Cornelius Van Til's Presuppositional Apologetics

   "I take what the Bible says about God and his relation to the universe as unquestionably true on its own authority. The Bible requires men to believe that he exists apart from and above the world and that he by his plan controls whatever takes place in the world.  Everything in the created universe therefore displays the fact that it is controlled by God, that it is what it is by virtue of the place that it occupies in the plan of God. The objective evidence for the existence of God and of the comprehensive governance of the world by God is therefore so plain that he who runs may read. Men cannot get away from this evidence. They see it round about them. They see it within them. Their own constitution so clearly evinces the facts of God's creation of them and control over them that there is no man who can possibly escape observing it. If he is self-conscious at all he is also Godconscious.  No matter how men may try they cannot hide from themselves the fact of their own createdness. Whether men engage in inductive study with respect to the facts of nature about them or engage in analysis of their own self-consciousness they are always face to face with God their maker."

                                                                                                                                              




  From the very day that Christ found me and began His Work in me, I have had a fervent desire to be A Bold Witness For Christ!  In the early stages of my sharing of the Gospel with the lost I was falling all over myself, of course this is common with every new believer who has a desire to share the Good News.  I have to admit that I would easily get thrown off course in my witnessing by the arguments of the non-believers I encountered, I thought I had to "match wits" with them and have a sure fire answer for every single counter they had for me.  Then after awhile I found the best way is to simply do as Christ did, that being to use the fact that all people truly believe in God and know of His existence, they just do not wish to admit to this fact, so realizing this I altered my approach to witnessing.   I have since used this Presuppositional Apologetic approach.   Why waste time arguing and trying to prove the existence of God when all men know it to be true but are simply suppressing the fact.  I believe it is better to go into any witness encounter by simply stating Scripture and expounding upon it when needed.  No more do I try to prove anything, I simply give the facts and let the persons conscience do it's work, and the Holy Spirit of course plays a part in that conscience.


  I would like to encourage everyone to read Van Til, do not be intimated by his writings, (as I was at first) just read what you can and soak it up!   May God bless and keep us all in His Grace this Thanksgiving!


Shane C. Montgomery