Faith for All of Life Rev

Chalcedon Staff: February 2004 • Issue 460 Faith for All of Life Rev. R. J. Rushdoony (1916-2001) was the founder of Chalcedon and a leading theologian, church/state The Myth of Neutrality 2 Living Defensively: expert, and author of numerous R.J. Rushdoony Managing Debt 18 works on the application of Biblical Tom Rose Law to society. Revelation or Reason? 4 Rev. Mark R. Rushdoony is Mark R. Rushdoony The Defense of the Faith: president of Chalcedon and Ross John Weatherford and House Books. He is also editor-in- Van Til’s Illustrations 6 Patrick Henry 20 chief of the Chalcedon Report and Jim West R.G. “Rick” Williams, Jr. Chalcedon’s other publications. Appointed for the Defense The Development of Van Til’s Susan Burns is Chalcedon’s executive assistant and managing edi- of the Gospel: The Life and Presuppositionalism in the tor of the Chalcedon Report and Ministry of Greg L. Bahnsen 8 Apologetic Practice of Chalcedon’s other publications. Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., Th.D. Greg Bahnsen 22 Christopher B. Strevel Rev. Christopher J. Ortiz is the Presuppositionalism vs. Director of Communications for Evidentialism 10 What’s Love Chalcedon and Ross House Books. Eugene Clingman Got to Do with It? 24 Receiving the Chalcedon Report: The William Blankschaen Report will be sent to those who request Pascal’s Wager: Examined it. At least once a year we ask that you return a response card if you wish to from the Van Til Perspective 12 Presupposing the Young 26 remain on the mailing list. Contributors Forrest W. Schultz Ian Hodge are kept on our mailing list. Suggested Donation: $35 per year ($45 for all foreign — U.S. funds only). Tax-deduct- Pluralism: The New Enemy 14 The Problem with Islam 27 ible contributions may be made out to Roger Schultz Warren Kelley Chalcedon and mailed to P.O. Box 158, Vallecito, CA 95251 USA. Christian Civilization Classifieds 31 Chalcedon may want to contact its Under Attack 16 readers quickly by means of e-mail. If you have an e-mail address, please Samuel L. Blumenfeld send an e-mail message including your full postal address to our office: The Chalcedon Report, published monthly by Chalcedon, a tax-exempt Christian foundation, is sent to all who request it. All edi- [email protected]. torial correspondence should be sent to the managing editor, P.O. Box 569, Cedar Bluff, VA 24609-0569. Laser-print hard copy and electronic disk submissions firmly encouraged. All submissions subject to editorial revision. Email: [email protected]. For circulation and data management The editors are not responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts which become the property of Chalcedon unless other arrangements are made. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of Chalcedon. It provides a contact Rebecca Rouse. forum for views in accord with a relevant, active, historic Christianity, though those views may on occasion differ somewhat Contact her at (209) 736-4365 ext. 10 from Chalcedon’s and from each other. Chalcedon depends on the contributions of its readers, and all gifts to Chalcedon are tax- or [email protected] deductible. ©2003 Chalcedon. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint granted on written request only. Editorial Board: Rev. Mark R. Rushdoony, President/Editor-in-Chief; Walter Lindsay, Assistant Editor; Susan Burns, Managing Editor and Executive Assistant. Chalcedon, P.O. Box 158, Vallecito, CA 95251, Telephone Circulation (8a.m. - 4p.m., Pacific): (209)736-4365 or Fax (209) 736-0536; email: [email protected]; www.chalcedon.edu; Circulation:Rebecca Rouse. Founder’s Column Faith for All of Life R.J. Rushdoony The Myth of Neutrality (Reprinted from The Roots of Christian Reconstruction [Vallecito, CA: Ross House Books, 1991], 1112-1114)

ne of the most pernicious and evil the courts a character very much in con- press and punish the rivals of the Federal Omyths to plague the human race is flict with their very natures. Moreover, religion. The sessions of the Court the myth of neutrality. It is a product of it gives to the courts the power to falsify constitute a modern version of “the holy atheism and anti-Christianity, because issues, as the United States Supreme war” against Christendom. it presupposes a cosmos of uncreated Court habitually does. For example, At the same time, the myth of neu- and meaningless factuality, of brute or in dealing with educational issues, the trality has been used to castrate theol- meaningless facts. Because every atom Court, which had declared humanism ogy and the churches. The American and fact of the cosmos is then meaning- to be a religion, will not acknowledge Educational Trust of Washington, D.C. less and also unrelated to every other that humanistic education, i.e., our state recently published an atlas and almanac fact, all facts are neutral. educational systems today, is not neutral by John C. Kimball (The Arabs, 1983). religiously. Christian schools are held Kimball writes: The Nonsense of Neutrality to be “religious” and “non-neutral,” but Muslims have always believed strongly The word “neutral” is a curious the humanistic state schools are seen as that religion concerns not only what a one. It comes from the Latin “neuter,” “neutral.” person believes but what he does and meaning neither the one nor the other the interrelationships of society. Un- and has original reference to gender, i.e., The Greatest Violation like Christian thought that sees a clear neither male nor female. It still has that of the First Amendment distinction between the secular and meaning: a neutered man is a eunuch, a There is a reason for this willful religious dimensions of life, Muslim thought holds that ideally the secular castrate. blindness. To admit that education is and spiritual belong to the same sphere. inescapably a religious task and is always It now has also the meaning of (p. 5) not taking sides and, supposedly, the non-neutral means that state schools law and the courts are “neutral.” This violate the First Amendment. They are This, of course, is the Biblical posi- in itself is nonsense. No law is ever religious establishments which teach a tion, that all things are under God’s neutral. The law is not neutral about religion alien to most citizens, and they law and rule, and any division of life theft, assault, murder, rape, or perjury: do so with public funds. Few things in between the religious and the non- religious is false. Because God is the it is emphatically against these things, the United States are more in violation Lord and Creator of all things, there is or should be. Again, no good court or of the First Amendment than the public no sphere of life and thought outside judge can be neutral about these things schools. From its inception, the public His jurisdiction, government, and law. without destroying justice. or state school system has been destruc- To hold that there is denies God and Moreover, neither the law nor the tive of civil liberty and, increasingly, of affirms polytheism. And this is precisely courts can be neutral with respect to a Biblical faith. what all too many theologians have man charged with any of these crimes, For the Court to recognize this fact done. The resurgence of Islam is due to or others. Rather, a good court “sus- would require a radical re-direction of the revival of this premise. pends judgment” pending the testi- life in America. It would, moreover, re- mony. Neutrality posits an indifference; quire a radical change in the Court. The Van Til’s Button a suspended judgment means that any U.S. Supreme Court has become the The myth of neutrality is most conclusion must be preceded by a rigor- Sanhedrin, Vatican, or National Council congenial to man’s fallen nature. Dr. ous examination of evidence. of humanism in America. It is a mili- Cornelius Van Til has pointed out that, The myth of neutrality prevents jus- tant and fanatical agency of humanistic if there were one button in all the uni- tice because it ascribes to the law and to religion, and it uses its power to sup- verse, which, if man pushed, would give

2 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 3 Faith for All of Life him a small realm of experience outside ther: it sees God as unconcerned about the Union presidential address, and it of God and in freedom from God, fallen most of life, and limits the province of is everywhere the premise of modern man would always have his finger on the sacred to a small realm. In Babylon, politics. By beginning with the premise that button. the laws of “justice” came from the king, that there are neutral spheres outside of The tragic fact is that too many not the gods. In modern Western civili- God, man ends up by declaring God churchmen assume the existence of zation, the laws of “justice” come from out of bounds as a concern to men. We such a button! They hold that most of man, from the state: Babylon the Great are told that it is a matter of neutrality life is outside God’s law, and even deny is in process of construction. whether or not men believe or disbelieve the validity of God’s law. They believe Phillip Lee Ralph, in The Renais- in God and His law. In all such think- in effect that man must be saved in the sance in Perspective (1973), said, “To- ing, man is operating on the assumption church but can be unsaved outside of gether with other thinkers of the age, that, by pushing this intellectual button the church, in education, politics, eco- Erasmus, More, and Machiavelli shared of neutrality, the claims of God are nomics, and all things else. They literally a conviction that, without any change eliminated and disappear. posit that most of the world is by nature in human nature or any drastic altering The fact is, however, that God to be and to remain a godless realm. of institutions, the political order could controls all the buttons! And His verdict The Gilamesh epic of the Babylo- be made to serve desirable human ends” on the myth of neutrality and all its nians held that only a small area of life (75f.). In other words, the whole world adherents can only be judgment. CR is the concern of men, who are inescap- is outside of God and neutral to Him, ably ignorant of good and evil because and therefore the good society can be the gods “withheld in their own hands” created outside of God’s salvation and knowledge of most high things. This His law-word and in indifference to was clearly an expression of religious Him. In the United States, this is the cynicism. Modern theology goes fur- assumption of every modern State of Get 24 Years worth of Rushdoony’s research and writing on numerous topics for only $20! he Roots of Reconstruction by R.J. Rushdoony is one of the most Timportant reference works you’ll ever purchase. If you are committed to the comprehensive worldview espoused by Rushdoony then this volume is a must for your personal, church, or school library. This giant book of 1124 pages contains all of Rushdoony’s Chalcedon Report articles from the ministry’s beginning in 1965 to the middle of 1989. You’ll discover world-changing insights on a number of topics such as: Theology False Religions Work The State Revolution The Church $20.00 Philosophy God’s Law Heresies Hardback, 1124 pages Wealth World History Humanism Shipping added to all orders Prayer American History Secularism The Family Education Abortion Ordering is easy. Eschatology Ethical Philosophy Covenant Simply use the Taxation Culture Reformed Faith order form on Politics Dominion Much more page 32

2 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 3 From the President Faith for All of Life Mark Rushdoony

Revelation or Reason?

t is very easy for a person to say and Satan’s suggestion to Eve and “her source of “natural law.” Building on Ibelieve that he has faith in God husband with her” was first of all to the advancing frontiers of Protestant while, in reality, he has faith in his own question God’s revelation of truth and Europe, the Enlightenment saw the opinion about God. Believing our own then to decide on a course of action for progress of reason as inevitable. The opinion of God is, in fact, present in themselves based on their own self- French Revolution was the beginning our sin because it was a very real part of interest. All sin repeats this pattern of of a series of horrors spawned by this man’s first sin. rejecting God because we are too busy humanistic rationalism. More revolu- You have likely heard the quip, “You playing God. tions followed in the 19th century, until think too much!” In a similar vein, our Man’s sin was to play God, to WWI broke the faith of modern man sin often centers around thinking too determine for himself good and evil. in the inevitability of progress. Darwin much of our thoughts. Much of our sin In order to do that, man has to repeat also contributed, on an intellectual level, occurs when we give our thoughts prior- the concurrent sin of Adam and Eve of to the loss of faith in man’s progress. ity over God’s Word, which is, really, to questioning God’s revelation, of deter- Though he attempted to explain the put ourselves before God. mining truth by his own criteria. Satan world by naturalistic means, in doing so persuaded our first parents to submit he destroyed the concept of nature as a Satan and Eve God and His Word to the bar of their source of natural law. Darwin’s theory Satan’s first words to Eve were a reason, as if their intellect could sit in necessitated a view of nature as a realm challenge to doubt God’s Word, to judgment over their Creator. of the random, meaningless combina- question it. Rather than “Thus saith the tion of matter. Nature, after Darwin, LORD,” Satan encouraged Eve to ques- In Modern Times could not be a source of law. tion, “Yea, hath God said…?” In modern times, two major intel- Marked by a sequence of blood- Eve, in fact, knew the words of lectual movements in the West represent letting revolutions and war, the faith God and quoted them to Satan. Satan’s the continuing struggle between ulti- of man in reason as a process of civil response was to cast doubt on the reli- mate faith in revelation and in reason. discourse gave way to what we now call ability of God’s words: “Ye shall not The Reformation stood firmly in terms political correctness, which is a code of surely die.” Man, Satan declared, had of Scripture as the basis of faith and life. humanistic morality imposed by coer- other options. In fact, he claimed, God This faith in the revelation of God was cion. Such coercion in schools, courts, was hiding the full truth, He was being accompanied by a corresponding faith and media was accomplished by the selfish in trying to maintain control in its Sovereign Author. Scripture, as the advance of relativistic rationalism not by over two potentially autonomous moral law-word of God, was the standard of poets and philosophers, but increasingly beings. God, the tempter claimed, was truth to which men deferred. by revolutions and statist action. The a spin-doctor hiding the full truth, “For The Enlightenment rejected the progress of reason’s march has continued God doth know that in the day ye eat theistic emphasis of the Reformation. to be marked by enslavement, destruc- thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, It involved a conscious repudiation of tion, decapitalization, and death. and ye shall be as gods, knowing good divine revelation and Biblical law in Sin, whether by an individual or by and evil.” favor of man’s reason and nature as the a culture, never allows man to get ahead.

4 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 5 Faith for All of Life In viewing the present state into which field.” As Adam and Eve fell for Satan’s God gave us minds to use in His Enlightenment thinking has brought subtlety, we fall for it whenever we place service. He did not give us minds to us, we are, at times, awed by the forces ourselves in the position of questioning exalt over Him and His revelation. that align themselves against God and God. Reason, when used to challenge God, is His Word. The threat of coercive action When we create an idea or image of irrational and schizophrenic, for reality awaits all those who resist the march of God that we try to impose upon Him and truth are centered in God. Reason the humanist’s dream. we put that idea above Him as our law cannot be independent of God or it and act as the judge of God. When we becomes a false god and an aspect of re- Today’s Humanists view the world as one of mere facts that bellion against the living and true God. The humanists, however, have failed are ours to interpret in terms of our own Our God must be the God of to live up to their professed allegiance understanding we play god and allow Scripture. Our faith must be in Him to reason. They display this failure every our reason a priority over God and His and we must claim no other standard time they resort to law and coercion. Word. When our experience, logic, or of understanding and judgment. We As liberalism becomes truer to itself it preferences cause us to preface our ap- are called, moreover, not to prove God becomes uglier and its failures more proach to God with the idea “I think…” by our fallen and fallible criteria, but to prominent. Because God is Truth, all we play the role of a deity standing over have faith in Him as He reveals Himself things must conform themselves to His God Himself. Ultimately, a man who to us in His Word. logic and plan or be dashed to pieces in depends on reason knows only one When Adam and Eve sinned, their judgment. authority, himself. eyes were opened (Gen. 3:7). They Lest we see the sin of reliance on knew what they had done and hid from reason only in terms of its most anti- God as Our Center God’s righteous judgment. God had Christian advocates, we must remem- It was part of man’s first sin to mercy upon them, however. May He ber that Christians can and often do believe that he could question God’s have mercy upon us for too often elevat- elevate reason above God and His revelation and decide good and evil for ing our pathetic minds over Him and Word. Rationalism is not just the sin of himself. We repeat that sin every time His Revelation. CR avowed rebels. The serpent was, remem- we fail to begin and end with God as ber, “more subtle than any beast of the the center of our thoughts.

