Everyone has a presupposition about something. Presupposition is something you believe to be
true even without having any proof. In other words, it is a background belief
in which your system, ideas, arguments, and studies built upon. If your
presupposition is wrong then everything that follows from it is wrong.
Presupposition plays a significant role in having a worldview. Every rational
man has presuppositions about God knowingly or unknowingly.
Christianity or Christian Theism is (also) a worldview that believes in Jesus Christ, the son of God. Atheism says there is no God, and this belief is their presupposition. Agnosticism says that no one can know God, and this is their presupposition. Based on these presuppositions, each one has a different view of life, mankind, and the universe. They are very different from one another and is contradictory to one another. Only one has to be right. Christian theistic worldview presupposes the existence of God. It also presupposes that the Bible is His Word. These two basic presuppositions make the Christianity distinct from other religions and worldviews. Both must be affirmed. If one is thrown out, Christianity is collapsed. All the truths, claims and statements of Christianity flow out from them. There also stems out several corollaries or other presuppositions which must be considered in studying Christian Theology. They are classified under three headings:
Christianity or Christian Theism is (also) a worldview that believes in Jesus Christ, the son of God. Atheism says there is no God, and this belief is their presupposition. Agnosticism says that no one can know God, and this is their presupposition. Based on these presuppositions, each one has a different view of life, mankind, and the universe. They are very different from one another and is contradictory to one another. Only one has to be right. Christian theistic worldview presupposes the existence of God. It also presupposes that the Bible is His Word. These two basic presuppositions make the Christianity distinct from other religions and worldviews. Both must be affirmed. If one is thrown out, Christianity is collapsed. All the truths, claims and statements of Christianity flow out from them. There also stems out several corollaries or other presuppositions which must be considered in studying Christian Theology. They are classified under three headings:
1. Nature of the Bible: The
Bible being God’s Word has no error in its teaching. It is flawless because God
is the Author of it. It has no deception in its teaching both in totality and
in its part. Moreover, the Bible is authoritative in all its teaching. The Word
of God stands superior to all conscience, rationality, and experiences (cf.
2Pet. 2:19; Matt. 24:35; 5:18). To deny or to dilute these attributes of Bible
is to redefine the nature of God which would be unchristian and incoherent.
2. Method of
Interpretation (Study): The revelations of God is given through His
Creations generally. Specifically and superiorly He reveals Himself through
written words, the Bible. He gave in the language of man, therefore, the Bible
is to be interpreted in a normal or literal interpretation (also known as
Historical-Grammatical Interpretation). Bible had been written progressively in
term of revelations. Which means the things which are said in the Old Testament are
elaborated in the New Testament. Therefore, most of the Christian Doctrines are
built up strongly from the New Testament. It is also true that the Bible is to be
understood in its context. Proof-text out of context is said to be a pretext.
Moreover, studying of the Bible is to understand the intention of the author.
To miss the authorial intent is to miss the whole message of it.
3. Nature of the
Student/Reader: Anyone can read the Bible and learn a lot. However, the deep
things of God are taught by the Spirit of God. Therefore a student of the Bible
must be a believer, born-again by the Spirit of God. He must also recognize the
limitation of his finite mind, therefore, he must always depend on the Spirit
of God. Moreover, the study of the Bible, the revelation of God through the
Bible is to let the student worship God for who He is and for what He has done.
The Bible has clearly revealed God to be the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent,
loving, just, merciful and gracious Creator who has revealed Himself in the
person of Jesus Christ.
In conclusion,
Christianity presupposes the existence of God and the Bible to be His Word. The
Bible presupposes the existence of God and also claims itself to be the Word of
God. The Bible also claims the attributes of itself and proves itself. The
Bible says that the universe declares the glory of God. Whether one believes the Bible as God’s infallible word or not; whether one uses the Bible or not, the
Glory of God is plainly visible in His creations. Christian believes that there is enough evidence outside the Bible for all man to glorify God and to
worship Him. Yet, nobody does, perverting the worship of true God and goes on
his own ways. Therefore all stands condemned in the sight of God. (cf. Psalm
19; Romans 1:20). So, Jesus Christ came into the world to save whoever would
believe in Him from the condemnation of God. Moreover, Christian worldview
through the Bible, in the person of Jesus Christ, gives coherent answers to the
question of beginning, meaning, morality and existence of life, which all other
worldviews and religions cannot give. Having Presuppositions is not a blind
faith. It is rational because of the impossibility of the contrary.
12th November 2014