Charles

Having been introduced to the writings of Abraham Kuyper as a young Christian, I have been blessed over the years as I struggled through the English translations of some of those writings. One of the best devotional books, which I use often, Near Unto God, by Abraham Kuyper, is updated and edited by James Schaap, continues to bless and challenge me. Schaap did an outstanding job of bringing Kuyper’s original work, which I have in my library, into the later part of the 20^th century. What he did for that book is what Richard Mouw has done with the life and works of Abraham Kuyper in general in this little volume.

My desire is that every PCA pastor, even every Christian, could have a copy of this book to read, study, and meditate on. Sadly, for some Kuyper is unknown. For others, there is only a piecemeal understanding of him and his works. Then, there are a lesser number who try to leave him in the context in which he wrote without knowing how to follow Schaap’s lead and bring him into the 21^st century.

If I had the money I would give a copy of this book to every preacher, teacher, and leader in the church. That is how highly I regard it. If the church ever needed to understand and apply the Kuyperian perspective on all of life, it is today. Kuyper is the man, if you remember, who coined the phrase, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry, “Mine!” As Mouw states so clearly, Kuyper was a man who insisted, “when God saves us, he incorporates us into a community, the people of God. And this community, in turn, is called to serve God’s goals in the larger world. In the life of the church we worship a sovereign God, but that God then commands us to be active witnesses in our daily lives to God’s rule over all things.”

Mouw hits the target when he says that for Kuyper, “every Christian is called to be an agent of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, wherever they are called by God to serve.” You recognize already in these brief but powerful words, that Kuyper holds to the one kingdom idea and that the church is a part but not the whole of that kingdom. For Kuyper, God cares deeply for the church but also for the culture and its development. He continually emphasized this and the realization that God gave us instructions in his Word, how to live first in the garden of Eden and then, after the fall into sin transpired, in the world.

As you read Kuyper you quickly realize he underscores that within the kingdom, God has given two basic commissions: one is called the “cultural mandates”–to claim all things for God and His glory, found in the opening of Genesis and later restated after the flood of Noah’s day, and the “great commission” mandate to make disciples. The fall does not take man out of the world, but requires that as new creatures in Christ that he go into the world.

In this little volume, you find not only a brief biographical sketch of Kuyper’s life, but Kuyper’s biblically reformed philosophy and theology, as they permeate the whole of life. First a pastor, then a statesman, a journalist, and an educator, having founded the University of Amsterdam: that was Abraham Kuyper.

As a young Christian, having majored in philosophy in college, when I found some of the writings of Kuyper, I found something that put together all those things that were like “hanging chads” in my thinking and theology. Along with the writings of Cornelius VanTil and Francis Schaeffer, I began to develop a biblically reformed world and life view. Kuyper’s influence was strategic in my pilgrimage.

Mouw, in a masterful way, summarizes the gift of Kuyperian thinking. You find things such as “sphere sovereignty,” the role of church and state, the role of government and politics, a Christian view of life in its totality, and the impact of the theology and philosophy of John Calvin, not only on him, but on western civilization as well.Mouw is to be commended for connecting Kuyper with another great Dutch Reformed theologian, Herman Bavinck. Like a dynamic duo, they made their impact with a view of Calvinism that was all inclusive.

When Kuyper came to lecture at Princeton in the 1920’s and gave his famous Lectures on Calvinism, showing the one kingdom view and the totality of a Christian world and life view, many came to see Christianity in its wider kingdom perspective and not as something simply belonging inside the church. Not only did Kuyper emphasize bringing people into the redemptive community of the church, but training them and sending them out into the broader Kingdom of God.

Another thing that I appreciate about this little book is that while Mouw is definitely a disciple of Kuyper, he is not oblivious to those areas where Kuyper needs to be, to use a new word I learned from this reading, “aggiornamento” brought and Mouw does not hesitate at that point. Space does not permit dealing with those areas. Hopefully you will read the book. In spite of what some have thought or written, Kuyper was a man filled with the desire to be near unto God and a man under the cross. That is how God has used him so mightily in our western Christian world. And, for people with either a two kingdom view or those without any kingdom perspective, Mouw concludes (and I agree), in speaking about “churches under the cross, that is a good image for our own service today: Christians must care deeply about culture, and they must recognize that true cultural obedience to their Lord has to take place under the cross,”(page 136). The truth is that Christ is the Lord who rules over all things and all peoples.

I cannot recommend this book too strongly. It will strengthen, broaden, and help to equip you with a world and life view and with a kingdom of God perspective. By the way, it is a good book to use in a small group setting. Much fruit will grow from that tree.