Power today does not lie in politics or governments, but in God’s people of faith. here is a marked resemblance between our time and that of Elijah Tand Elisha. Like ours, their day was an age of radical compromise between the worship of God and Baal. By blending the two into one, they sacrificed the power of an uncompromising religion. In the never-before released Chariots of Prophetic Fire, R.J. Rushdoony challenges the modern church to resist compromise between humanistic powers and Christianity. Only $30.00 (+S/H) Hardback, 163 pages, indices. Ordering is easy. Simply use the order form on page 32 or visit www.chalcedonstore.com

4 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 5 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life Van Til’s Illustrations Jim West

here is an Arabian men in it. “There,” said the friend, Tproverb that reads, “that’s an illustration of the Trinity.” “He who speaks best Porson countered, “No, you must show must turn men’s ears into me one man in three buggies – if you Creator eyes.” We see this apho- can.” The lesson is that only the Bible rism displayed in the itself can infallibly establish the truth of ministry of Christ, who made frequent the Trinity. The only exception is when use of metaphors, similes, and espe- Jesus Himself coins an illustration; Jesus’ cially parables in His public and private illustrations always prove and illustrate Creation Providence preaching. simultaneously. The employment of colorful speech Now, when we muster Dr. Corne- to illuminate Biblical truth can be a lius Van Til’s illustrations concerning Creature tricky matter, especially when we try to Christian apologetics, we must always prove a point with an illustration. Actu- keep the previously stated rules be- circles illustrate the Creator-creature ally, the best we humans can do with fore us. Van Til always proved before distinction. That is fundamental Van an illustration is to do just that, that is, he illustrated; therefore the following Tilian apologetics. we illustrate, but we do not prove. To samples must be viewed as confirming prove, we must rely upon other criteria. illustrations that follow his weightier, Yellowed Glasses Consider the compelling illustration clincher arguments. None of his illus- The sinner is born into this world of theologian Robert Dabney, who trations stand by themselves. They are harboring enmity against God (Rom. justified church unity, but without a the G.I.s who occupy the field after a 8:7). He is not a white slate, nor a mandate for actual, organic union. To city has been leveled. Or, better, they are tablua rasa. Rather, what he sees he accomplish this, he appealed to the supporting artillery that accompany the sees through colored glasses; his eyes coinage of the United States. There are onslaughts of the infantry who alone are jaundiced and all is yellow to him. dimes, nickels, one-cent pieces, Morgan win the field. When the believer looks into the starry dollars, Double-Eagles, etc. Thus, as skies, he sees the glory of God. When Two Circles there are different denominations of the unbeliever looks, he sees Big Bang, There is a renowned Van Tilian coinage and yet one nation, so (he ar- evolution, and chance. When the prin- illustration. Imagine two circles, and gued) there can be different denomina- cess kisses the frog and it turns into a these distinguish between the creature tions of Christian churches, and yet one handsome prince, the believer exclaims, and the Creator (Rom.1:25). Man is church. He argued from his Paradigm “Fairy Tale.” But when Darwin says that not God; God is not man. Panthe- of the Mint the idea of “unity without frogs turn into princes, unbelievers call ism (“all is God”) is a lie; Panentheism union.” that “science.” It is thus impossible to be (“All is in God”) is a lie; and mysticism Dabney’s example is compelling, neutral; the unbeliever’s understanding (man being absorbed into God) is a but not conclusive. It is only illustra- of the facts is distorted by his jaundiced lie. Man is man and God is God, two tive, and no more. If we want to dub subjectivity. illustrations with absolute authority, we circles! The Greek idea that all reality is should batten the hatches for illustra- one endless Chain of Being so that the Sky-rocket God tions against the Christian Faith, too. only difference between man and God A skyrocket god is a projection of My favorite is from Richard Porson, a is gradational is also a lie. Elton John’s men’s carnal minds. On the Fourth classical scholar of the early 19th cen- popular song, The Circle of Life, is spuri- of July when we are mesmerized by tury. He was walking with a Trinitarian ous because it envisions only one circle. the fireworks so that our eyes are in a friend when a buggy passed with three There are two circles and these two heavenly trance, we are quickly brought

6 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 7 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life back to reality when we consider that The Man of Water bestows favor on both the just and the the skyrocket has been launched from Perhaps alluding to the primordial unjust. The unbeliever lives in God’s this terra firma. Van Til used this illus- ooze that is the hallmark of evolution- world and even lives and moves and has tration to show how the god of Neo- ary philosophy, Van Til compared the his being in God, whether he acknowl- orthodox theologians, who appears to natural man’s search for truth as futile. edges it or not (Ps. 24:1; Ac. 17:28). All be the same God of the Bible, has really His metaphor was vivid: the unbeliever of the contributions of the unregenerate been launched from Cape Cerebrum. is like a man of water standing upon a in literature, science, mathematics, etc., Thus the Christ of Karl Barth, who is ladder of water in an infinitely extended are borrowed capital from the Bank of cloaked in an orthodox wardrobe, is and bottomless ocean of water, against Heaven (Jn. 3:27). Few emulate the an entirely different god from the true a wall of water, trying to climb out of theological honesty of Samuel Morse God of the Bible. Van Til employed the water. “So hopeless and senseless,” who sent his first telegram in 1844. the skyrocket imagery to warn gullible said Van Til, “a picture must be drawn The text of his telegram read: “What God hath wrought.” Because men are evangelicals about the glittering wiles of of the natural man’s methodology based as it is upon the assumption that time or prideful and defiant, they refuse to Barthianism. The true God of the Bible chance is ultimate.” The man-of-water acknowledge the true source of their descends (from heaven); the god of analogy shows the futility of all thought wealth. Like Nebuchadnezzar who was Neo-Orthodox theologians, no matter that is not anchored in God’s self-attest- proud not only of his empire, but also how spectacular, colorful, and explosive, ing Word. Darwin himself unwittingly the artistic and educational achieve- ascends. He is a “belly god,” even if he acknowledged this when he asked that ments of his kingdom, he thinks to presents himself with the name of Jesus if man evolved, who would rationally himself, “Is not this great Babylon that (2 Cor.11:4). entrust himself to the worldview of a I have built for a royal dwelling by my The Brat Who Slapped monkey mind? He was not able to face mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” (Dan. 4:30) Her Father’s Face the obvious answer to his own question. Once while Van Til was a youth The Stolen Ducks Ripley’s Believe it or Not traveling on a train in Holland, he no- In Holland there was a young Van Til often challenged the anemic ticed a father with his young daughter boy with a father who was a thief. apologetics of Evangelical Christians sitting in his lap. Apparently, the father The young boy would often come to who capitulate too much in the interest urged his daughter to do something school and, unsolicited, blurt out, “My of “winning” the unbeliever. One way when she suddenly slapped her father in father didn’t steal no ducks! My father this is done is by disclaiming the Bible the face. Van Til’s application? The girl’s didn’t steal no ducks!” Reminiscent of as a dogmatic, self-attesting Book that behavior illustrates rebels who live in Shakespeare’s “The lady doth protest too bears infallible witness to the resurrec- God’s world and who are supported by much, Methinks,” the boy’s denial was tion of Christ. Evangelicals might say God’s common grace (Ps. 24:1). They an admission of guilt. The boy’s denial that “No book is self-attesting” or that sit, as it were, on the lap of God, and it is like the child who in family devotions “The statements of the Bible do not is precisely because they sit on God’s lap reports on his sister, “Mary didn’t have prove themselves to be God’s Word.” that they are able to deliver the slap of her eyes closed for prayer!” Or, like the Instead, the Bible is presented as a ingratitude. Thus unbelievers who toot Apostle Peter who began to curse and history (like any other history book), their own independence and autonomy swear, saying, “I do not know this man and its doctrines as historically-verifi- are only able to do so as they are sup- of whom you speak!” (Mk. 14:71) Sin- able truths that can be proven to men with neutral minds. It is thought that ported by God Himself (Jn. 19:10-11). ners are vulnerable; they shake at leaves and when their consciences are riddled the unbeliever can be convinced of the Their denial of God is His affirmation. with guilt, the very thought of stolen resurrection of Christ on the basis of Atheism does not invalidate theism, ducks incites a preemptive confession of probability arguments from this reliable but proves it because atheism is only their own criminality. history book. Van Til argued that even possible given the premise of theism. if we are able to convince the unbeliever As the atheist Nikita Khrushchev once Borrowed Capital of Christ’s resurrection that this would described the Soviet Union, “In Rus- There is another stellar Van Tilian not bring him one millimeter closer to sia, thank God, there is no God” (my metaphor that illustrates the doctrine of emphasis). God’s common grace, that is, that God continued on page 28

6 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 7 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life Appointed for the Defense of the Gospel: The Life and Ministry of Greg L. Bahnsen Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., Th.D.

ne of the key areas My Interest in two years were of dramatic life-changing Oof Christian en- Bahnsen’s Life and Ministry and ministry-encouraging consequence deavor is also one of the I have been asked to write a brief — because of Greg Bahnsen. most pressing religious article introducing the ministry of Dr. When I first enrolled in a Bahnsen concerns before the Bahnsen, whose ministry was largely class, I admit that I was not pleased. church today: apologet- rooted in apologetics. I thank God that, Here was a professor who really made ics. The Scriptures call us to “sanctify by His providence, I was able to study you work for your grades. And some of Christ as Lord in your hearts, always be- under Bahnsen at Reformed Seminary his views were new and unusual to me: ing ready to make a defense to everyone from 1975 to 1977. The four theolo- theonomic ethics and postmillennial who asks you to give an account for the gians who have most influenced my eschatology, in particular. But thank hope that is in you, yet with gentleness personal life, Biblical faith, and pastoral God for this mind-expanding, ministry- and reverence” (1 Pet. 3:15). And with practice are John Calvin, Cornelius Van altering experience! Initially I resisted the world set in rebellion against God, Til, Rousas J. Rushdoony, and Greg Bahnsen’s unusual positions. In fact, I man universally “suppresses the truth L. Bahnsen. They have shown me that set about to challenge those positions in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18). So Calvinism is “Christianity come into among my fellow students. But anyone not only do we have an obligation to its own.” And I praise God for their who has experienced Bahnsen’s instruc- engage in apologetics but we also have a ministerial labors. tion, knows that he was so careful in his difficult obligation — in that Scripture Paul tells us of the victory associated presentation, so logical in his argumen- forewarns that men will resist us from with Christ’s entry into heaven. At that tation, so quick in his thinking, so Bibli- the very depths of their being. glorious event He poured out abundant cal in his foundations, and so forceful in Both of the Biblical statements and glorious gifts upon men (Eph. 4: his conclusions that all hope of credible mentioned in the previous paragraph 8ff.). One of those important gifts for resistance was futile. I eventually was the ongoing life and ministry of the have a strong bearing upon apologetics. swayed by his presentations and adopted church is the gift of “teacher” (Eph. 4: Peter directs us to an apologetic that his positions. And I have never regretted 11). I count Greg Bahnsen as one of the sanctifies the Lord; not just any apolo- having done so. great gifts of God to the church in our getic method will do. Paul informs us Intellectually, he taught me to study time. that man really knows the truth, which, and to think; pastorally, he showed In my circuitous route to Reformed because of his unrighteousness, he vigor- me the relevance of Scripture for all theology and the Presbyterian pastor- ously suppresses. With these Scriptural ate, I had come out of a dispensational of life; personally, he encouraged me insights we are pressed to engage an church, through a dispensational college to stand firm in my convictions and apologetic that is uncompromising in (Tennessee Temple College) and semi- to trust in God against all opposition. its commitment to Christ and that takes nary (Grace Theological Seminary), to I will never cease to be amazed at the account of man’s inherent knowledge the growing conviction of the covenant- incredible breadth of knowledge he pos- of God as a point of contact. This calls al nature of God’s dealings with man. sessed, at the ease with which he could us to the transcendental method that In 1976 I transferred from Grace analyze and respond to questions and engages apologetics at the presupposi- Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, arguments, both philosophically and tional level — the view explained and Indiana, to Reformed Seminary in Jack- scripturally. He is an example for any- promoted by Dr. Cornelius Van Til and son, Mississippi. As providence would one who would promote God’s Word two of his leading disciples, Rousas J. have it, I was there for most of Bahnsen’s according to the Pauline directive in 2 Rushdoony and Greg L. Bahnsen. tenure with that institution. But those Corinthians 10:4-5.

