remain neutral in order to decide who was right, God or Satan. She did not accept God’s word as authoritative and conclusive, but as a true neutralist, determined for herself which option to take. (Gen 3:4-6)
  • Robert South (1634-1716) said, “He who would fight the devil with his own weapons, must not wonder if he finds himself over matched.”
  • Van Til – “there simply is no presupposition-free and neutral way to approach reasoning.”
  • A true biblical apologetic does not set aside Christ from our hearts, but sets apart Christ in our hearts.

Recommended Reading

Bahnsen, Greg L., Always Ready: Directions for Defending the Faith

Demar, Gary, Thinking Straight in a Crooked World: A Christian Defense Manual

Gentry, Kenneth L., Jr., Defending the Faith: An Introduction to Biblical Apologetics