Point: Presuppositional apologetics as founded by Cornelius Van Til make the point that to attack Christianity ends up being self-destructive to one’s worldview, making things unintelligible and meaningless. The bigger problem isn’t the “gadfly” of a Christian doctrine; but rather to try to remove it results in more serious problems.
Picture: Here is a news story that illustrate the point of Presuppositional apologetics:
A man has blown up part of his house in France while trying to swat a fly. The man, who is in his 80s, was about to tuck into his dinner when he became irritated by a fly buzzing around him. He picked up an electric racket designed to kill bugs and start swatting at it – but a gas canister was leaking in his Dordogne home. A reaction between the racket and the gas caused an explosion, destroying the kitchen and partly damaging the roof of the home in Parcoul-Chenaud village. According to local media, the unnamed man had a lucky escape, sustaining just a burn to the hand. However, the fate of the fly is not known, news outlet Sud-Ouest notes. The man has since checked into a local campsite while his family repair the house.
(Source)
Of course all analogies break down somewhere, and of course this does not imply attacking the God of the Bible result in an actual destruction of the truth of God.
POSSIBLE SCENARIO FOR EMPLOYING THIS ILLUSTRATION DURING APOLOGETIC EVANGELISM
OPPONENT: I have a moral objection to Christianity <Insert moral argument>
CHRISTIAN: Interesting, I see a greater dilemma in that I’m not sure you have the basis for a moral standard to object to Christianity to begin with. What is the basis for determining what’s wrong and right in your worldview?
OPPONENT: Right and wrong should be up to an individual.
CHRISTIAN: Well if its up to an individual then its relative. Who are you to say God is wrong if its up to individuals including God?That’s irrational. I mean check out Officer Chauvin and the belief that morals are up to individual to decide and Jeff Durbin: Does Atheistic Morality Make Sense?
OPPONENT: I don’t get what you are trying to do.
CHRISTIAN: What I’m trying to do is establish how your case against Christianity with your worldview end up being more self-destructive to your position than you realized. It’s like this instance I heard recently from the news of a guy who thought a “fly” was a problem but his attempt to remove it results in more problems. <Insert illustration>
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Thank you, Jim! This is a great visual! Enjoy your Labor Day? Will y’all grill today?!
We aren’t grilling anything but staying indoors since it’s been super hot. Yesterday LA hit 121 degrees, a record. And there’s a fire 10 miles from me in the mountains that made our sky all reddish, Smokey and dropping ashes. But we are ok the fire is heading away from residential area. What are you all grilling???
Praise God you guys are ok!!! That’s a heck of an experience. Do situations like that give you flashbacks? Sorry NOT trying to be rude or pry or anything like that! This is totally unrelated to this but Nathan is surrounded by prior/retired Navy and Marines. We live less than 2 hours from Annapolis! A woman I call “Auntie” is retired Navy and the banter between Nathan and Denise is funny! To answer your question we are grilling steak and chicken kabobs and grilling some veggies and potatoes. Y’all are totally invited!!!
I saw that news story and was glad it wasn’t here as it sounds like something an American would— thankful the man survived!!!
I think it would be an American thing to do too. WordPress has been acting weird lately can you check if I have any comments on your blog in spam instead of approved comments?
why yes I will Jim—-
i checked Jim—none form you but 33 from Germany, Denmark and beyond
Thanks for this analogy! Poor guy! That’s how my sister broke her TV. Swatting a fly with her hand. I really appreciate how this aspect of pre-sup apologetics debunks the atheist’s arguments regarding morality and what’s right and wrong.
I love presuppositional apologetics! The amount of devastating refutations brought to bear is awesome, especially the internal critique using the person’s worldview. Was praying last night looking at Twitter feed for antifa activities, seeing how ROC is a hot zone. How are you guys?
Thanks, brother! We’re safe with us being 8 miles southeast of the city center hot zone. I see the BLM protesters are demanding the mayor and chief of police resign, both happen to be African-American.
Are you guys having a Labor Day cookout? I’m moving real slow today. We’re visiting our oldest son later this afternoon. Just a few snacks and soda. I see you guys are having some hot temps. We’re already headed towards Fall with an average high of 73 this week.
The Creator and GOD is absolute, and so is His word; what is right for GOD is universaly the right one. Thank you for this post, Jim! GOD bless you and your family! GOD is merciful to the 80-year old man that he survived a gas leaked explosion.
God was gracious with the man. Is it normally 40 degrees Celsius this time for you guys this time of the year in September?
Yes, it was quite hot outside until yesterday afternoon when it rained. Now, it might be a hot day.
A vivid analogy
Thanks for this, Jim! Wow, if subjective morality was really a thing, we would have to release every criminal in custody. After all, they were doing what was right in their eyes…
It seems today that with the release of a lot of criminals I wonder what is driving it, I won’t be surprise some of the DAs hold to some form of relative morality be it subjectivism, or popular opinion or even what the state says is right, is right, etc. RG I think I commented on your blog and have some comments not go through since WordPress has been acting up for me, can you check to see if any of my comments are in your spam comments?
Nope, no comments of yours are in the spam. It’s weird; I can like your article on my mobile, but not my pc.
I don’t like flys but not to that extent . 😊
Thank you fun to read but the message is clear .
Thank you for reading this! Yeah I don’t like flies but this is rather crazy. I hear Australia has a lot of various critters though and flies are probably the least of your worries?
Cockroaches!
Great, great post!
🙌
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LOL, this visual person took one look at the picture and thought “Liar, liar, pants on fire.” Expected your point to be, if you try to oppose the truth you could end up in a painful situation … well, I guess that was SORT OF the point …
I was wondering if anyone caught my subtle point with that picture! You caught it! I was wondering if anyone else saw the reference with the picture. How’s the weather in your part of the country? Been super hot here in California but suddenly today its cloudy which is much needed as we have a fire not too far away
COLD here in Northern Michigan! Marty and I have been by the fireplace all afternoon. My sister wants me to fly out to Arizona with her and take a “sisterly adventure” in her motor home to Colorado – which is expecting a snowstorm! That’s a little TOO much of an adventure for me! #notreadyforthisyet
[…] 6.) Apologetics Sermon Illustration #57: Man blows up part of house while chasing fly […]
I can picture doing that for roaches
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[…] Man blows up part of house while chasing fly […]