8 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 9 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life Over the years it was my joy and difficulty stanching bleeding. His physi- His Graduate Life privilege to have Greg stay in my home cal problems were aggravated at the age and Later Ministry on several occasions, to have him proof five by a water tank falling on his In 1970 he enrolled in Westminster claim the Word of God in my pastoral right hand, causing a mild deformity. It Theological Seminary (WTS) in Phila- charges, to co-author a book with him, was not until his medical exam, required delphia, the premiere Reformed semi- and to appear on the same platform for enrolling in college, that he discov- nary in the nation at that time. There with him at several conferences. I con- ered he also had a heart problem, which he studied under and became close tinued to grow because of his ministry was to claim his life twenty years later friends with Dr. Van Til, who greatly even after my formal training under after his third valve implant surgery. appreciated his apologetic prowess. He him in seminary. I am thankful for the Despite his physical difficulties, he graduated from WTS in May of 1973, enormous influence he has had, and was blessed to be raised in a Reformed securing two degrees simultaneously: a for the large collection of tapes (over home with loving Christian parents professional ministerial degree (the Mas- 1800) that are and will continue to be who saw the importance of covenantally ter of Divinity) and an academic degree available and circulating among God’s passing on their spiritual inheritance (the Master of Theology). Not only people. My only disappointment is that to their sons. He regularly attended did he acquire these two degrees but circumstances did not allow him time to church, church camps, Youth for Christ, he did so in style, winning the William produce more books — though the few and other Christian and church related Benton Greene prize in apologetics and he did release are enormously important activities, never straying from the Faith. a Richard Weaver Fellowship from the contributions to applied theology. For his entire life he was either a mem- Intercollegiate Studies Institute. I am thankful, though, that the Upon securing his graduate degrees ber of or a minister in the Orthodox Lord allowed him to finish his extremely in theology, he enrolled in graduate Presbyterian Church (OPC). important work: Van Til’s Apologetic: studies in philosophy at the prestigious Dr. Bahnsen was also gifted by Readings and Analysis. Greg knew the University of Southern California God with a strong intellectual capacity, enormity of his health difficulties in his (USC) in Los Angeles in 1973. Two which showed itself in superior grades final days, so he labored diligently to years later (in 1975) he was ordained as all the way through high school. Even finish the book before his heart surgery a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian — just in case. The book focuses on key as early as high school he was already Church and moved to Jackson, Missis- passages in Van Til’s writings which are reading and absorbing the works of sippi, to accept the position of Associate necessary for understanding presuppo- Cornelius Van Til. Later he graduated Professor of Apologetics and Ethics at sitionalism, arranges them topically for from Westmont College in 1970 with a Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). easy, flowing reading, and provides clear Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, securing He would continue in his doctoral work and insightful commentary on the issues magna cum laude honors and the John at USC while teaching at RTS, earning involved. It is a must-read for under- Bunyan Smith award for overall grade his Doctor of Philosophy degree in June standing the greatest Christian apologist point average. of 1978. His dissertation was in the of the 20th century, Dr. Cornelius Van Before graduating Westmont Col- field of epistemology and was titled: “A Til — an apologist who was not the lege, Bahnsen married Cathie Wade in Conditional Resolution of the Apparent clearest of writers. 1969 (they would eventually have three Paradox of Self-Deception.” Bahnsen’s Early Life sons and an adopted Vietnamese daugh- In 1977 a reworked version of and Training ter; they were divorced in 1990 after she his master’s thesis from Westminster Greg L. Bahnsen was born on Sep- deserted him). While he attended col- Theological Seminary (“The Theon- tember 17, 1948 in Auburn, Washing- lege he began writing for Rushdoony’s omic Responsibility of the Civil Mag- ton, to Robert and Virginia Bahnsen. Chalcedon Foundation, where he could istrate”) was published as the nearly He was the eldest of two sons. As a employ his appreciation of Van Til. His 600 page Theonomy in Christian Ethics. young child Bahnsen grew up in Pico covenantal Calvinism was becoming Unfortunately, theonomic ethics caused Rivera, California, where he suffered more pointedly focused; his desire for a firestorm of controversy in seminary numerous medical complications. His applied Calvinism was leading him to and presbytery circles, resulting in his most serious problem was a severe blood admire Rushdoony’s strong convictions contract with RTS not being renewed platelet problem that nagged him for in the fields of apologetics, theology, after the 1978–79 academic year. The the rest of his life, causing him to have and social ethics. continued on page 28

8 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 9 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life Presuppositionalism vs. Evidentialism Eugene Clingman

“Where is the wise man? view, or at least examine it in light of for himself the standard of truth and Where is the scribe? their accumulated wisdom as to whether reality). The presuppositional approach Where is the debater of it was worthy of being incorporated acknowledges the Biblical position that this age? Has not God into their worldview. Rather, says Van man has neither the ability nor the right made foolish the wisdom Til, Paul “proclaimed,” he “preached,” to predicate. Any statement of ultimate of the world?” (Rom.1: he set forth the reality revealed by the reality must come from an ultimate 18). According to Cornelius Van Til this only One capable of knowing reality authority. The natural man claims to be verse and the next contain the crux of (i.e., knowing on His own and know- able to draw ultimate conclusions about the Biblical apologetical method, which ing fully), the only Living God. Paul’s reality from his observation, reason, has come to be known as the presuppo- gospel, says Van Til, was preached fully logic, and intuition, and thus claims for sitional method. with all its implications, including himself ultimate authority. The presup- Van Til, thoroughly familiar with creation, the Fall, sin, redemption, and positional approach insists the Creator the writings of the ancient philosophers, eternity. Van Til said the only way to is the ultimate authority from which believed God had allowed philosophi- meet the philosophy of unbelief is “in definitive statements about reality must cal history to progress to such a state by head-on collision.” be received; such knowledge of reality Paul’s time that it was evident that man’s Van Til taught that the ancient comes by revelation given in Christ and wisdom had proven itself incapable of Greeks were not as modern textbooks the Scriptures. giving an answer to the deepest issues portray them — innocent and child- of life (origins, personality, morality, Fundamental Errors like in their search for truth and reality; So the presuppositional approach intelligence, after-life). According to helplessly blind, chained by the neck Paul, the Greek worldview was not finds two fundamental errors at the crux in a dark cave (as in Plato), groping for of the natural man’s unbelief: He will- simply uninformed or mistaken, but light, longing and searching for truth. apostate, knowingly rebellious, actively ingly rejects the truth and claims not to Rather they were those who intention- believe in God whom he in fact knows; obfuscating the Truth. The Greeks had ally put out their own eyes; they were so worked out their philosophy and and he insists he has the right to decide culpable, guilty in the first degree of epistemology that with skill and preci- for himself what reality and truth are, knowing clearly the truth of God and sion they would “suppress the truth the right to “be like God.” exchanging it for a lie, “being darkened in unrighteousness,” while they “ex- Here then is the essential differ- in their understanding…because of the changed the truth of God for a lie, and ence between the presuppositional and hardness of their heart” (Eph. 4:18). Van worshiped and served the creature rather evidential approaches to apologetics. Til said, “Psychologically there are no than the Creator, who is blessed forever. The evidential approach essentially atheistic men; epistemologically every Amen” (Rom. 1:25). agrees with the natural man in the two sinner is atheistic.”1 The presupposi- fundamental errors that the presupposi- A Head-on Collision tional apologetic takes this fully into tional approach targets. The evidential Van Til observed that Paul did not account when presenting the gospel to approach assumes that the natural man come to the Greeks and place the gospel the unbeliever. needs and has a right to more evidence; alongside their other Greek epistemo- Second, the presuppositional ap- and that once the natural man receives logical options in order to ask them to proach denies the natural man’s claim the new evidence, he has the right to reason and consider if they might please to the right to predicate (i.e., to begin decide for himself whether the evidence is kindly take the gospel as their world- with and from himself to determine worthy of inclusion in his view of real-

10 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 11 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life ity. Van Til’s presuppositional approach and for the conviction of unbelievers. Two other books are of great benefit in does not allow the sinner to maintain However, when it comes to challenging further understanding Van Til’s apolo- either his claim to a lack of sufficient the unbelief of the natural man, the real getic, in this order: 1) Defense of the evidence, or his right to predicate. The issue is moral rather than evidential. Van Faith, by Van Til; 2) Van Til’s Apologetic presuppositional approach maintains Til would often admonish his listen- – Readings and Analysis, by Greg Bahn- that man’s ignorance is willful and cul- ers in words like these: “You must be sen. Recorded class sessions and sermons pable and that man’s autonomous epis- gracious when you are talking to the by Van Til are available. CR temological position is nothing less than unbeliever; you must always pay for the Eugene Clingman is Executive extra cup of coffee! But before you leave rebellion against God his Creator whom Administrator of the International Church he in fact knows to be the Creator, also him, you must bring to his attention the Council Project (www.churchcouncil.org) knowing himself to be His creature, and real issues.” a theological effort (of Coalition on utterly dependent on Him. The eviden- Revival) seeking to halt the slide of the tial approach does not challenge these For Further Study evangelical church toward liberalism and fundamental issues. As Van Til himself often referred, compromise. Eugene also works part-time In reality the evidential approach a careful reading of Romans 1 and 2 is as a representative for an Inc. 500 company agrees with the natural man, for when indispensable for understanding Chris- (MoreHealthTimeMoney.com). Anyone tian apologetics. He also often told his interested in information about obtaining the unbeliever says, “I need more evi- students, “If you have not read Calvin’s tapes of Van Til may contact Eugene at 209- dence to believe,” the evidentialist says, Institutes, at least read the first two 795-0974 or [email protected]. “Here is more proof!” The presupposi- pages” (I think he probably meant the tionalist, on the other hand, will draw 1. Greg Bahnsen, Van Til’s Apologetic (Phil- short first three chapters). In those pages the unbeliever’s attention to the fact that lipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1998), 191, Calvin mentions Cicero, whom he he already has overwhelming evidence citing Van Til, Common Grace (Philadelphia: calls the “eminent pagan,” and quotes which he continues to reject and close Presbyterian and Reformed, 1947), 53-44, Cicero’s own words, “Where is there to 88-89. his eyes to, and that, so long as he rejects be found a race or tribe of men which 2. John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries, Christ (to whom all the facts witness) he does not hold without instruction, some (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2003), 45. is “suppressing the truth in unrighteous- preconception of the gods?” In these ness.” As the natural man steadfastly beginning pages of the Institutes, Calvin maintains that he does not yet have suf- demonstrates from the Scriptures and ficient evidence to believe in an unseen from common knowledge that “Men of God, the evidentialist seeks to provide sound judgment will always be sure that more and more, while the presupposi- a sense of divinity which can never be tionalist insists that he is already reject- effaced is engraved upon men’s minds.”2 ing overwhelming evidence for which he is in fact now culpable and for which he will be judged. Van Til claimed that by not challenging the fundamental issues, Givler Engineering, Inc. the evidentialist essentially moves off of the solid epistemological ground of the Taking Dominion Over Creation gospel (i.e., Biblical reasoning) to reason Water Resources • Site Development with the natural man from his false Structures • Forensics • Municipal epistemological position (beginning with a false premise can never rationally Now hiring for engineering, CAD, and administrative positions. lead to discovery of the truth). In do- Already employed? Join our Technical Think Tank! ing this, the evidentialist essentially (at E-mail résumés to [email protected] least temporarily) forfeits his Christian 2161 NW Military Hwy., Suite 114 • San Antonio, TX 78213 worldview. Phone: 210-342-3991 • Fax: 210-342-6065 Are presuppositionalists opposed to evidence? Not at all. Evidence is useful www.givlerengineering.com both for the edification of the saint,

10 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 11 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life Pascal’s Wager: Examined from the Van Til Perspective Forrest W. Schultz

he question of life ideas. In fact, there are even some think- grass as green. Since God is omnihon- Tafter death has ers today — called “anti-foundational- est and cannot lie, He does not deceive always been one of the ists” — who are opposed to looking me by making my visual apparatus such major bones of conten- at foundational matters! Fortunately, that it would tell me something false tion between Christian- though, we have available to us the very about the grass. The Christian episte- ity and atheism. After careful thinking about these foundation- mology, therefore, is the only basis for we die do we remain dead, as the atheist al matters by one of the most brilliant real knowledge. It is the only basis upon claims, or will we, as the Christian men of the 20th century, Dr. Cornelius which we can know that grass is green. claims, be resurrected from the dead to Van Til, who served as Professor of (Perhaps it could be said, therefore, that enter our final destinies — believers go- Apologetics at Westminster Theological only Christianity has a “green” episte- ing to Heaven and unbelievers going to Seminary for many years. Van Til taught mology!) If man got here by chance Hell? Blaise Pascal, a Catholic mathema- a careful deduction of ideas as they or if man was created by a finite god, tician and philosopher, in Section III of logically follow from Biblical theology, i.e., one who is not omniscient, omni- his Pensées took a unique approach to contrasted with ideas that flow from the competent, and omnihonest, then we this question. Instead of setting forth ar- presuppositions of philosophies that are cannot be sure that our eyes are really guments in favor of Christianity, he asks antithetical to Biblical theology. This telling us the truth about reality. us to approach the matter as a gambler Van Til perspective is the tool we need Begging the Question would in trying to determine where to to carefully examine theistic proofs such The same principle, of course, holds place his bet. This “Wager of Pascal” is as Pascal’s Wager. for the other factors involved in the ac- simply stated: If, as the atheist supposes, The Van Til perspective lays great quiring and verifying of knowledge. For after we die we stay dead, then our theo- stress upon the principle that the instance, we can only be sure that logic logical beliefs will have no effect upon ultimate foundation of all thought is epistemically valid because God gave our final destiny; but if, as the Christian rests upon the cognitive validity of our it to us. Anyone whose starting point supposes, after we die we are resurrected knowledge-acquiring abilities (when is an uncertainty as to the existence of by God to face His judgment, then our used as intended and when function- God cannot consistently set forth any theological beliefs do affect our final ing properly), of which we can only be kind of argument because he cannot be destiny. Therefore, Pascal concluded certain if these abilities were designed sure he knows anything or that his ra- that a smart gambler will bet on God. If and created by God. Let me use my tional faculty is valid. Anyone advancing God doesn’t exist, he will not have lost favorite example to demonstrate this a theistic proof as a reason for believing anything. But if God does exist, he will point: If the Christian epistemology is in God is therefore guilty of begging the have gained Heaven and avoided Hell. true, then it is easy to prove that grass question because he must presuppose Because Pascal’s Wager sounds valid, is green. Since God is omniscient, He the existence of God in order to be able Christians have used it in their evange- knows all truth, including the truth that to advance it. But Pascal’s Wager claims listic and polemical forays, and believers the grass is green and the truth of how to be starting not with the presupposi- have claimed that their pondering of to make my eyes and optic nerve and tion of the existence of God but with Pascal’s Wager has been instrumental in the visual perception parts of the brain an uncertainty as to God’s existence. their conversion to Christ. so that when I look at grass I will see it The Christian says, “Believe in God Much analysis of Pascal’s Wager fails as green. Since God is omnicompetent, because He exists.” Pascal’s Wager says, to get to the bottom of things, to find He is able to make these organs so that “We don’t know if God exists, but, your the foundation of the various surface they perform correctly so that I see the best bet is to go with Him rather than

