The Van Til I Knew: An Interview With R.J. Rushdoony

In “The Van Til I Knew,” Rushdoony portrays Cornelius Van Til as both intellectually formidable and personally simple “profound” in philosophical penetration yet marked by humble, almost childlike faith (“God said it, I believe it”). He recounts how he first encountered Van Til through The New Modernism, was captivated by its presuppositional starting-point emphasis, and then entered a long correspondence and friendship with Van Til, including visits and extended conversations in California. The interview highlights Van Til’s core contribution as drawing a sharp antithesis between belief and unbelief and insisting that God is never an “add-on” to human reasoning; God must be the starting point, not a conclusion of autonomous logic. Rushdoony argues this has direct implications for the church’s weakness: when evangelism and theology cater to man’s sovereignty (or treat faith as a “plus” that enhances an otherwise self-governing life), the result is antinomianism, shallow discipleship, and cultural impotence. He also connects Van Til’s method to Reconstruction: Van Til’s “autonomy vs. theonomy” framing, in Rushdoony’s telling, naturally presses toward applying God’s Word comprehensively law, ethics, education, politics, and culture rather than confining Christianity to private devotion or church life. Finally, Rushdoony emphasizes that Van Til’s legacy is not merely academic; it demands systematic Christian thinking, disciplined catechesis, and a return to “sin, salvation, service” so the church becomes an engine of Kingdom labor rather than a waiting-room for heaven.