For many people – presuppositional apologetics is Fideism arguing in circles.
- there large circles and narrow circles, vicious circles and good and bad circles.
- Christianity is true because God is there.
- but on the level of persuasion – doing the work of argument – not only is Christianity a not a narrow or vicious circle, but its treatment of data – Van Til – calls it indirect. These facts don’t mean anything, unless they come into context that gives it meaning.
- some presuppositionalists should do a lot more in presenting their presuppositions.
- you also need passion to reach people, Os Guinness, Dick Keyes, etc.
- they made a false equation – bare bones proclamation – many people start yelling at people… but it must be looked at another level. Everything points to God. Proof helps – it is not only appropriate, but it is also required.
-Frame says the transcendental argument is not sufficient. Van Til says transcendental argument must be based on the trinity.
- Ex. Intelligent Design – Complexity cannot be explained, God is the designer – VanTil would say, God is not only a designer, but he is ontological truth.
- Cosmological argument – God as first cause. Or is it?
- Persuade people without falling into neutrality or fideism. – use of evidences, just because you are a presuppositionalists doesn’t mean you don’t have to use evidences.
- Look at 1 Cor 15 – there were 500 witnesses. He adduces all these evidences. In the body of the argument, he reminds the gospel and God’s word is self-authenticating, it is real in the whole package in order for it to make sense.
- One thing we most need in apologetic discussion – psychology of unbelief or faith. It takes a long way to do biblical apologetics. Transcendental argument is the way to go. However, it must also takes into account the psychology of the person we are talking to. Note: truth and plausibility. Gospel is truth, but highly implausible. Something could be plausible but not true. Christianity is true but not always plausible because of unbelief.
1 – how do we deal with unbelief and be compassionate and persuade. Our persuasion must work together with the Holy Spirit or the word of God. He convicts. Our job is to glorify God.
2 – There are typical objects of conviction – typical reasons why people doubt. What are some of them?
A. Ethical – person doesn’t want to have moral integrity to respond, note Pilate. Nathaniel – was afraid to come to Jesus by day. Evidence is there, but what’s keeping people is ethics.
B. Motivation – it also varies with motivation. We may be obsessed, we want to seek improvement, etc. Note: rich man and lazarus, Thomas… They’ve got evidence, but they still didn’t believe.
C. Cost of discipleship – CS Lewis came to Christ largely on intellectual grounds, and surprised by joy – the most reluctant convert in all of England. It will cost him his career. Different people have different impediment in life. Young people – it’s not cool, will I be laughed at? These are motivational and emotional issues.
D. Faulty view of God – based on this faulty view, we resist the gospel. One of the faulty view is that God is a tyrant or abuser. He is far away, etc. – what view should we leave people with? – “He’s not safe but he’s good” – mr. beaver… Move people to a God who is good. Move people to a place, not a rock of indubitable. It requires faith, dynamic and grows. Some people never have it fully. Assurance of faith is a privilege but it is not obligatory. It may come and go, There is gradual growth, there is doubt, there may be troubles.
E. Too much apologetics is purely prosaic – there is a place for it, and there is a place for creativity. Fool-making – court jester, entertain the king – speaking the truth as a joke or ironies to get people to laugh. Not just a clever way to get the word across – make a more imaginative way – story, narrative, it subverts us. It keeps us off balance and keeps us in. Nathan was able to challenge David on his sin. Gospel is a story that surprises us into the kingdom. It is an everlasting surprise. It tells a story – who’s my neighbor, good Samaritan. – a story that tells the gospel without mentioning the Gospel. Imagination, improvisation. The Gospel is God’s improvised answer –
F. Imagination – we are too predictable… say it upside down. Doystevisyky and Flannery O’Connor, can say it without one more sermon. Grotesqueness of a character – shows the grander of the goodness of God.

Van til says you can begin everywhere because God is behind everything. Unless you bring in the precondition in which things have meaning, they might listen to you…