12 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 13 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life atheism.” Therefore it is just as logically reasoning is actually insulting God. In of the unsaved were permitted to leave invalid as are the theistic proofs because fact, it is rather dubious, to say the least, Hell and go to Heaven they would not it does not presuppose the existence of that such a person has really been con- be comfortable because they were not God. verted at all. Biblical conversion is not a adapted to live in Heaven, and so they Pascal’s Wager is also theologically mere “betting” on the existence of God, would choose to go back to Hell. In objectionable, for two reasons. First, like just to be on the safe side in case He short, he showed that for the unsaved the theistic proofs, it does not treat God exists. Nor, can the covenant of grace be Heaven is not Heaven. But, you see, as God. Since God is the ultimate being, reduced to a mere Hell insurance policy. Pascal’s Wager only looks on the surface. He ought to be treated as such in every- Biblical conversion involves genuine It says bet on God, because if He exists, thing we do including the way we frame repentance and faith, which involves a you can go to a place with beautiful our arguments. This means that, as the radical spiritual change. trees and streets of gold instead of to a ultimate being, God should, in all our This point should be so obvious place with burning sulfur. In this frame- arguments, be regarded as the starting that it is surprising Pascal’s Wager could work God is seen only as the means to point, the foundation, not simply as the ever be taken as seriously as it has been an end, not as the End Himself. Pascal’s conclusion. Proponents of both theis- by otherwise godly and astute men. Wager does not indicate what Heaven tic proofs and Pascal’s Wager claim to Again, if we want people to come to is really like (being in vital relationship believe that God is the ultimate being, God in repentance and faith then we and vibrant fellowship with God with the ultimate foundation of all reality, the must treat Him as God or else we are all that entails) and what Hell is really ultimate truth on which all other truth guilty of misrepresenting Him. Anyone like (the horror of being cut off from rests, etc. Yet, in their reasoning they with even a modicum of spiritual insight God and, thus, never finding fulfill- treat God as though He were uncer- should be able to recognize this. In fact, ment), thus it cannot be taken seriously tain, but they treat something else as there are even some atheists who appear because it doesn’t tell us what the stakes certain and ultimate, and then they try to see it more clearly than some Chris- really are. And if it were to tell us what to derive the existence of God or some tians. For instance, in his primer for these stakes are, then it would refute it- truth about God from this other basis. atheist debaters, B.C. Johnson assesses, self, because it would show that it is not That is, these inconsistent arguers want “God may damn anyone who ‘bets’ possible to get into right relationship their hearers to believe in God, but their on his existence merely for reasons of with God by seeing Him as a prudent arguments don’t treat God as though He prudence. He may consider such a ‘bet’ bet. Pascal’s Wager would see that genu- really were God. Whether the existence to be an insult.”1 ine conversion — genuine repentance of God is proven or merely a good bet Thus, when examined from the Van unto faith — is not consistent with such and the only safe bet, in both cases Til perspective, Pascal’s Wager is seen to a bet. these apologetes, by the way they argue, be not only philosophically superficial The Van Til perspective helps undermine their cases because they are but spiritually superficial as well. In fact, Christians to understand the roots of not treating God the way He must be it is highly doubtful that the gambler such theistic philosophies, which are in treated if He really is what we say He is. even appreciates what the stakes really the final analysis just as misguided as their secular counterparts. And there are True Conversion are. Does he know what makes Heaven several excellent resources for learning There is a second, closely related, Heaven and what makes Hell Hell? more about Dr. Van Til and his teach- theological flaw in Pascal’s Wager — this Probably not. Although it is appropriate ings. Two by Van Til himself that are one of a more personal nature. Genuine that Heaven be a beautiful place because very helpful are his The Defense of the Biblical conversion involves more than God cares about beauty, this is not what Faith and A Christian Theory of Knowl- an intellectual belief in the existence of makes Heaven Heaven. It is Heaven edge. The two about Van Til I recom- God. It also involves — in fact it centers because believers there will be in the mend are R. J. Rushdoony’s By What on — a personal relationship with God, fullest possible fellowship with God un- Standard and Robert L. Reymond’s The a relationship which, among other impeded by any depravity from within Justification of Knowledge. Two essay things, grants due honor unto God. or by societal or satanic opposition from collections I recommend are Founda- If we have even a glimpse of what this without. In short, it is God and our love tions of Christian Scholarship: Essays in must mean, then we will surely need for God and His love for us that makes the Van Til Perspective edited by Gary to conclude that anyone who comes to Heaven Heaven. C.S. Lewis in his novel God solely on a Pascal’s Wager type of The Great Divorce showed that if any continued on page 29

12 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 13 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life Pluralism: The New Enemy Roger Schultz

Chalcedon reader control. Those who see human freedom diligent to frame his life according to A who attends a state as the highest good will despise God’s that Law, and the light of Nature. For university in southern sovereignty and providence. Likewise, Holy Scripture doth set out unto us California recently wrote they will hate the societal institutions only the Name of Jesus Christ, whereby to me about his experi- God has ordained to govern society. I men must be saved.”3 ences. “My prof opened once knew a feminist religion professor Finally, Biblical Christianity asserts up a lecture with this statement: ‘I am at a mainline but relatively traditional an absolute standard of morality. No a Jew from Brooklyn and I am agnos- Presbyterian college in Georgia. She contemporary Christian leader raises the tic. My favorite topic of discussion is always spoke of Christianity as “Christo- ire of liberals and secularists like Jerry religion… and I hate Christians.’” The fascism” and contended that the Bible Falwell, who is vilified because of his Christian student had known that he had imposed “patriarchy” on Western affirmation of Biblical morality and his would have to jump through some culture. Hating the doctrines of divine crusade against abortion and gay mar- “fiery hoops” in academia, and under- sovereignty and providence, her schol- riage. Last year, two homosexual activ- stood that the higher he went “the worse arly goal was to offer a feminist and ists moved to Lynchburg, rented a house it [would] get.” But the Jewish teacher Marxist critique of the New Testament. across from Falwell’s Thomas Road from Brooklyn took him by surprise Second, Biblical Christianity as- Baptist Church, and began organizing — as “this class that I am taking is serts the infallibility of God’s Word. homosexual rallies.4 Those in rebellion called, of all things, cultural pluralism.” Humanistic man hates the inerrant and against God hate the restraints of His There is increasing hostility to infallible nature of the divine law-word. law, and hate those who are faithful to Biblical Christianity in America, and it “The basic premise of law and society His Word. comes from the erstwhile promoters of today is relativism,” Rushdoony pre- Academics sometimes have bizarre pluralism and toleration. Some evan- sciently noted in 1973. For Christians, ways of manifesting hostility to Biblical gelicals have puzzled over this creeping he continued, “An absolute law set forth principles. I was at a meeting once with intolerance, assuming that Christianity by the absolute God separates good and a feminist English professor who abso- would be welcomed as one of the viable evil and protects good.”1 lutely loathed Pat Robertson. Robert- alternatives in the marketplace of ideas. Third, Biblical Christianity asserts son, she argued, was responsible for the They fail to understand, however, that the doctrine of salvation through Christ oppression and degradation of women man is not morally and epistemologi- alone. Jesus is the only way of salvation: (he opposed abortion and preferred that cally neutral. Sinful man is in funda- “No one comes to the Father but by moms stay at home with their children). mental rebellion against God (Rom. 1: me,” Jesus said (Jn. 14:6). The exclusiv- Eventually, the group discussion moved 18; 2 Tim. 2:25f.), and cannot tolerate ity of salvation through Christ alone is to the topic of clitorectomy, a barbaric the teachings of Christianity. There a fundamental Christian teaching, but practice of female circumcision still are, I believe, four reasons why Biblical one that the world despises.2 found in Muslim regions and in pagan Christianity is anathematized by mod- In an earlier age, Christians uni- Africa. The feminist professor, who was ern secularists. versally embraced this doctrine. The rarely silent, especially on topics related Thirty-Nine Articles of the Anglican to women, had nothing to say. So I Anathematizing Church, for instance, includes a pow- invited her opinion about this bizarre the Christian Faith erful statement on “obtaining eternal practice of mutilating young women. First, Biblical Christianity asserts salvation only by the Name of Christ.” She responded that one must respect the God’s absolute sovereignty over His Article XVIII reads: “They also are to be cultural norms of other societies. For creation and His creatures. Humanistic had accursed that presume to say, That liberals, apparently, it is only appropri- man, striving to be autonomous, resents every man shall be saved by the Law or ate to sit in judgment of Christians and any element of divine authority and Sect which he professeth, so that he be Christian cultural norms.

14 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 15 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life At the same meeting, a Political restraints of the God-ordained social The final tenet of pluralism is that Science professor discussed his work as order. the state is sovereign. A little over two a youth with the Peace Corps in Africa. The second axiom of pluralistic hundred years ago in The Social Con- He was initially shocked when natives orthodoxy is that all truth is relative, tract Jean-Jacques Rousseau hinted at stole his spare clothing from the clothes- and all traditions are equally valid. As the direction of modern pluralism in a line and boldly wore them in his pres- Rushdoony has argued, our generation’s discussion of “Civil Religion.” He was ence. Yet he said that he admired their “infallible word must be a changing happy to encourage religion, so long different concept of property and their word, the word of flux.”6 as it recognized the sovereignty of the unique social ethic. He called it “com- Ten years ago I was a fellow at state, taught good morals, and advo- pulsory sharing.” (Where I’m from, we the National Humanities Center for a cated toleration for all other religions. call it stealing! No wonder that this program on multiculturalism. Faculty But he couldn’t tolerate a religion that African country, with its apparent con- members from around the southeastern taught absolute principles. “Wherever tempt for private property and capital United States met for three weeks to dis- theological intolerance is admitted, it development, was one of the poorest cuss emerging scholarship on multicul- must inevitably have some civil effect; countries on earth.) The professor saved turalism, which was a hot topic. We had and as soon as it has such an effect, the his strongest criticism for American special guest presenters from prestigious Sovereign is no longer Sovereign even in capitalism and materialism. (But at least universities: a (lapsed) Muslim feminist the temporal sphere: thenceforth priests the capitalists don’t steal his underwear.) from Pakistan who taught English at are the real masters, and kings only their Yale; a (lapsed) Christian-turned-agnos- ministers…. [T]olerance should be The Pluralist Creed tic from Ghana who taught African and given to all religions that tolerate others, The new mantra of today’s plu- African-American Studies at Harvard; so long as their dogmas contain noth- ralists is tolerance. Everyone’s faith is and a (lapsed) Buddhist anthropologist ing contrary to the duties of citizen- legitimate — as long as it isn’t exclusive. from Sri Lanka who taught at Princeton. ship. But whoever dares to say ‘Outside the Church is no salvation,’ ought to Everyone’s moral convictions are good The seminar leader was a (lapsed) Jew- be driven from the State….”8 Those — as long as they aren’t restrictive. Any ish psychiatrist-turned-anthropologist advocating a transcendent view of God worldview is acceptable — as long as from the University of California who and the importance of salvation, then, it is authentic. The only requirement: was an expert on Hinduism in Nepal. are a challenge to the state, are guilty you must not judge any one else. The The seminar was valuable and I learned of heresy, and cannot be tolerated. In emphasis on toleration appears to reflect much, but its underlying themes were a pluralistic society, Rushdoony notes, a live-and-let-live neutrality among cultural relativism, the inferiority of man cannot “be under one law except modern pluralists and seems relatively western civilization, and the evils of by virtue of imperialism.”9 The new benign. Christian culture. pluralism inevitably leads to statism. Modern pluralism, however, is Most astonishing was a statement We are surrounded by new modern rooted in a comprehensive worldview, made by the seminar leader, who forth- pluralists who claim to be interested in which has its own creed and agenda. rightly presented his worldview assump- toleration. In reality, they adhere to a Christians are vilified as intolerant pre- tions and pointed to his cohort’s shared radically anti-Christian and anti-Biblical cisely because they violate the maxims convictions. He argued that Hinduism worldview, and, as at least one candid of this new orthodoxy. Rushdoony was was a better religion than monotheism professor admitted, they “hate Chris- excellent at identifying the religious for the modern era, since “one God tians.” Christians are already feeling presuppositions of competing world- means one truth, and many gods allows the heat from this new orthodoxy, view systems. He notes, “there can be for many truths.” The need for relativ- and it will no doubt grow worse. The no tolerance in a law-system for another istic truth, it seems, propels pluralists challenge for Christians is to remain religion. Tolerance is a device used to back to polytheism. Rushdoony makes loyal to King Jesus and to His unfailing introduce a new law system as a prelude a telling observation about the implica- Word. CR to a new intolerance.”5 tions of the first commandment: “[I]t What are the central tenets of the means one God, one law. The premise of Dr. Schultz is the Chairman of the History pluralist creed? The first principle polytheism is that we live in a multi- Department at Liberty University, teaches Church History at Christ College, and is the concerns human autonomy. Man must verse, not a universe, that a variety of homeschooling father of nine children. be free. He must be free of God and any 7 law-orders and hence lords exist….” continued on page 29

