Presuppositionalism argues that without the Christian God logic, morality, and science are impossible. Therefore, a rational debate cannot even take place without certain gifts that the one true God gave. It is the height of folly to take those gifts while ignoring their Giver and the specific rules He laid down for using them. So, we should expect unbelievers to reject clear evidence because they have a fundamental commitment to sin. The solution is to graciously and patiently show them the absurdity of their position, and skillfully preach the gospel to them.
Though these five points really deserve a book-length treatment, it may be helpful to have a summarized list. Here are five reasons I am a presuppositionalist.
1. It produces necessary results or absolute certainty rather than mere probability.
Probability is not what the Bible calls all men to feel toward Jesus Christ. This level of certainty means at the least that there is a possibility that there is no God, Jesus was a liar, the cross was not significant, and the resurrection never happened. Such conclusions are not worthy of the reality of the Christian God.
2. It takes account of the noetic effects of sin in contrast to other apologetic systems.
In light of the heavy Scriptural evidence demonstrating that sin hampers the right use of the mind, will, emotions, and even memory, an apologetic approach that ignores this category of data is especially suspect whereas presuppositionalism depends upon it.
3. It concludes the Christian God rather than general theism or even polytheism.
Isn’t there a distinctively Christian way to prove that God exists rather than a method that could be accepted by Muslims or even Hindus?
4. It returns the Bible to its rightful position of authority in all our intellectual endeavors.
Since the inerrancy of Scripture and the primacy of the gospel are two of the foundational starting points of presuppositionalism, the lion is unleashed rather than held at bay until his lawful time to perform.
5. It begins the discussion with epistemology rather than the evidences.
By starting with a discussion of how we come to know and believe things, presuppositionalism demonstrates that there is a battle of worldviews from the very beginning. Even the way an unbeliever views evidence is tainted by sin, and one apologetic method recognizes that.