As I approach reviewing this book, I do so with some trepidation. First, I have many positive thoughts about many of VanDrunen’s words. I appreciate what he is attempting to do in making a distinction between the church as the redemption community (kingdom) and the kingdom in general as reflected in the “cultural mandates” and the “Noachian covenant.”

Second, I would like to encourage the careful reading of this book. However, as one coming from a one kingdom perspective, as I believe taught by John Calvin, Abraham Kuyper, Cornelius VanTil, Francis Schaeffer and others, VanDrunen is writng from a two kingdom perspective. (We will say more about this in the lead article in this issue and in the next book to be reviewed written by Richard Mouw).

One of the obvious problems with Christianity today is its confusion about the church, the kingdom, and their respective roles. I have written and taught on this topic for a number of years. We often find the church being and doing things that God never assigned her to do, and consequently, the kingdom fails to have the witness and impact that is needed today. I do not believe the two kingdom view, which in effect separates the church from the kingdom, helps address the problem.If you will read this book from the perspective that the church is part of the kingdom, while not synonymous with the kingdom nor removed from it, but understand the “spiritual mission” of the church within the kingdom, you will find much to feed on in these pages.

If you look at the diagram in the lead article of this issue, you will see that the church is the heart of the kingdom but is not the totality of the kingdom. We use the terms kingdom general and kingdom special to delineate between the broader kingdom and the church. Also, we need to be careful about the phraseology “the spirituality of the church” because it has been used to suggest that thechurch has no redemptive emphasis on the culture in which it ministers. As we wrote in the review on the book Politics, the church doesn’t involve itself in making political pronouncements nor does the church attempt to establish a Christian political party, whatever that is, but it does have to teach the people what the Bible says about politics and how that impacts the Christian worldview. The church, in teaching the Word, does so in a way that will enable Christians to have a biblical perspective on politics.

I really want to read the things VanDrunen writes from a one kingdom perspective but emphasize the difference between the church’s mission in disciplemaking by teaching the Word and administering the sacraments, and the kingdom’s role of seeking to flesh out that the Triune God is sovereign over all, which even includes that limited kingdom darkness.

While it is important to realize that Christians are not assigned the role of transforming culture, as some maintain, it is responsible to have a godly impact on the world in general. Whether or not that happens basically depends on the church, focusing on the things that God has given to her to make kingdom disciples. Van Drunen writes that a Christian should not withdraw from the broader culture, but should take up the cultural tasks with joy and express their Christian faith through them. Every lawful occupation is honorable, says VanDrunen, (page 13). The church’s role is to equip, train, and disciple Christians to live in that broader culture as Christians.

He further writes, “The redeemed people are citizens of the “redemptive kingdom,” whom God is gathering now in the church and will welcome into the new heaven and new earth at Christ’s glorious return. Until that day, Christians live as members of both kingdoms, discharging their proper duties in each.” I would simply say that we who are redeemed should live in the kingdom where God, by his Spirit, leads us with whatever redemptive influence God would allow us to have.

In conclusion, because we believe the church’s role is to live redemptively in the kingdom, and while it has not been assigned the responsibility to transform culture, as salt and light, there will be a strong Christian witness as Christians live as kingdom disciples.

Wayne Grudem is no stranger among our readers. We have benefited from many of his previous writings, such as his Systematic Theology. We have also known and appreciated his input and leadership in the translation of the English Standard Version of the Bible which we recommend as our preferred translation. This latest contribution on a highly relevant topic which carries the baggage of much misunderstanding, even among Christians, will prove to be most helpful. As stated in the book by Nancy Pearcey, the younger generation is cynical regarding politics, yet it is so influential as it touches almost every area of life in some way or other. This need not be from a Christian perspective. God’s Word has some clear things to say about the topic of politics.

We need not be reminded, given our current situation, both in North America, especially the United States, and throughout the world, we need to know what God would have us know and do regarding this topic. It appears that people are looking in all the wrong places for an understanding of politics without realizing the importance of starting at the right place with God.

While this is a big book and could be somewhat overwhelming and intimidating, it should not be. Grudem has covered the waterfront with this book, but he has written it in such a manner that the topics and chapters are not long and his style of writing makes it highly readable. As a matter of fact, I had the occasion to say to him that I think this should be a standard text book for high school students in the political science curriculum. J. I. Packer referred to it as “a giant tract for the times.” Marvin Olasky writes, “If you read only one book this year, read Politics-According to the Bible.” Chuck Colson writes, “This can be a wonderful resource as we face growing tensions from an ever more powerful state.”