14 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 15 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life Christian Civilization Under Attack Samuel L. Blumenfeld

ebraic Christianity bourgeoisie was so fanatical that they And so the Islamic takeover of His the religion of a killed millions of Jews in labor camps Europe is proceeding very efficiently people in covenant with and before firing squads. as they use all of the social protections the God of the Bible, the It was the United States that came given them by the European Union. Sovereign of the Uni- to the rescue of Europe when it seemed They will win over the Europeans in verse. The greatness of that its Judeo-Christian civilization the same way that the Turks won over Hebraic Christianity is in the fact that would be permanently crushed under Bosnia. In Bosnia Christians converted out of it sprang universal Christianity, the heels of pagan or atheist totalitarian- to Islam because they were given the which extended that covenant to the rest ism. Europe, restored physically, politi- choice of living as first class Muslims or of mankind through the divine inter- cally, and economically, with the gener- persecuted Christians. The Serbs resisted vention of Jesus Christ. That this was ous help of the American Marshall Plan, and died by the thousands. But the good for the human race is easily seen now lives with a ghostly Christianity, Bosnians surrendered. by the humane civilization that has been the cultural strength of which still radi- Will the Christians of Western built on Judeo-Christian values. ates faintly from its ancient cathedrals Europe surrender to Islam? They seem and churches and in the arts and music to be in no mood to resist. One French A Beacon of Hope professor recently told journalist Mark The United States, founded by of its past. It still celebrates the Chris- tian holy days: Christmas and Easter, Steyn that in Western Europe there are Calvinists and Puritans, has become the no values worth dying for. best fruit of the Biblical seed. No civili- even though socialist secular humanism zation in history has provided so much dominates European culture. A Culture of Death freedom, so much abundance, so much Islam has created a very different happiness to so many human beings. The Islamic Advance civilization from ours. It has created No civilization in history has provided But because of the massive influx of one of poverty, hatred, and unceasing such freedom of invention, science, Muslims into Europe, Christianity — or suffering. Its people, for the most part, and intellectual endeavor. In short, the what’s left of it in European culture live under tyrants who use the religion United States became and still remains and institutions — is once more under to subject them to lives of crippling the beacon of hope for millions of hu- attack. The Muslims were expelled from superstition and intellectual degeneracy. th man beings who come to our shores in Spain in the 16 century, and they were Without the wealth derived from oil, pursuit of all that America offers: life, largely expelled from the Balkans in the the Islamic world would be even more th liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 18 century. But now they are back backward than it is today. Christianity gave Europe its sci- throughout Europe. Its greatest obsession is with the ence and cathedrals, its art and music, Much of this is the result of French existence of Israel, the only state in its literature, its universities, its spiritual President Charles de Gaulle’s retreat the Middle East based on Western strength. But despite all of that, Europe from North Africa in 1962, the retreat democratic values. Even though Israel succumbed to the false, malevolent phi- of Christianity from what had become a occupies a tiny space in the vast Islamic losophies of Nazism and Communism, vibrant European civilization in North empire, it has engendered such murder- largely based on hatred of the God of Africa. What de Gaulle didn’t realize was ous hatred among Muslims that their the Bible. So fanatical was this hatred that the Muslims had no intention of children are taught that it is virtuous to among the Nazis, that the Jews became simply destroying a vibrant, productive commit suicide by killing Jews. the object of extermination. By destroy- Christian civilization in North Africa. To many Christians in America, the ing the Jews, the Nazis hoped to destroy They planned, in time, to reclaim what return of the Jews to the ancient land of Biblical prophecy and Biblical truth. As they once held on the continent of Israel is a fulfillment of Biblical proph- for the Communists, their hatred of the Europe. ecy. That is why so many Christians

16 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 17 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life focus their attention and concern on the ies. What we do know is that it must be In 1993, fate of the Jews in that part of the Islam- won. Throughout its tumultuous his- ic world. That part of the world is the tory, tiny Israel has faced Muslim armies The New York Times dangerous fault line where civilizations and terrorists and has beaten them. reported that confront one another: Judeo-Christian And despite this permanent threat to 90 million American versus Islamic. its existence, Israel has thrived, creating The murderous attack on America the most democratic and economically adults can barely by Islamic fanatics is a permanent and advanced nation in the Middle East. We read and write. grim fact of history. It is true that most can learn some lessons from them. Muslims in America are embarrassed The first lesson is to go directly after and frightened by what Islamic terrorists the terrorists, where they live, where have done to this country. But it cannot they operate. And that is why we have be denied that most Islamic organiza- invaded Afghanistan and Iraq. Saddam tions in America promote hatred of Hussein was in a position to shelter Israel. Many of these organizations terrorists and supply them with weap- support Palestinian terror and the Arab ons of mass destruction. He and his economic boycott against Israel. And it government had to be removed. After a is that hatred of Israel that has created great military victory, we have bunkered a wide and very uncomfortable cultural down in the task of fighting the resisters gap between Muslims and Christians and establishing a friendly, democratic in America. Hatred can never become government in Iraq. We are at war, the basis of trust. If Muslims are ever to even though support of the war may be become truly integrated in American waning. But to retreat would give the faith the bankruptcy of modern culture, they must first divest themselves natic Islamists the hope that they could education and the fallout cripple the United States. W of hatred of Israel. of years of state controlled public We had thought in our naiveté schools, today’s students are best The Third World War that the new millennium would bring indentified as “victims” rather than The war between the West and us permanent peace, prosperity, and Islam has become the Third World well-being. Instead, we have another pupils. In this collection of essays War. On September 11, 2001, Islam world war in which it is expected that Samuel Blumenfeld discloses the launched its Pearl Harbor by destroy- the Islamic terrorists will try to use germ epidemic of humanistic educational ing the twin towers of the World Trade warfare or dirty bombs to decimate the theory and provides a clear way out Center, bombing the Pentagon, and American people. The sad truth is that to a truly Biblical form of education. killing over 3,000 innocent people. the benevolent world Americans have Nothing like this had ever happened to grown used to no longer exists. And “This may be the most comprehensive New York City and Washington D.C., only by defeating Islamic fanaticism can CR and insightful analysis of ‘what’s let alone the United States. Our govern- it be restored. wrong with our public school system’ ment has tried to convince us that this Samuel L. Blumenfeld is the author of ever written. ” is not a religious war, that it is merely a eight books on education, including NEA: D. James Kennedy, Ph.D. war against international terrorism. But Trojan Horse in American Education, How to Senior Ministry we must acknowledge that this terrorism Tutor, Alpha-Phonics: A Primer for Beginning Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church is driven by Islamic religious fanaticism Readers, and Homeschooling: A Parents Guide that views America as the Great Satan. to Teaching Children. All of these books are Only $22.00 America has no desire to destroy the available on Amazon.com or by calling 208-322-4440. Paperback, 266 pages, index Islamic religion. We simply don’t want Shipping added to all orders. Islamic fundamentalists to destroy us. We do not know how this war will Ordering is easy! Use the be fought, how much suffering it will order form on page 32 or cause American families or our adversar- www.chalcedonstore.com

16 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 17 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life Living Defensively: Managing Debt Tom Rose f your bank is like For instance, most promises to for over two years. The American econ- Imine, you have been children (“I’ll take you shopping tomor- omy has become very dependent on inundated with sweet-ap- row,” or “Let’s go see Grandma next consumer spending financed by credit pearing advertising post- week,” or “If you are a good boy we extended by other countries (China, ers every time you enter will go see Niagara Falls next summer”) Japan, other low-cost Asian exporters, your bank. These posters are not ironclad oaths made before the oil-producing nations, Canada, etc.). have captions similar to: “Because you Lord that must be honored to the hurt Just to keep our frail consumer-oriented keep your promises!” They encour- of the swearer. Rather, such “contracts” economy going requires the continued age people to take out a home-equity of future intentions with children, or willingness of foreign exporting na- loan for a vacation or other consumer with other persons, should always be tions to hold ever-increasing amounts expenditure. Recent posters depict a phrased conditionally to conform to of American debt instruments. As Jim single female parent or a married couple the advice given by the apostle James Puplava notes: wistfully looking at a young child. The (Jas. 4:13-15). We, after all, are not like Asia now holds $1,000 billion [$1 tril- unspoken, but well communicated, idea God who is omniscient and has already lion] of foreign exchange reserves out is that if you love your child, you will determined the future, so we should of a global total of $2,500 billion [$2.5 use the equity in your home to show always be open to the possibility that trillion]. Most of these reserves are held your love by keeping any promise you God might overrule plans we make. As in U.S. dollars that come from trade 1 might have made, regardless of changing Christians we must always stand ready imbalances between Asia and the U.S. circumstances — promises, you realize, to adjust our plans to meet changing cir- And the evidence is echoed by must be kept! cumstances, for it is God who is author David Vaughn: What is wrong with the message of the future. In just five years, total financial as well being communicated? How could any A second reason to eschew home as non-financial American debt has parent who loves his or her child object equity loans in most circumstances is surged by 51% or $10.9 trillion to to borrowing money for making good that borrowing against the equity of more than $32 trillion, three times the annual Gross National Product. During on a promise? After all, doesn’t the one’s home for consumer spending runs Bible require us to keep our word? the last quarter alone American house- counter to the sense of economic frugal- holds added $397.6 billion in mortgage A number of things should cause ity and warnings against debt that are debt & another $40 billion in credit Christians to think twice about borrow- found in the Bible (Pr. 13:11, 22:7; card debt.2 ing money to make good on a promise 1 Tim. 5:8). to children, or to anyone else for that This growing mountain of Ameri- matter. Note that I use the term “think Mountains of Debt can debt held by foreigners should cause twice,” for there can be extenuating How does this apply to us in our thinking persons to quake in fear that circumstances that might lead a person current world economy? Political lead- some unforeseen event will cause for- to borrow money for honoring a busi- ers in many countries, including our eigners to stop accepting additional debt ness contract or promise that is mor- own, have long followed inflationary denominated in U.S. dollars, which are ally binding (Ps. 15:4). But borrowing monetary policies that have led to, or increasingly losing purchasing value. money through home equity loans for threaten to lead to, inescapable defla- Even worse, we should fear the growing consumer spending is just one aspect of tionary collapses in economic activity. possibility that foreigners might soon the many clashes in our modern society Japan has been experiencing a deflation- find it to their advantage to disgorge between Christian philosophy and secu- ary collapse for over a decade, and the trillions of dollars into the international lar humanist philosophy. United States has been experiencing one money market. The possibility of such

18 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 19 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life

an imminent event has been brought devoid of human habitation! This is an by growing secular statism in both our upon us by profligate spending by both example of what happened in just one country and the world. the federal government and consumers. small locality of our country in 1956- Until we succeed, and while we are Wasteful spending has been encouraged 57. It took years for the local economy in the process of succeeding, to correct and sustained by fiat-money creation by to be revitalized. past errors committed by our political the Federal Reserve and its fractional-re- Today the problem of home in- leaders,3 there are some constructive serve banking affiliates. debtedness is much greater and more things we can do as individuals to with- widespread. It is nationwide and is now stand the manufactured dangers that Servant to the Lender exacerbated by exceedingly high levels of now beset us. Once again I encourage readers to credit-card debt and the reckless amount First, we as individuals can avoid ad- ponder Proverbs 22:7. If foreign central of federal debt mentioned above. At ditional debt and even pay down exist- banks decide to unload their holdings present, the Federal Reserve has been ing debt as one of our highest priorities. of U.S. dollar-denominated securities, flooding the economy with fiat money The fact that our central government homeowners who have succumbed to in a failing effort to keep the speculative has embarked on the road to financial the siren call of easy credit through bubble of the 1990s from deflating, but bankruptcy provides a compelling rea- home equity loans are likely to find the present rising price of gold is clearly son why American families should stand themselves unexpectedly saddled with evidencing the weakness of the U.S. financially tall and strong as private enti- increased debt and rising interest rates at dollar relative to foreign currencies that ties. In my lectures and writing I have a time when equity ownership in their have not been inflated as much. often stated this maxim, “He who holds home has fallen far below its market gold wields power.” Similarly, he who value. Post-boom deflationary periods Is There a Solution? stands financially and economically in- always find some people encumbered What can be done to solve the dependent is also in a position to wield with too much debt and no means to problem of easy credit generated by beneficial power and influence. Chris- service it. During such periods there government-sponsored fiat money? tians who heed the Biblical admonition is always a vast transfer of wealth from In the long run, we must elimi- to build and conserve family wealth financially weak, over-extended indi- nate America’s fiat money machine, will be in a position not only to protect viduals to the relatively stronger lending the Federal Reserve, and our system of their closest loved ones, but also to be financial institutions, often at a fraction fractional-reserve banking. We must of wholesome leadership to our country. of the real worth of the defaulted prop- go to a 100-percent reserve system of We must think positively while we fol- erty. Thus, financial institutions that banking. I won’t explain the mechanics low the dictates of Biblical prudence in offer temptingly low-cost credit terms to of making the change now, but it can be setting our financial affairs in order. unwary consumers are not really friends done. The artificial control of interest Related to this is the need to to borrowers, who are the very ones who rates would no longer be in the hands counter the popular humanistic ploy of stand to lose in case of an economic of untrustworthy central bankers whose sacrificing everything “for the sake of downturn. main concern is to support special inter- the children,” which comes through in In the mid-1950s I served as man- est groups, both domestic and foreign. the bank posters mentioned above. Over ager of the Chamber of Commerce in Interest rates would quickly adjust to a the last few decades our society has been a town in Southeast Kansas. During free-market level that would no longer overwhelmed with the humanistic call the Korean War the town was booming penalize savers at the expense of spend- that depicts children as the main focus because of employment supplied by a ers. Older people who have saved many of all that we do, thus the line “Because nearby munitions facility. But when the years for their old age or to pass wealth you keep your promises!” While chil- facility shut down, the boom fizzled. on to their children would no longer be dren are indeed important and our only Families suddenly found the homes they legally robbed by the insidious tax called way of building Christ’s Kingdom from had purchased at high prices, financed inflation. Fiscal integrity and honor one generation to another, children are by government-guaranteed loans, to be would return to our country’s entire not the main focus of our Kingdom- worth much less than their outstand- financial sector. But these are long-term building work. ing mortgages. What did they do? Easy! goals to use as guiding stars in our jour- Today our society is so child-ori- They simply moved away and left an ney of trying to right our ship of state ented that many “children,” now in entire subdivision almost completely among the treacherous waters created continued on page 29

