Presuppositionalism Contra “Sound Reason” & “Natural Law”

Disagreeing with Dr. Stephen Wolfe only has the advantage of pointing out the irreconcilable differences between Wolfe’s starting point of Right reason and Natural Law and the presuppositional starting point of presupposing the authority of God and His revealed Word. As such, I don’t expect to reach rapprochement with Dr. Wolfe on these matters. Another thing that should be said by way of introduction is that the differences here cannot be accounted for one of us not understanding the other’s position. I understand the premises of Thomistic Natural Law thinking and I am confident that Wolfe understands presuppositonalism. We just don’t agree with each other.

Below is just a wee bit of more interaction between Dr. Wolfe & myself.

Dr Stephen Wolfe wrote

Scripture is the principal source for theology (and the only source for supernatural theology). But Scripture also contains truths of ethics, household management, and politics (along with rhetoric and other sciences). So, to say “theology is not politics” is not to say that scripture is silent on politics. It means that theology, ethics, politics, etc. are different “sciences” or “systems” — having different origins, principles, means, objects, and ends. To say that political science is “philosophical” means that its truths originate in nature and are accessible (in principle) by sound reason. Scripture teaches the same truths, and thus the same truths are knowable by faith. Supernatural theology is known only by faith. But anything “philosophical” may be known by both faith and reason, because those truths originate in creation, not in Scripture, and thus are proper objects of reason.

Bret responds,

1.) Not different systems since all is dependent upon the same starting point. Scripture teaches that in Jesus all things consist. Therefore, understanding all things requires same starting point (origin), and therefore, not different systems. However revelation is beginning point for different subjects

The way I have tried to explain it is that the revelation of scripture is this great vast reservoir of truth. From this theological reservoir of truth gush forth differing artesian wells. Those wells might be named “education,” “family life,” “economics,” “history,” “arts” “politics,” “sociology,” etc. Each well is distinct but all have as their source theology since nothing can be understood apart from presupposing God and His Word.

Van Til used to explain this by quoting Psalm 36:9.

“In your light, we see light.”

And then went on to say,

“The Bible is thought of as authoritative on everything of which it speaks. Moreover, it speaks of everything. We do not mean that it speaks of football games, of atoms, etc., directly, but we do mean that it speaks of everything either directly or by implication.” (Christian Apologetics, 19-20)

2.) Wolfe appeals above to “sound reason” and of course the question the presuppositionalist asks is “sound reason” by what standard? Below we hear Yuval Noah Harari using “sound reason” to argue that sodomy is consistent with Natural Law,

3.) The appeal to “sound reason” turns “sound reason” into the source of truth as opposed to being the tool by which truth is arrived at. Presuppositionalists also depend upon “sound reason,” but that is not our beginning point. Our usage of “sound reason” has the apriori of God’s revelation. In His light we see light. Actually, Wolfe’s “sound reason” also has an apriori but his apriori is the sovereign autonomous self, who, via his own humanistic light he sees light. Theonomy or autonomy.

4.) So, sans Wolfe, no field ever originates in nature. Indeed, not even nature can be understood apart from presupposing God and His revelation just as “sound reason” can’t be arrived at apart from presupposing God and His revelation. In all things … disciplines … God is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. This is a 180 degree different understanding from Dr. Wolfe’s.

5.) Wolfe writes, “Scripture teaches the same truths, and thus the same truths are knowable by faith.”

Here the question is, “If Scripture teaches the same truth and the same truths are knowable by faith then why do we need natural law?”

I would contend that unbelieving man, having an axe to grind against knowing God and His revelation, suppresses in unrighteousness, any truth that is not convenient for him to know. The truths that are convenient for him to know the unbeliever allows in but only in service of his unbelieving system. This truth that is allowed in to serve his unbelieving worldview is called “borrowed capital.” The unbeliever uses his sound reason to borrow capital to insert into his anti-Christ worldview in order to get that anti-Christ worldview off the ground and running. This is all the unbeliever’s “sound reason” can do since the carnal mind, as Scripture teaches, is at enmity with God.

So Wolfe’s system of “truth” and my system of truth are never going to reach rapprochement. But we can talk to each other thus demonstrating these differences to others who are cued into the conversation.

Author: jetbrane

I am a Pastor of a small Church in Mid-Michigan who delights in my family, my congregation and my calling. I am postmillennial in my eschatology. Paedo-Calvinist Covenantal in my Christianity Reformed in my Soteriology Presuppositional in my apologetics Familialist in my family theology Agrarian in my regional community social order belief Christianity creates culture and so Christendom in my national social order belief Mythic-Poetic / Grammatical Historical in my Hermeneutic Pre-modern, Medieval, & Feudal before Enlightenment, modernity, & postmodern Reconstructionist / Theonomic in my Worldview One part paleo-conservative / one part micro Libertarian in my politics Systematic and Biblical theology need one another but Systematics has pride of place Some of my favorite authors, Augustine, Turretin, Calvin, Tolkien, Chesterton, Nock, Tozer, Dabney, Bavinck, Wodehouse, Rushdoony, Bahnsen, Schaeffer, C. Van Til, H. Van Til, G. H. Clark, C. Dawson, H. Berman, R. Nash, C. G. Singer, R. Kipling, G. North, J. Edwards, S. Foote, F. Hayek, O. Guiness, J. Witte, M. Rothbard, Clyde Wilson, Mencken, Lasch, Postman, Gatto, T. Boston, Thomas Brooks, Terry Brooks, C. Hodge, J. Calhoun, Llyod-Jones, T. Sowell, A. McClaren, M. Muggeridge, C. F. H. Henry, F. Swarz, M. Henry, G. Marten, P. Schaff, T. S. Elliott, K. Van Hoozer, K. Gentry, etc. My passion is to write in such a way that the Lord Christ might be pleased. It is my hope that people will be challenged to reconsider what are considered the givens of the current culture. Your biggest help to me dear reader will be to often remind me that God is Sovereign and that all that is, is because it pleases him. View all posts by jetbrane