#kuyper

Not One Square Inch: Does God Really Rule? - Jordan Ballor. Episode: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/episode/10607843042 .

There's not one square inch in all of creation where God doesn't cry out, "mine". This was a rally cry of Chuck Colson, referencing Abraham Kuyper. But does the saying hold true in our culture?

Dr. Jordan Ballor is a senior research fellow at the Acton Institute. He has figuratively written the book on Abraham Kuyper. He is the general editor for the Abraham Kuyper Collected Works in Public Theology Series. 

He unravels the fascination that surrounds Kuyper, a statesman theologian. Ballor walks listeners through the deep thinking of Kuyper to deal with the modern world while living an example for living in challenging complexities.

Media: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/upstreamcc/Upstream_-_Episode_22_-_Dr._Jordan_Ballor.mp3?dest-id=2252183 . <p>There's not one square inch in all of creation where God doesn't cry out, "mine". This was a rall... -- Sent from Podcast Republic.

While I knew Abraham Kuyper (1837–1920) as a theologian, I did not know of his views on education. Fittingly, he had a comprehensive Christian worldview that gave God his due respect in all realms of life. Founder of the Free University in Amsterdam, this book is a testament to his vision for education.

In just over 350 pages, this book is a collection of essays and speeches that help us see his theology. Repeated themes include the authority of the church and family, the Bible as the basis of our Christian worldview, the attempted destruction and opposition to Christian schools, and the need for us to pass down our convictions and liberties through education.

Major Movements

The book is broken into four parts. These sections help us see the major movements and grasp the big picture and impact of Kuyper’s influence. Part One: Entering the School Struggle, is a short yet satisfactory introduction to Kuyper’s thoughts on society and the public schools. 

Part Two: Christian Education and Its Counterfeits, speaks boldly about the government and our need to stay bound to the Word. Part Three: A Pluralistic Program for National Education, pleads for the saving of private Christian schools. Part Four: The People’s Voice and Victory, is an indictment of the rich and educational elite - asking instead for a common education that can be fair for all religious people.

Roles and Work

In all honesty, I did not know about Kuyper’s role as an active politician, serving as a member of Parliament in the Netherlands beginning in 1874 and serving as Prime Minister from 1901 to 1905. Reading his words helped me see how God places people where he will have them, and I am aware of how our theology must make an impact on the roles and work that God will give us.

Each essay or speech is preceded by an introductory text to help set the context. So not only do you get to see the historical setting, but you get to see how it played out with Kuyper's presence.

An Education in Public Theology

This book will benefit those who want to deepen and enrich their interest and engagement in public theology. It will reward a slow read and require significant reflection. Personally, this book gave me more conviction in regard to my role as a Sunday School teacher. And as a father, I feel the need to make educating my family in the Christian faith a priority.