(Ep. 56) Jordan Ballor: Being Discipled by Abraham Kuyper
“Kuyper Must be Understood as an Artist”
Few people have read, and know the works, of Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) better than Dr. Jordan Ballor – editor of the 12 volume series: “Abraham Kuyper Collected Works in Public Theology from” (Lexham Press). We might say that, though removed by over 100 years, Abraham Kuyper has discipled Jordan Ballor. Having sat down and read-through (and prayed-through, preached-through, written-through and applied) Kuyper as much as Dr. Ballor has, he is able to see what Kuyper majored on, assumed, put consistent weight in, what he valued as highest priority, and even read between the lines deducing what sort of man Kuyper was. Indeed, the Spirit has been pleased to use Abraham Kuyper for many of us in seeing how, and working out the implications of the fact that “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!”
Join us as we sit down with Dr. Ballor asking him:
1. You’ve been working on this project for years now, you are ultra-familiar with Kuyper now, you might even say that you have been discipled by the man. That said, where have you personally gleaned the most from reading the thousands of pages of Kuyper?
2. In your spending so so much time with Kuyper where have you deduced what subjects or doctrines, or exhortations are most important to him?
3. Where have you seen his personality come through in reading in between the lines in the way he carries himself on paper, and the pulpit, and the political floor? If you two were to go grab a beer today after this interview how did you think that session would unfold as far as tone and topic and vibe?
4. What have you noticed is the spiritual and practical trend that happens to people as the Lord is pleased to use Kuyper to shape them?
5. Where do we see Kuyper in this book (“On Business & Economics”) speaking plain truth in the domains of business and economics that might mark the reader?
6. Kenneth Barnes says “Indeed, in the metanarrative of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation that pervades these writings, Kuyper provides a very helpful framework for developing a theology of business and economics.”... With that in mind, what was Kuyper’s thesis, or his chief program, when it comes to economics, money, wealth-accumulation and so-on as a whole…?
7. If we were to hand Kuyper a mic today in just a general context and say “give us the big picture – give us the forest” what do you think he would say?
8. From where did you gather all the fodder that comprise these books and on what basis do you select them, and what hath the Heidelberg Catechism to do with commerce?
9. Will the laymen glean from these writings or is it reserved for statemen ad business owners?