18 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 19 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life The Defense of the Faith: John Weatherford and Patrick Henry R.G. “Rick” Williams, Jr. There is an inclination, on the part of many, to enjoy the fruit of the tree without even ever looking up to see whence it came. – Lewis Peyton Little

ne of the most involvement in it, should also stir our The rulers of the Episcopal Church Ocherished books hearts as we consider American culture’s were much vexed at the success of Mr. in my library is Lewis increasingly hostile stance towards W. Wherever he went, his ministry was orthodox Christianity. attended by crowds and many were Peyton Little’s Impris- converted through his instrumentality. oned Preachers and Imprisoned It was a source of great mortification Religious Liberty in John Weatherford was born in that a plain man, without any preten- 1 Since I have the distinction sions to learning, should so far obtain Virginia. Charlotte County, Virginia in 1740. 5 th the confidence of the people. and blessing of being a 7 generation He began preaching the gospel in The Church’s “mortification” was Virginian, this book holds a singularly 1761. According to one biographer, special place, both in my heart and on manifested through the civil authori- “He became at once a zealous and my bookshelf. The book is a chronol- ties’ actions against Weatherford when ogy of persecution against Virginia successful herald of the cross,” and he was arrested on May 15, 1773. The Baptists by the established state church “it was his honor to suffer persecu- official Court record of Chesterfield — the Church of England, or Angli- tion for the sake of Christ.”4 The County, Virginia for June 4, 1773 reads cans — during Colonial times.2 While persecution that Weatherford endured as follows: st this book’s primary focus is on Baptist is something that 21 century American …John Weatherford appearing in persecution, Virginia’s civil magistrates Christians can scarcely imagine: Court being taken up by a Warrant (with the blessing of the tax-supported issued by Archibald Cary Gent. for that Anglicans) were also fond of persecut- purpose and acknowledging them- ing Presbyterians and Quakers. Oddly selves to be of the religious Sect called enough, these branches of the Christian Baptists and that they had practiced Faith found one of their most stalwart preaching and assembling the people together…without having any License defenders in Patrick Henry, whose for so doing. On consideration of the father’s side of the family had a long and premises the Court adjudging them on rich heritage with the Anglican Church, that account guilty of a Breach of the though Henry’s mother was a devout peace & good Behaviour…. 6 Presbyterian. The preaching of Samuel Davies, which Henry was exposed to in The Price of Freedom his mother’s church, put in the bosom The records go on to state that a of young Henry a fire for religious lib- fine was assessed and that Weather- erty that could not be quenched. That ford was to remain in jail until such fire helped lead to America’s indepen- fines were paid. Since Weatherford dence.3 It is probable that the persecu- had no money, he “remained.” What John Weatherford in the Chesterfield County Jail, tion and suffering of Elder John Weath- 1773. This painting commissioned by the 200th An- is noteworthy for our purposes is what erford stirred Patrick Henry’s heart to niversary Committee of the Middle District Baptist As- occurred during Weatherford’s incar- contemplate his own relationship with sociation, hangs in the Chesterfield County Museum, ceration and how he came to be freed. Artist Sidney E. King-photo by Bill Lane). Used with Christ. Weatherford’s story, and Henry’s permission. Weatherford was so loved by those in

20 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 21 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life the area who were familiar with his min- wards, someone anonymously paid the Chaplain of the Stonewall Brigade Camp, istry, that during his five months impris- amount due and John Weatherford was Sons of Confederate Veterans in Lexington, onment in the Chesterfield County jail, again a free man. Providentially, twenty Virginia. He also served 12 years as a “his brethren and admirers flocked on years later, Patrick Henry moved to Virginia Magistrate, for which he asks the forgiveness of Baptists, Presbyterians, and Sunday to the village and thronged the Charlotte County and became a neigh- Quakers everywhere. yard of the jail.” This show of support bor of Weatherford’s, who was at that and eagerness to hear the gospel in- time shepherding a small country flock 1. Lewis Petyon Little, Imprisoned Preachers spired Weatherford all the more and he close by. As the two of them discussed and Religious Liberty in Virginia. (Lynch- “would lift the window and thrust his their common labors in struggling for burg, VA: J.P Bell Co., 1938). hands through the bars that he might religious liberty in the young republic, 2. The Anglican Church was renamed the shake hands with his loyal friends.” Weatherford, for the first time, learned Episcopalian Church after the American Weatherford preached to the assembled that it was Patrick Henry who had paid Revolution. multitude and several “experienced the his fine. Weatherford would henceforth 3. Davies’ preaching also sowed in Henry’s renovating influence of Divine grace, always speak of Mr. Henry “with a glow heart the seed that would be watered by the great revival that took place at Hamp- nine wished to follow their Master.” 8 of affection.” Weatherford was not the den-Sydney College in 1787. This revival Not all gathered were appreciative. On only Baptist preacher that was the ben- resulted in the conversion of over half of at least one occasion “men of the baser eficiary of Henry’s kindness and zeal for the students at Hampden-Sydney and more sort” stood on both sides of the window righteousness. Others would write that: than thirty of them entered the ministry as and as Weatherford extended his hands …they were so fortunate as to interest Presbyterian preachers. God brought the during preaching, they cruelly slashed in their behalf, the celebrated Patrick increase and Henry experienced “a deep his hands with knives until he “would Henry; being always the friend of Christian conversion experience.” It was scatter his blood on his hearers or on the liberty, he only needed to be informed during this same revival that the renowned ground.” of their impression, without hesitation, Archibald Alexander, who would go on Dr. William White, a prominent he stepped forward to their relief. From to become the first professor of the newly physician and Virginia Baptist of the that time until the day of their com- formed Princeton Theological College in plete emancipation, from the shackles 1812, was converted. 19th century, later told of seeing Weath- of tyranny, the Baptists found in Patrick 4. James B. Taylor, Virginia Baptist Ministers erford’s wounds as a child when he Henry, an unwavering friend.9 (New York: Sheldon & Co., 1860), 51-53. attended the preacher’s funeral: 5. Taylor, 51-53. I was barely tall enough to look into the After preaching for almost eighty 6. Little, 335-336. coffin. The hands of the veteran min- years, John Weatherford was gathered to rd ister lay ungloved upon his breast with his fathers on the 23 of January, 1833. 7. Little, 344. palms downward. I noticed the stiff and Weatherford was the last survivor of 8. Weatherford sent 5 pounds currency to bloodless look they had and saw white all the Baptist preachers that had been Henry in payment for his services, but it was and rigid seams extending across the imprisoned in Virginia for their faith. promptly returned. back of each hand. The fact impressed Patrick Henry’s admiration for Weather- 9. Little, 346-347. me at the time, but I kept silence, and ford, and other Virginia Baptists, greatly a thousand times I dare say I recalled those singular marks on the hands of influenced his own political philoso- the dead preacher…. They were the phy and devotion, and confirmed his marks of the Lord Jesus — martyr commitment for the cause of religious marks of God’s hero. 7 liberty in America. Both of these men Patrick Henry soon heard of Weath- are branches of the tree from whence erford’s plight. The situation stirred comes the fruit of our liberty. May we Henry’s strong sense of justice and he at- never forget to look up. CR tempted to intervene. Henry was able to Rick Williams is a businessman, publisher secure an order of release, but the jailer (www.VirginiaGentleman.com) and was adamant — he would not release freelance writer. He has edited and compiled his prisoner until all fines and jail fees a book of quotes from the life of Robert E. were paid. This was a considerable sum. Lee in The Maxims of Robert E. Lee for Young Henry departed, but not long after- Gentlemen. He currently serves as Asst.

20 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 21 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life The Development of Van Til’s Presuppositionalism in the Apologetic Practice of Greg Bahnsen Christopher B. Strevel

arly in the 20th utter impossibility of achieving objec- and exegetical foundations were care- Ecentury, Christian tivity, certainty, and truth in terms of fully laid out. This was one important apologetics recovered its the unbeliever’s professed worldview, aspect of the life work of Greg Bahnsen. objectivity and moved a whatever form it may take. God has He produced numerous books, essays, step closer to theologi- made foolish the wisdom of this world, taped lectures, and series in which he cal consistency through and that foolishness has devastating provided the specific exegetical foun- the work of Cornelius Van Til. Build- consequences for man in every area, dations of what has come to be called ing upon the anthropology of Romans intellectually as well as spiritually. Posi- “presuppositional apologetics.” Through 1 and the revelational epistemology tively, the apologist must unashamedly his public debates, he demonstrated of John Calvin, Van Til reminded the defend the absolute truth and certainty for his students that Van Til’s method church that the apologetic endeavor of the Christian worldview, for God, was not only workable but also effec- must take the fall of man and the con- His revelation, and the person and work tive to demolish every thought raised demning function of natural revelation of Jesus Christ are the foundations of in opposition to Jesus Christ. These seriously. The unbeliever’s fundamental knowledge in every sphere. Van Til’s are well-known aspects of his legacy problem is not ignorance but rebellion. positive, incontrovertible proof for the and subsequent generations will come The encounter with unbelief, therefore, existence of God was that without Him, to understand and appreciate Van Til must expose and challenge unbelief’s one cannot prove anything else. In fact, through the contributions of his gifted rebellious presuppositions. Failure to unbelief presupposes the existence of student. Greg Bahnsen also emphasized do so obscures the clarity, necessity, God and the truth of His Word, even certain practical yet often neglected as- and all-sufficiency of Scripture. It also though at every step he denies this and pects or implications of presuppositional denies the comprehensive Lordship of seeks to establish and preserve his au- apologetics. Jesus Christ, especially in the realm of tonomy. Unbelief must operate in God’s knowledge. Any method of apologetics world; it is unavoidable. The Christian Apologist’s that fails to stress the absolute certainty Difficult Task of the Christian worldview revealed in Teaching By Example First, against the tendency to view Scripture undermines the claims of the Greg Bahnsen did more than presuppositional apologetics simplisti- gospel and capitulates to unbelieving anyone else in the 20th century to cally, as if it were a formula for easy logic and science, which themselves popularize, explicate, and apply Van apologetic success, Bahnsen reminded manifest the consequences of unbelief Til’s method. He recognized that Van his students that this method actu- and must be reformed in the light of Til’s writing style was often obtuse and ally commits its votaries to hard work God’s Word. difficult for those not versed in the lead- and careful analysis. “Answering the Accordingly, Van Til insisted that ing movements of western philosophy. fool according to his folly” requires Christian apologetics must proceed on Moreover, Van Til was not a system- patient study of unbelieving systems two fronts. Negatively — and this was atizer, in that he did not produce a so their “foolishness”(i.e., devastating Van Til’s primary though not exclusive single volume in which every facet of his philosophical and moral consequences) emphasis — it must demonstrate the apologetic method, answers to critics, may be understood and exposed. Since

22 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 23 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life apologetics is essentially the confronta- is a thoroughly Biblical idea, the Holy failing to impress upon him that not all tion of opposing systems, the believer Spirit often uses the negative aspect of systems of thought are bankrupt and must seek to understand the entire apologetics to bring the unbeliever to a biased; not all circles of reasoning are system espoused by the unbeliever, recognition of the futility of life apart vicious. He may not embrace the gospel, not simply summary sound bites. The from faith in the triune God of Scrip- but he must be confronted with the heart of man is deceitfully wicked, and ture. While presuppositional apologet- claim and demonstration of the claim he will seek many hiding places for his ics is often caricatured as obscurantist, that Christianity alone rescues man unbelief that must be investigated and arrogant, or hyper-intellectual, properly from relativism, prejudice, and chaos. understood in the light of the total understood, it generates meekness, system of which they are a part. Only personal winsomeness, and patience A Final Challenge by ascertaining these can the fool be in seeking to gain the unbeliever for While not the only legacies of Greg fully exposed and the claims of Christ Christ. Bahnsen, hard work, grace and humil- be pressed upon him comprehensively. ity, and positive demonstration are three By his personal example and encourage- The Christian Apologist’s practical distinctives of his approach to ment, Greg Bahnsen called his students Comprehensive Claim presuppositional apologetics. Defenders to gain a mastery of competing systems Third, Greg Bahnsen strongly of presuppositionalism would do well of thought, for only thereby may he emphasized the positive aspect of to heed them. The work of developing avoid thinking apologetics “easy” or Christian apologetics. The reduction of a full-orbed, Biblical, and Christ-hon- “formulamatic.” the unbeliever’s worldview to absurdity oring apologetic is not complete. The clears the ground for the gospel, but it groundwork has been set out by Van Til The Christian Apologist’s does not erect the structure. The Chris- and enhanced by Greg Bahnsen, but it Humble Attitude tian gospel must be seen in all its saving is the work of every generation to build Second, Greg Bahnsen encouraged power and glory not only as the way to upon the foundation of its fathers, not humility. One of his constant themes forgiveness of sins and the obtaining by rejecting their contributions because was that the Christian apologist must of righteousness through faith in Jesus’ they are incomplete or imperfect, but remember that he has received under- obedience and sacrifice, but also as the by standing upon their shoulders and standing by grace. Therefore, he does revelation of God that preserves knowl- continuing the great work of presenting, not engage in apologetics as a strident edge for man, provides the foundation defending, and persuading men that intellectual but as a humble disciple of for human culture, and directs man Jesus Christ is the way, truth, and life Jesus Christ. Moreover, because grace to the only source of ethical guidance. in every area of human inquiry, moral alone given through the regenerating This must be demonstrated by careful decision, and spiritual pursuit. CR work of the Holy Spirit effects conver- argumentation not simply posited as Rev. Christopher B. Strevel is ordained sion, the believer must ultimately and a faith claim or encouraged as a way in the Reformed Presbyterian Church in constantly depend upon the work of to psychological fulfillment. Christian the United States (RPCUS) and currently the Spirit in the unbeliever to bring him apologetics is not merely a bulldozer pastors Covenant Presbyterian Church to faith in Jesus Christ. This preserves that demolishes every stronghold of in Buford, Georgia. He also oversees the apologist from thinking that he can unbelief; it must also function as the ar- students in Bahnsen Theological Seminary “argue” the unbeliever into the kingdom chitect that erects the city of God firmly specializing in Calvin’s Institutes of the of God. Since faith in Christ is the goal upon the foundation of God’s revela- Christian Religion. He currently resides in of the apologetic encounter, dependence tion in Scripture. This positive aspect Dacula, Georgia, with his wife of twelve upon sovereign grace keeps the Chris- of apologetics is especially important in years, Elizabeth, and his three children, Christopher, Caroline, and Claire. tian apologist from viewing the encoun- the postmodern climate, for the pluralist ter as an opportunity to demonstrate his will join with the Christian apologist in intellectual superiority, which he often affirming many of his criticisms of west- does not possess. Heaven or hell is the ern philosophy and the presuppositional issue at stake, not intellectual domina- nature of human thought. If we focus tion. At the same time, dependence only upon the negative, we have not upon the grace of the Holy Spirit does demonstrated the truth of the Christian not render humble argumentation su- worldview. We may in fact confirm perfluous. Because “answering the fool” the radical relativist in his darkness by

