Deep Dive into Apologetics and Evangelism by Dr. Michael Vlach Prof. Jesse Johnson - Frameworks, Arguments, and Worldviews
John Frame, a prominent figure in presuppositional apologetics, identifies three primary aspects of apologetics: proof, defense, and offense. These aspects provide a comprehensive framework for understanding how Christians engage with unbelief and present the truth of their faith.
Firstly, Apologetics as Proof involves presenting a rational basis for faith or demonstrating Christianity to be true. Frame emphasizes that Christian faith is not irrational or based on a lack of evidence; instead, it is a trust grounded in sufficient evidence.
Secondly, Apologetics as Defense focuses on answering the objections raised by unbelief. While some might limit apologetics to this defensive role, Frame clarifies that this definition can be misleading, as it overlooks other crucial dimensions.
Thirdly, and particularly significant for presuppositionalists, is Apologetics as Offense. This aspect entails attacking the foolishness of unbelieving thought. This aligns with the biblical command to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God." Non-Christian thinking is considered foolishness from a scriptural perspective, and a core function of apologetics is to expose these inconsistencies and flaws. Leading presuppositionalists like Greg Bahnsen heavily emphasized this offensive approach, demonstrating how all non-Christian thought is ultimately flawed because it does not begin with God's Word as the ultimate standard of truth, underscoring the presuppositional belief that there is no neutrality in human thought.
Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian
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