Realizing we are living in a pluralistic country and not a theocratic one, at least until the Kingdom comes in its fullness, Christians need to know that God cannot be left out of or separated from any area of life, especially the political. What does a Christian need to know and do in such a circumstance to think clearly about politics from a biblical perspective?

The first part of the book deals with the basic principles where differing views about Christians and government are discussed. How can and should a Christian seek to influence government and what are the biblical principles concerning government? Added to those topics he includes a biblical worldview regarding politics and a most important section entitled ‘The courts and the question of ultimate power in a nation.”

Part two focus on specific issues, such as marriage, the family, economics, national defense, private property, foreign policy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and special groups. Those are enough to encourage you to want to read this book.

Grudem concludes this outstanding book in part three by addressing the problem of the media bias, application to Democratic and Republican policies today, and trusting God while working in politics. I was intrigued by his closing section. As he refers to revival in our country, he asks, “What might it look like if God brought about a revival of the church and a transformation of the nation for good?”

While the church has the spiritual mission of making kingdom disciples, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded, as Jesus said, and while the church must avoid moving outside its given role in the kingdom by becoming involved in political and civil government, it must disciple its people with the biblical framework to be involved in politics.I appreciate Grudem’s labors. Read it! Study it! Teach it in the home, church, and certainly in the educational systems as early as possible.

In the last edition of Equip to Disciple, we included a book by Gabe Lyons, The Next Christians. We believe it contained valuable information on the rising and emergent generation, many of whom have dropped out of church. This book by Drew Dyck fits into that same kind of category. It deals with those who are turning away from the church, and in many cases are turning away from God. They are not only leaving the church, they claim to be leaving the faith.

This is an easy but disturbing book. It kept my interest as I read story after story of those who have been “deconverted,” as the book suggests. Dyck tells of those he has known who have not only left the church but the faith. He began to probe why. Then he asks, what can I or we do to try to bring them back?

Here’s the real concern, “Unlike older church dropouts, these young ‘leavers’ are unlikely to seek out alternative forms of Christian community, such as home churches and small groups. When they leave the church, many leave the faith as well.” One such young man had attended church, Promise Keepers, etc., but now he has “left the faith.” He said, “When I left the faith, I thought it would feel really bad. I assumed I’d come right back. But I didn’t feel bad. I felt nothing.” He went on to say he felt liberated and had no regrets. As I tried to talk with him, said Dyck, he wasn’t moved by the apologetics of yesteryear. Those ideas were completely alien to him. He had embraced a different worldview which would not match the Christian lifestyle.

This emerging generation of young adults is steeped in the street version of postmodernism. They actually believe that truth is whatever an individual wants it to be. Of course that will differ from person to person. So many have bought into the idea of the French philosopher Jean Lyotard of “the incredulity of metanarratives.” There is no big story that pulls everything together. There is no objective truth, morality, or values.

Many interviewed by Dyck have been “hurt by people and disillusioned by God.” One young man who left the faith said, “I felt like I was converted but not to God but away from him.” Worldview becomes an important key to reaching out to many of them but as Dyck cautions, “when you talk across worldviews, your words disappear in the void.”

The book also picks up on the now familiar notion coined by Christian Smith in Soul Searching, that the average religion for the typical American teenager is Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. From there the book realizes that many who have left, have never had a clear biblical understanding of and belief in the God of the Bible who is more than that.

Another factor in their drifting away was that they never really had helpful, constructive, meaningful relationships, which by the way, becomes a key in reaching out and trying to bring them back-truth in the context of relationships just as Francis Schaeffer so often reminded us.

A section on prayer highlights the important role of prayer in seeking to reclaim a leaver. One of the leavers said, “One thing I really missed initially when I left the faith was expressing gratitude through prayer.” So, I still say those prayers, just expressing thanks for the beauty of the world and the joy of relationships.” Two of the chapters are worth the reading of the book-one deals with “speaking to the modern leavers” and another focuses on the Wiccan movement. Georga Barna says that 55% of American people have never heard of the term, but it comes from witchcraft and neo-pagan, earth based religion.

This book not only speaks about our belief and understanding of the Christian faith, it will speak to our emotions as we hurt for those who have chosen to drop out, drift away, and denounce the faith. It reminds us within the faith, involved in the life and ministry of the church, and the activities of the Kingdom, of the importance of building good healthy relationships upon the truth of God.