Point: Some Christians engage in apologetics in a piecemeal fashion. They give evidence here and there. They refute an objection here and there. They might not realize the importance of Presuppositional apologetics with its emphasis of going beyond the individual point and pursuing refutations at the level of presuppositions.
Picture: During World War Two how did the Marines deal with Japanese soldiers who hid in caves and when an opportune time present itself, the Japanese soldiers attacked again the Marines? Flamethrowers were used:
You want to deal with their unbelief at the source which is the human heart. This requires the Gospel but at the human heart is also false presuppositions and these false presuppositions needs to be refuted.
POSSIBLE SCENARIO FOR EMPLOYING THIS ILLUSTRATION DURING APOLOGETIC EVANGELISM
OPPONENT: But I have another problem with Christianity.
CHRISTIAN: Wait real quick. I want to make an observation that this is the fourth objection you brought up. It is also the fourth objection that I have refuted from you. But before I address another objection I also want to examine your worldview that construct these objections. Tell me, in your worldview, how does your atheistic worldview account for man’s ability for knowledge?
OPPONENT: Wait. You can’t do that.
CHRISTIAN: Why not? I have been dealing with your objections this whole time but let us be honest, your objection is not done in a vacuum. Each one of your objections are somewhat like pests that needs to be dealt with, like ants. You are producing a whole lot of them! But I want to ask if the presuppositions and worldview that drives you to manufacture problems with Christianity when there are none can even account for the intelligibility and meaningfulness of those objections within your own worldview. Let me explain with an illustration. Do you know much about flamethrowers in World War Two?
OPPONENT: Not really.
CHRISTIAN: <INSERT ILLUSTRATION.> Do you understand why flamethrowers were used?
OPPONENT: Yes to get to the bottom of the problem.
CHRISTIAN: Likewise we should deal with the heart of all your objections. Its to not allow you any basis to think you can pretend to be rational against God within your foundational beliefs.
OPPONENT: How so?
CHRISTIAN: So long as you think atheism is a good place as your foundation for rational dialogue, you will continue to reject and object to Christianity and roll out your arguments, since Christianity believes in the God of the Bible. Now then let me explain why your presuppositions destroys the very foundation of your own objections which you claim to know as true since your presupposition destroys the possibility of morality…
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Good reminder that presuppositions are at the bottom of the problem that tries “to manufacture problems with Christianity when there are none”.
True. Thanks for reading this. Have a blessed day Frank!!!
Excellent insight. Very helpful.
That’s nice
Thanks for reading this!
Thank you for both the history and the illustration of how to use this in practice.
Thanks for reading this. If you can pray for my apologetics lesson I’m preparing for tonight, I want to argue that logic shows God exists but want to make this as clear to understand as possible. Blessings to you dear brother!!!
Thanks for this good analogy! Yup, atheists (and false religionists) argue from an untenable viewpoint.
Yes sir! I’ll have a podcast post sometime in the near future where there was some discussion about Presup applied to Roman Catholicism, though it was about Presup in general. This isn’t pop apologetics that’s doctrinally soft! I think you will appreciate it! How goes your day??
Brass-knuckled evangelism: 😊
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Jude 1:23 KJV
Why that’s an appropriate verse Mark. 🙂
Great illustration!!!!! Praying for study tonight!!!!!
Thanks. Sister you joining when you are in finals was something I’m humbled and honored by. Thank you. How did your finals go?
Good point. Whether regarding physical issues or spiritual ones, only finding out and dealing with the root problem is where the healing or correction takes place.
Amen! This is true also with biblical counseling, getting to the bottom of the core issue driving what is false or bad behavior. Thanks for sharing that in your comment
We can never hide from God’s truth. His Word will expose the false teachers.
Grateful that the Word of God does that!! Seriously. Thanks for your comment brother and hope you have a blessed Wednesday
Its incredible that they used flame throwers in World War 2
Good illustration and militant!
I love it very thoughtful
[…] 6.) Apologetics Sermon Illustration #77: Flamethrowers and Refuting Presuppositions […]
This illustration throw the point home about rebutting presuppositions
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