CALVINISM
AND THE FUTURE
By Abraham Kuyper
This is from the last chapter in
Abrahm Kuyper’s Stone Lectures on Calvinism. He says earlier in this chapter
that in order to change a culture three things are needed by the church: hand,
head, and heart. Luther was the hand (action), Calvin was the head (theology),
and he calls the heart the need for the mystical aspect. The Covenanters of
Scotland certainly provided that. (Read my article on “The Prophesies Of John
Knox at http://ronsmithmission.blogspot.com/search?q=Knox).
He said this in 1898.
On these 2 pages he shows the possibility of
Rome’s help in the culture war. Rome has changed since then, and in many
respects has joined with the humanism of the French Revolution. But at least
many Catholics oppose abortion.
Page 183
“May more perhaps be expected from the marvelous energy displayed in
the latter half of this [19th] century by Rome? Let us not too
hastily dismiss this question. Though the history of the Reformation has
established a fundamental antithesis between Rome and our selves, it would
nevertheless be narrow-minded and short-sighted to underestimate the real power
which even now is manifest in Rome's warfare against Atheism and Pantheism.
Only ignorance of the exhaustive studies of Romish philosophy and of Rome's
successful efforts in social life, could account for such a superficial
judgment. Calvin in his day already acknowledged that, as against a spirit from
the Great Deep, he considered Romish believers his allies. A so-called orthodox
Protestant need only mark in his confession and catechism such doctrines of
religion and morals as are not subject to controversy between Rome and
ourselves, to perceive immediately that what we have in common with Rome
concerns precisely those fundamentals of our Christian creed now most fiercely
assaulted by the modern spirit.
Undoubtedly on the points of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, of man's
nature before and after the Fall, of justification, of the mass, of the
invocation of saints and angels, of the worship of images, of purgatory, and
many others, we are as unflinchingly opposed to Rome as our fathers were.
But does not current literature show that these are not now the points on which
the struggle of the age is concentrated ? Are not the lines of battle drawn as
follows : Theism over against Pantheism; sin over against imperfection ; the
divine Christ of God over against Jesus the mere man ; the cross a sacrifice of
reconciliation over against the cross as a symbol of martyrdom ; the Bible as
given by inspiration of God over against a purely human product ; the ten
commandments as ordained by God over against a mere archeological document ;
the ordinances of God absolutely established over against an ever-changing law
and morality spun out of man's subjective consciousness? Now, in this conflict
Rome is not an antagonist, but stands on our side, inasmuch as she also
recognizes and maintains the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, the Cross as an atoning
sacrifice, the Scriptures as the Word of God, and the
Page 184
Ten Commandments as a divinely-imposed rule
of life. Therefore, let me ask if Romish theologians take up the sword to do
valiant and skilful battle against the same tendency that we ourselves mean to
fight to the death, is it not the part of wisdom to accept the valuable help of
their elucidation? Calvin at least was accustomed to appeal to Thomas of
Aquino. And I for my part am not ashamed to confess that on many points my
views have been clarified through my study of the Romish theologians.
This, however, does not in the least involve
that our hope for the future may be placed in Rome's endeavor, and that we,
idle ourselves, may await Rome's victory. A rapid survey of the situation will suffice
to convince us of the contrary. To begin with your own continent, can South
America for a moment stand a comparison with the North? Now in South and
Central America the Roman Catholic Church is supreme. It has exclusive control
in this territory, Protestantism not even counting as a factor. Here, then, is
an immense field in which the social and political power, which Rome can bring
to bear upon the regeneration of our race, can freely exert itself, a field,
moreover, in which Rome is not a recent arrival, but which she has occupied for
almost three centuries. The youthful development of the social organism of
these countries has stood under her influence; she has remained in control also
of their intellectual and spiritual life since their liberation from Spain and
Portugal. Moreover, the population of these States [Latin America] is derived
from such European countries as have always been under the undisputed sway of
Rome. The test, therefore, is as complete and fair as possible. But in vain do we look in those
American Romish States for a life which elevates, develops energy, and exerts a
wholesome influence outside. Financially they are weak, comparatively
unprogressive in their economic conditions ; in their political life they
present the sad spectacle of endless internal strife; and. if one were inclined
to form an ideal picture of the future of the world, he might almost do so by
imagining the very opposite of
what is the actual situation in South America. Nor can it be pleaded in excuse of Rome that this is due
to exceptional circumstances, for in the first place this political backwardness is met with not
only in Chili, but likewise in Peru, Brazil as well as in the Venezuelan
Republic; while, crossing from the New to the Old World, we reach, in spite
of ourselves, the same conclusion. In Europe, also, the credit of all
Protestant states is high, that of the Southern countries which are Roman
Catholic, is at a painful discount.” - Lectures On Calvinism, by Abraham Kuyper
I hope and pray that a
conservative faction in the Roman Church will arise and join us in the war
against Humanism and Cultural Marxism. The current pope is no help in this battle.
However, we thank God for Catholics like President Trump’s Catholic Vice
President. We also welcome common evangelicals and Charismatics. But there is a
price to pay. Truth must triumph over popularity. – Ron Smith
churchofthekingmcallen.com