22 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 23 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life What’s Love Got to Do with It? William Blankschaen

’m sorry. Well, not re- before; suppos means knowledge. Once as- another has fulfilled the law…. Love is Ially. Not yet, anyway. sembled, the word refers to an apologet- the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13: When most people think ic method that confronts and appeals to 8, 10). You can’t get more truthful than of an apology, that’s what knowledge that the Creator implants in that. Love happens when we treat God they hear — “I’m sorry.” all men before they know anything else. and one another the way God says we But when Peter uses the What may be known of God is manifest should. Love happens when truth acts. word apologia, nothing could be farther in them…His invisible attributes are clearly Jesus reinforced the same principle from his mind than a Christian who seen, being understood by the things that are when He said, “If you love me, keep my regrets believing. made, even His eternal power and Godhead. commandments.” Want love? Obey. Quite the contrary, when Peter (Rom.1:18-20) Submit to His revealed truth. We say we commands us to be “ready to give an Hence, the problem is not that men love Christ? Then love the least of these apologia” (1 Pet. 3:15) he is requiring do not know the truth, but that they blind beggars as yourself. Especially an answer to an inquiry, not an “ex- suppress the truth in unrighteousness. when they question you about Christ, you must answer by “speaking the truth cuse me” for believing. That’s how we Confronting the Dead get apologetics, the science and art of in love” (Eph. 4:15). The natural man knows the truth, defending our Faith. But what we often but can’t truly comprehend it until the The House Truth Built seem to miss as we tenaciously defend Spirit opens his spiritual eyes (1 Cor. Love is the house that truth built. the Faith is that we are responding to 2:14). Thus the unregenerate man On the one hand, love depends on a question. And a question requires a consciously chooses to reject the truth truth to give it structure; in return, love questioner. And a questioner is a person. because it seems foolish to him. So we provides the context in which truth lives In our rush to launch doctrinal mis- regenerate folk confront him with the and thrives. Like sea monkeys without siles from our fortified redoubts, we truth. Sounds simple enough. We whip water, truth can technically exist with- overlook Peter’s penultimate point that out our Biblical baseball bats, brandish out love, but it does not truly come alive the most effective defense of the Faith is them menacingly in the air, and wind until you put it in the context of love. not found in theological tomes or dusty up to beat the blind beggars with truth And who wants to watch a barrel of debate halls. Instead, Peter’s apologia until they’re bruised and bleeding. Until sea monkeys without water? That’s like actively answers the question. It really they surrender. Until they beg for mercy. watching a bowl of dry oatmeal. But responds to the questioner. It touches Or until they run at the very thought how many unbelievers have heard our his hand, connects with her heart, cares. of becoming unfeeling brutes like us. unloving answers only to be convinced Loves. Because although we love doctrine — a that a bowl of dry oatmeal is the best OK. Now I’m sorry. Well, not re- good thing! — and crave cold, hard answer Christ can muster? As William ally. But lest you think I’m calling for logic — also a vital tool — we miss the Wordsworth poetically penned, “For a group hug, let me allay your fears. critical context in which the apologia this, for everything, we are out of tune; When Satan’s forces attack, we certainly must take place. It moves us not. — Great God! I’d must possess the intellectual ammuni- Love. rather be a Pagan….” tion to rout our foes. Furthermore, we Somehow we disconnect truth from Although we fail to presuppose love, must use the ammo efficiently. I believe love when, in fact, they’re like love and Peter started there, and ended there, and the most effective (because it is the marriage, horse and carriage — you only tossed in the stuff about an apo- most Biblical) intellectual method for can’t have one without the other. Paul logia as a consequence of the real issue defending the Faith is a presuppositional wastes no words in solving the dilemma — love. Peter’s primary message rings defense. A fancy word, indeed, but with Plato grappled with several centuries clearly throughout his entire discourse: quite the simple meaning. Pre- means earlier — what is love? “He who loves Be of one mind; have compassion;

24 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 25 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life love as brothers; be tenderhearted, cour- until they know how much you care. the blind beggar stumbling toward the teous, and full of blessing; seek peace And isn’t that why Peter gave us gates of Hell. and pursue it, etc. the command in the first place? People. That’s what love’s got to do with it. CR No wonder the curious unbeliever People will see us. People will ask ques- William Blankschaen has been blessed with might feel compelled to inquire about tions. People made in the image of God a beautiful wife and three children. He is the hope within you when he sees will challenge us with inquiries. And a teacher and administrator at Cornerstone such incredible truth in action. He just how are we to answer? With vitriol Christian Academy near Cleveland, OH, doesn’t get it. Why would you sacrifice and violence? God forbid! We answer and a writer of challenging essays and yourself for another’s good? Submit in meekness and fear, knowing that we Christ-honoring fiction. your own will to another’s? Pursue peace once walked in the same darkness. We when hatred comes so easily? So he asks answer, as the late Dr. Greg Bahnsen put about the hope he sees in you — or it, with humble boldness. The humility does he? is the love part; the boldness is the truth Confront the Be honest. When was the last time part. Christ requires both from those someone asked about the hope he saw in who dare defend His name. Our Lord Thinking of you? Not when did he notice that you requires us to defend His name with our dress in styles several decades outdated, hearts and hands as well as our heads. Modern Man don’t have clue about those “dreadful” We need not speculate as to Christ’s Tolkien movies, or didn’t join the conga opinion because He addresses precisely line at your cousin’s recent wedding. this problem in the church at Ephesus But rather when was the last time he (Rev. 2:1-6). There were some things saw you endure tragedy with a smile, lay the Ephesians were good at — identify- your desires down for Christ’s sake, or ing false teachers and running them extend a hand when you knew full well out of the church, for example. Yet, it would get bitten off? In short, when although Christ commends them for was the last time someone asked about their high-energy defense, He threatens Christ because he saw Him in you? to remove His presence if they don’t fix I thought so. one tiny little thing: “You have left your first love.” Aha! You may say that Christ True Communication is referring to their love for Him. Of Studies indicate that up to 90% of course, but how do we demonstrate love communication is non-verbal. If that’s for Christ? “Keep my commandments. The Word of Flux: Modern Man and the true, words account for only a tenth of Love one another. Feed my sheep.” Problem of Knowledge our persuasive power; actions apparently We show our love for Christ by loving Modern man has a problem with knowledge. do speak louder than words. Accord- people, especially those pesky people He cannot accept God’s Word about anything ing to John Maxwell, “Your talk talks so everything which points to God must be questioning our Faith. called into question. Man, once he makes and your walk talks, but your walk talks The Ephesians mistakenly nar- himself ultimate, is unable to know anything louder than your talk talks.” If truth rowed obedience to understanding and but himself. Because of this impasse, modern is the voice of Christ, love is its mega- espousing a set of doctrinal creeds and thinking has become progressively pragmatic. phone and the lack of love its gag order. This book will lead the reader to understand arguments. They had mastered defend- that this problem of knowledge underlies the The Love chapter in Corinthians warns ing the faith with a Biblical billy club isolation and self-torment of modern man. that without love, all our knowledge and a theological tazer. But somewhere This book takes the reader into the heart of is nothing. Jesus clarified it when He along the way they had forgotten that modern man’s intellectual dilemma. said, “By this all will know that you are Christ came to seek and save, not seek Paperback, 127 pages, indices, $19.00 My disciples, if you have love for one and destroy. Christ reminds them, “Do Shipping added to all orders. another” (Jn. 13:35). People will “see the first works.” You know, the stuff Ordering is easy. Simply use the your good works and glorify your Father you used to do when the love of Christ order form on page 32 or visit in Heaven” (Mt. 5:16). Bottom line: consumed you. Speak the truth, yes, but www.chalcedonstore.com People don’t care how much you know only in the context of passionate love for

24 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 25 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life Presupposing the Young Ian Hodge

resuppositionalism is usually determined before a person given the tools of learning, so they could Pa fact of life. Every- reaches eighteen. In fact, a majority of learn on their own. one works from basic Americans make a lasting determina- In contrast, modern educrats teach assumptions, or presup- tion about the personal significance of the child what they think he should positions. But not every- Christ’s death and resurrection by age know. They teach vast quantities of one is self-conscious of 12.” information rather than give students his or her presuppositions. The task of 3. Barna’s research indicates that critical thinking skills. The result? evangelism, therefore, carries with it the “in most cases people’s spiritual beliefs Modern students do not have the tools necessity to expose presuppositions in are irrevocably formed when they are of learning so they find it difficult to the light of God’s Word and challenge pre-teens.”1 carry on continuous learning. hearers to adopt Biblical assumptions, It seems that by age thirteen, most not ones they make up themselves. people are set in their ways. What are Pre-teen Potential Presuppositionalism as we know it the implications of this for teaching More importantly for us here, has been around for half a century or presuppositions? however, is that Miss Sayers identifies more. The initiating work of Corne- the ability of the pre-teen child to learn lius Van Til and his later followers have Exciting Opportunities quite complex information. In music, exposed a large number of people to To date, most books on presupposi- for example, we now understand why the idea of presuppositions and the way tionalism are aimed at the adult market. children could compose music at an they should be used in evangelism. But Now while there seems some reason to early age in past eras. They were taught it seems there is good evidence for us aim books on Christian apologetics at how to do it. They learned the gram- to re-evaluate the way we teach and use the adult market, it also seems necessary mar of music, just as they learned the presuppositions in an evangelistic or to provide a framework to teach young grammar of language or mathematics. lifestyle framework. children about assumptions. The result? Highly skilled musicians A lot of educational pedagogy and composers by the time they were Startling Revelations stands in the way at this point. It is teenagers. A recent study by the George Barna believed that children should not be We should not be afraid, then, to Research Group has highlighted the taught difficult concepts. These are use presuppositional arguments on fact that spiritual maturity needs to often saved for university days or later. young children to ground them in the begin at a young age. After three years Yet according to the Barna research, Faith. While the way we teach may be of research, Barna has identified the this is too late. However, in the 1970s, different than it would be for adults, following: Chalcedon published an essay by Doro- nevertheless the need is there to educate 1. An individual’s moral founda- thy Sayers, “The Lost Tools of Learn- the young in these concepts. tions “are usually in place by the age ing” which opens the door to teaching Can young children understand of nine. While those foundations are presuppositions to pre-teen children. philosophical argument? That is not refined and the application of those Speaking on the medieval concept the first question, according to the older foundations may shift to some extent as of education, Miss Sayers highlighted view of education. The first step is to the individual ages, their fundamental the three stages of learning that were ground the student in the grammar of a perspectives on truth, integrity, mean- used in the older methods of education. particular subject. The second step, to ing, justice, morality, and ethics are Using the concepts of Grammar, Logic be undertaken when the child reaches formed quite early in life.” and Rhetoric, Sayers explained how me- around the age of ten, is to add explana- 2. An individual’s “response to the dieval education provided the tools of tion (logic) to the information they have meaning and personal value of Jesus learning so that students could go on in been taught. By the time the student is Christ’s life, death and resurrection is life and educate themselves. They were continued on page 30

26 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 27 Faith for All of Life Faith for All of Life The Problem with Islam Warren Kelley

ince the collapse of as to what We have revealed unto thee, than a Messenger.” Sthe Twin Towers on then ask those who have been reading Abdullah Yusuf Ali, a noted Muslim 9/11, much has been the Book from before thee.” scholar, put it this way, “Begetting a son written and discussed is a physical act depending on the needs about the nature of Islam Significant Disagreements of men’s animal nature. Allah Most and whether it is truly Later, when Muslims began to come High is independent of all needs, and it a religion of peace. But in the two and into contact with Christians and Jews is derogatory to Him to attribute such a half years that have passed since that they realized that the Old and New Tes- an act to Him.” terrible day, how much have we learned taments did not agree with the Qur’an. Christians cherish the belief that about what Islam teaches and how those In fact they disagreed on many key God sent His only Son to bear the price beliefs compare to our own? points. Since they believed that God’s of our sins. For the Muslim it is blas- word could not be changed they had to phemy to believe that Allah would allow Common Ground find an explanation for this problem. one of his prophets to perish in such Christianity and Islam have many The solution? The Jews and Christians a way and they deny that Christ was things in common. Both religions are must have corrupted God’s revelation. crucified. monotheistic. Both believe that God is Islam teaches that Allah sent proph- just, sovereign, and forgiving. Both hold ets to reveal his truth to all peoples to No Sin Nature Jesus in very high esteem and refer to help them understand the truth and to Muslims see no need for a savior him as Christ. Many American Chris- serve him. Since the Jews and Christians and look at sin and the sin nature differ- tians even believe that we worship the corrupted Allah’s teachings and others ently than Christians. Muslims believe same God. fell into worshiping many gods, Mus- in a creation story similar to the one The sacred book of Islam, the lims believe the only uncorrupted, true of the Bible. However, in the Islamic Qur’an, also teaches that we worship revelation of God remaining is that of version, Adam and Eve were created in the same God and that it was He who the Qur’an. a state of righteousness in the garden, imparted his truth to Moses. Sura 5:44 It is important to understand that sinned, and were forgiven. There was no says, “It was We [Allah] who revealed the differences between Christianity and sin left to pass on to descendants as a sin the Law to Moses: therein was guidance Islam are significant. While Muslims nature. and light.” It goes on to say in verse 46, esteem Christ as a great prophet they In fact, Islam teaches that Adam, “And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the strongly deny His deity. Consider the after his fall and forgiveness, became the son of Mary, confirming the Law that passage from Sura 112 that is recited in first prophet. Unlike the Bible, Islamic had come before him. We sent him the prayer every day by Muslims: “Say He theology believes that prophets are kept Gospel: therein was guidance and light.” is Allah, the One and Only; Allah the from fundamental sins. Adam, as a However, this is actually somewhat Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor prophet, could not have had a sin nature of a problem for Islam. Muhammad is He begotten; and there is none like to pass on. was not very well educated and did not unto Him.” Without a sin nature, there is no have firsthand knowledge of the Jewish To believe that Jesus is the Son of need for a savior, no need for redemp- or Christian Scriptures. Early on, he God is blasphemy to a Muslim. Sura 5: tion. All people are born innocent and believed that what he had written in the 72 says, “They do blaspheme who say: remain so until they themselves sin. At Qur’an was compatible with Scripture ‘Allah is Christ the son of Mary.’ But that point all they need is the grace of and that the god he served was the God said Christ: ‘O children of Israel! Wor- Allah to forgive their sins which come of the Jews and Christians. ship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’” simply as a result of personal weakness, Sura 10:94 records Allah instruct- Just a few verses later in verse 75 it says, not from a sinful nature. ing Muhammad, “If thou wert in doubt “Christ, the son of Mary, was no more continued on page 30

