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The Newsletter
June 2001

The brilliant philosopher, Ravi Zacharias, was given a tour of the Wexner Center for the Performing Arts at Ohio State University. The architect had the task of designing the building to reflect life itself. It was to reflect the senseless and incoherence of life. Outside was white scaffolding, red brick turrets, Colorado grass pods, etc.... Inside were stairways leading nowhere, pillars without purpose hanging from the ceiling, and angled surfaces giving the onlooker a sense of vertigo. When this concept was explained to Zacharias he asked one question that was greeted with laughter. The question was, "Did he do the same thing with the foundation?" Of course the architect did not. Would that not have been foolish? There is a basic fundamental rule of construction. Everything begins with the foundation. Jesus, the master teacher, illustrated this clearly calling the man "wise that used rock for his foundation compared to the foolish man that built upon the sand." - Math. 7:24.

My philosophy teacher in Seminary used to say. "when you understand a man's presuppositions you will understand where he is going in his thinking." That is why it is so important we continue to challenge modern man with the responsibility of his personal accountability. One of the great freedoms in life is the right to decide what is truth. However, one better be sure he knows why he is correct. Any opinion is no better than the base of authority from which it comes.

Zacharias puts his finger on what may be the answer to the problems America is facing today. He states there are three levels that indicate how philosophical thinking effects our lives. From these we decide how we conduct our lives. These levels are:

the foundational level - the level of theory
the level of philosophizing through the arts
the level of table talk - born out of the first two - is where dialogue flows freely without any fear or threat

He gives his summation of this three-level theory of philosophy. Correct conclusions, says Zacharias, can be reached only when we argue at level one, illustrate at level two and apply at level three. The reasoning process (level one) provides the foundation; the arts (level two) the infrastructure and illustration, and the kitchen table (level three) the superstructure and application.

If we get these in the right order, the results should be good. The rub comes, in my opinion, in the second level. We learn from the arts. However, today what is art?. Zacharias says: "What is so unique in our society is the all-pervasive influence of the arts, even upon matters of transcending importance-in effect, desacralizing everything and programming our very beings."

Each of us had better examine the roots of our thinking. Is what we build our life upon borne out of clear examination of a pursuit of truth, or have we been duped by the modern high-tech, high commercialized society? Zacharias thinks we are a unique generation. He feels a massive global assault has been launched against us and the primary force has come through the arts.

I am unapologetic in my presuppositions. I gladly share with one and all what I believe and why I believe it. I believe in Prepositional Apologetics. This approach says any defense of Christianity begins with the assumption that:

God exists
The Bible is his authentic and authoritative word

These two truths are assumed to be true and binding. However, modern man is moving rapidly away from accepting this way of thinking. As a result, it is of paramount importance that we understand what Dan Story calls Evidential Apologetics. This system of thought maintains the non-believing world has a right to hear our defense of what we believe. To not answer our critics gives him the right to decide that we can't defend our bases for Christianity. As a result he will continue to look elsewhere for answers. Thus, we had better have a solid basis for our presuppositions. Historic Christianity can present compelling arguments for what it believes. Years ago, a brilliant young theologian explained why he was an evangelical Christian. He had only one reason for accepting conservative Christianity; in his opinion it best explained all of the facts of existence more coherently than any alternative philosophy.

Long ago I came across some statements that summarize well my basic presuppositions that lead to my personal understanding of life. These have to do with the Bible. This would be the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament as they were written in the original languages. Concerning inspiration, the writer stated it this way:

"God worked through the instrumentality of human personality but so guided and controlled men that what they wrote is what he wanted written. As a result of that inspiration we can believe without doubting that "the Bible has been given to us by the inspiration of God, attested to by that spirit throughout the centuries, and vindicated in its use by the Holy Spirit today." In view of this vindication by the Holy Spirit , we can accept the scriptures as being reliable in every sense.

The words of Hugh Peterson, former Dean at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky are just as relevant today as when he penned them in the sixties...: "If today, a church house here and there, is comparatively empty. If people no longer go to its services, gladly and expectantly, may it not be because in part at least, the servant of the Lord does not speak with authority as a messenger of God? ... The preacher who believes his message intensely with genuine conviction, has the power to persuade others to believe."

I believe in the inspiration and authority of the bible. Not only is it perfect in every way, but it gives the greatest message mankind could ever hear. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself. We can go forth preaching and teaching in power. Maybe we cannot be schooled in the school of apologetics, but God has raised up some of the most brilliant thinkers, writers and Christian Apologists to correlate these arguments to aid us in proclaiming the only infallible truth in our world today.