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