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West, Illustrations…continued from page 7 cal metaphor. Van Til used the Prodigal Gentry, Bahnsen…continued from page 9 as an illustration of the inability of the and accepted a faculty position with the the kingdom of God. Why not? Because covenant-breaker to drown out the prestigious Newport Christian High the resurrection would be viewed as a voice of the living God. His metaphor School in Newport Beach (September monstrosity (his word). The unbeliever of “borrowed capital” was probably 1980). admits that strangeness occurs in the drawn from this story, too. He wrote, In February of 1985 Bahnsen universe. All kinds of “miracles” hap- “When the Prodigal left his father’s debated the president of Atheists United pen. So why, then, should there not also house he could not immediately efface and the American Rationalist Federation be random resurrections both here and from his memory the look and voice of (Dr. Gordon Stein), demonstrating his there? Thus, even if the Biblical writ- his father. How that look and that voice remarkable apologetical and debating ers were right about the resurrection, it came back to him when he was at the skills before an audience of hundreds. would prove nothing at all. Monstrosi- swine trough! How hard he had tried The taped debate is one of the best-sell- ties occur. As Van Til writes, “The resur- to live as though the money with which ing tape sets available through Covenant rection of Jesus would be a fine item for he so freely entertained his ‘friends’ had Media Foundation (which distributes Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Why not send not come from his father! When asked his materials) and has been a source of it in?” What is really needed? Convince where he came from he would answer great encouragement to untold numbers the unbeliever that the Bible is a self- that he came ‘from the other side.’ He of Christians. He engaged in several authenticating authority and that both did not want to be reminded of his past, other public debates on apologetics its miracles and interpretations of those yet he could not forget it. It required a and various social and political issues miracles are infallible. Then the unbe- constant act of suppression to forget the (including theonomy, gun control, ho- liever would be convinced that Jesus past. But that very act of suppression it- mosexuality, Roman Catholicism, Islam, not only rose from the dead, but that by self keeps alive the memory of the past.” and Judaism), and spoke at conferences rising He justifies sinners and is de- In short, the Prodigal’s futile at- across America, in the British Isles and clared to be the Son of God with power tempt to drown out the voice of his Russia during his distinguished career. (Rom.1:4; 4:25). father was like the discharged servant In 1990 Dr. Bahnsen worked with Blockhouse Methodology of Immanuel Kant, who had been with him for years. Angrily, Kant wrote a fa- Michael Nelson to establish the South- Each fact in God’s universe is like ern California Center for Christian a block we use to build our house. But mous entry in his memorandum book: “Remember, from now on the name of Studies. The Studies Center has as its when we lose sight of the overall picture, mission cultivating “intelligent com- which is that all facts are God-created Lampe must be completely forgotten.” Van Til’s illustrations were always mitment to the Christian faith, seek- facts and intelligible only in terms of ing with skill, sincerity and love to: God, we fall into the sin of Blockhouse discreet, which made them all the more effective. He was no “skyscraper” challenge unbelief in all its forms and methodology. A fair example is Eve defend the claims of Christ, expound when she was beguiled to eat the forbid- preacher or theologian, who majored in stories. Yet he was wise enough to know and explain the system of precious truth den fruit. Satan’s strategy was to woo found in the Scriptures, apply God’s her to analyze the block (in this case the the limits of his audience, especially when he was critiquing hard, philosoph- word to the life of believers as well as forbidden fruit) in terms of her own to their world, train God’s people for autonomous rationality. She sought to ical concepts of autonomous sinners to service to the Lord, and to encourage interpret the “block” apart from God’s whom everything was yellowed and thus Christian piety, outreach, compassion infallible interpretation of the whole confused. CR and maturity.” After Bahnsen’s death, Tree. Therefore she was dead-meat Jim West has pastored Covenant Reformed the Board of the Studies Center estab- for Satan. The unbeliever has a similar Church in Sacramento for the last 18 lished Bahnsen Theological Seminary problem; Camus (reportedly) said that years. He is currently Associate Professor of to provide distance education for those if there is even one fact in the universe Pastoral and Systematic Theology at City seeking advanced theological degrees. that has meaning, then all is lost (from Seminary in Sacramento. He has authored Bahnsen authored six books: The- an existential, philosophical standpoint). The Missing Clincher Argument in the Tongues’ Debate, The Art of Choosing Your onomy in Christian Ethics; Homosexuali- The Prodigal Son Love, The Covenant Baptism of Infants, and ty: A Biblical View; By This Standard; No The Parable of the Prodigal Son was Christian Courtship Versus Dating. His latest Other Standard; Always Ready: Directions perhaps Van Til’s most popular Bibli- book is Drinking with Calvin and Luther! for Defending the Faith; and Van Til’s

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Apologetic: Readings and Analysis. He co- Schultz, Pluralism…continued from page 15 Rose, Debt…continued from page 19 authored one with me (House Divided: 1. Rousas Rushdoony, The Institutes of their 40s and 50s, still think and act The Break-up of Dispensational Theol- Biblical Law (n.p.:Craig Press, 1973), 119. as children. They will never be able to ogy), contributed major articles to seven A surprising number of Christians dislike grow up and accept responsibilities as other books, wrote hundreds of articles, the doctrine of infallibility. Recently some independent thinking adults. Thus, we and produced over 1,800 audio tapes. evangelicals, influenced by evidentialist must rediscover the inescapable fact that On December 5, 1995, he un- apologetics, asked me for some non-Bibli- childhood is a relatively short period of derwent his third open heart surgery cal “proofs” for a theological case I had life and that an orderly society is built to replace his aortic valve. Within made. Of all people, I chided them, Baptists and maintained by adults in an adult- twenty-four hours he developed serious should be satisfied with a good “thus saith the Lord.” A Presbyterian shouldn’t have to oriented world. In past generations complications. After being comatose for tell them that! children were taught that they lived in several days he died on December 11, 2. Jerry Falwell frequently goes to the mat an adult world and that their role as 1995 at the age of forty-seven. Since his on this issue. On the Donahue Show last children was to learn the discipline and death his ministry influence has actually year, Phil Donahue whined about the justice responsibilities of adulthood as they grown, primarily due to his large catalog of God sending a Jew to hell for not believ- grew and matured in wisdom. Many of tapes and the influence of SCCCS ing in Jesus. Falwell’s response, as I remem- in our society have lost this common- and BTS. Certainly, though he is dead, ber it, was superb: God would even send a sense view of generational relationships yet he speaketh. CR Baptist — or a talk show host — to hell for not trusting in Jesus! between children and adults, and it has Dr. Gentry is the author of thirteen books 3. Originally drafted in 1571 for the caused many individuals to become and a contributor to eight others, from Anglican Church, the American edition of short-sighted in their world-and-life publishers such as Zondervan, Baker, the Thirty-Nine Articles date to 1801. The view, which is unbiblical. This, too, Kregel, P & R, and American Vision. He is Thirty-Nine Articles have ambiguous author- should be kept in mind as we plan for a the editor of a new title from Ross House ity in the Episcopal Church today. better future. God has placed man in a Books: Thine Is the Kingdom: A Summary of 4. Those interested can check what cause-and-effect world. We must discern the Postmillennial Hope. He has spoken at Lynchburg’s new gay-activists are doing conferences and on radio across the nation the times by sound thinking and percep- at www.soulforce.org. One can measure CR and runs a website for Reformed educational tion based upon Biblical principles. Falwell’s influence by the hostility he gener- materials: www.kennethgentry.com. ates with such activists. Dick Knodel, the ©Tom Rose, 2003 pastor of the local OPC church, and Christ Schultz, Pascal’s…continued from page 13 College students were visible in leading Tom Rose is retired professor of economics and author of nine books and hundreds of North, and the Festschrift for Van Til counter-protests and doing street evangelism during the Soulforce rallies. articles dealing with economic and political titled Jerusalem and Athens edited by E. issues. Rose’s latest books are: Free Enterprise 5. Rushdoony, The Institutes of Biblical R. Geehan. CR Economics in America and God, Gold, and Law, 5. Civil Government. Phone: 724-748-3726; Forrest W. Schultz has a B.S. in Chemical 6. Rousas Rushdoony, Infallibility: An Website: www.biblicaleconomics.com. Engineering from Drexel University and Inescapable Concept (Vallecito, CA: Ross a Th.M. in Systematic Theology from House Books, 1978), 51. 1. Jim Puplava, “West to East: the trade Westminster Theological Seminary. 7. Rushdoony, The Institutes of Biblical deficit represents largest wealth transfer in 1. B.C. Johnson, The Atheist Debater’s Law, 17. history,” in News & Views, ed. Michael J. Handbook, (Buffalo, NY: Prometheus 8. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Kosares, Fall 2003, 4 (www.usagold.com Books, 1981), 97. Contract (N.Y.: Dutton, 1950), 139-140. publication). 9. Rushdoony, The Institutes of Biblical 2. “Daily Reckoning 10/10/2003,” in Gold Law, 17. is breaking through!, David N. Vaughn, ©Le Metropole Café, Inc. 3. Tom Rose, “America’s Central Bank,” Chalcedon Report, Jan. & Feb. 2003.

28 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 29 Faith for All of Life

Kelley, Islam…continued from page 27 Hodge, Presupposing…continued from page 26 for the Business Reform Foundation (www.businessreform.com) a ministry that For the Muslim salvation is simply in his early teens, the rhetorical stage of teaches how to apply the Bible to business a matter of works to earn his way into education should begin: the ability of and provides consulting services based paradise. Sura 23:102-103 paints an the student to defend the knowledge he on Biblical principles. He writes a weekly image of our lives being weighed in a has acquired. Commentary at www.biznetdaily.com. scale on judgment day, “Then those It does not seem an insurmount- When he is not business consulting, Ian whose balance is heavy — they will at- able task, for example, to have young enjoys exercising a ministry in music with tain salvation: but those whose balance children learn the basics about the his family (www.musicreform.com). is light, will be those who have lost their origins of life, for on our assumptions 1. “Research Shows That Spiritual Maturity souls; in hell will they abide.” Because here hang the moral foundations that Process Should Start at a Young Age”, avail- we cannot see the totality of our own we adopt in life. The choice, as always, able at www.barna.org. good and evil, salvation for the Muslim is between a created, personal universe, is never assured. Only on judgment day or an impersonal uncreated one. If the will the balance be known. world is uncreated and impersonal, then morals are a dream and everyone can be No Justice his god determining for himself what is Along with the acceptance of this right or wrong. belief comes a loss of justice. For the Muslim all that is needed to do away Leaving off the Baggage with any sin is enough good deeds to Underlying all this is a commitment balance the scales. So, as long as they to how we know that what we know put in enough hours of community ser- is true. The impersonal universe leads vice, even murder or rape can be simply only to a dead theory of knowledge, Advertising in the Chalcedon overlooked. with no basis for knowing whether or Report means focus for your To summarize these beliefs, Islam not the information we have is true or ministry, product or service. teaches that Jesus was a great prophet false, right or wrong. In fact, these con- You’ll be able to reach who was often misquoted and misun- cepts tend to disappear in an impersonal derstood by His disciples. He is not universe. Or, as Paul puts it in Romans thousands of individuals God and His death is not necessary for chapter one, the unbeliever suppresses with a similar worldview. the forgiveness of our sins. All that is the truth in his attempts to deny what Contact us today for pricing necessary is to do more good in this life he knows deep down to be true: that the and guidelines. than evil and we will be allowed into God of the Bible created all things and email: [email protected] paradise in the next life. really exists. That said, it seems that the belief Without the baggage of a humanis- system of a large percentage of American tic education, it is not difficult to teach Christians is closer to the teachings of these basic ideas to children, and there Islam than the teaching of the Bible. CR is an incentive to move down this path. Barna’s research opens up a vision of Warren Kelley serves as Executive Vice President for International Christian Media, children’s ministry that may have been the ministry that produces Point of View overlooked in the past. But in our Radio Talk Show. Christian schools and homeschools, we have the opportunity to educate the young in the assumptions that will carry them through life. And it seems that if we don’t do this by their early teenage years, it may be just a little too late. CR Ian Hodge, AmusA, Ph.D., is Director of International Business Consulting

30 Chalcedon Report February 2004 February 2004 Chalcedon Report 31 Faith for All of Life Classifieds

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