Abraham Kuyper, Part III | National Catholic Reporter

Abraham Kuyper, Part III | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: To continue, I like that Kuyper attacked the smugness of the saved – back when Calvinism was fresh and new, Paul was taken literally and one had show deeds  as a proof of personal salvation.  This obsession with going to Heaven rather than building the Kingdom of God on earth has dogged Christianity for millennia, but it is perhaps worst in some Calvinists, although the advocates for frequent confession do come in a close second.  Note that the latter are Catholic Trads.



Note that predestination is one of those moral positions that assumes God is an Ogre whose arbitrary nature is part of the deal.  Gotta disagree with that, including when such stances are used by the pro-life movement – which is where Calvin and the bishops meet.  Kuyper hits the social nature of election right on the head, too, then and now, Catholic and Protestazant.



The ultimate discussion of predestination is found in Christianity, the First 3000 Years by Anglican priest and historian Diarmaid MacCulluch.  It simply sings.



On the unity thing, Christ also said that those who are not against me are with me.  Those who exclude such people are violating unity, not the dissenters.  Kuyper’s way of dealing with individuals reminds me of Francis too, who will even be nice to Burke when Burke is not apparently deserving of it.



Any ecumenicist should read this book, especially those in the pro-life movement and especially because it will make them squirm.



On the Sphere Sovereignty quote with Christ calling everything “Mine!”  No, that is a misunderstanding.   He does so not to desire to turn us all to angels, but to have us live as happily human (and humanistic as He is) in this life.  Live like the next life is none of our business just yet and you will “risk impurity” just exactly where it is appropriate.