Abraham Kuyper isn’t a household name, but Kuyper was a Christian who critiqued and made culture. A separate post describes Kuyper this way:
- “Abraham Kuyper lived in the Netherlands in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He was a pastor, a journalist, a newspaper founder, a professor, a university founder, a parliament member and a prime minister. From these many vantage points, Kuyper sought to work out the implications of the gospel.”
Here are seven quotes from Abraham Kuyper on how faith intersects with multiple parts of culture.
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!’
Abraham Kuyper on “every square inch.”
- “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!’” (from “Sphere Sovereignty”)
Abraham Kuyper on the grace and nature.
- “For if grace exclusively concerned atonement for sin and salvation of souls, one could view grace as something located and operating outside of nature…. But if it is true that Christ our Savior has to do not only with our soul but also with our body… then of course everything is different. We see immediately that grace is inseparably connected with nature, that grace and nature belong together.” (from “Common Grace”)
Abraham Kuyper on work.
- “Wherever man may stand, whatever he may do, to whatever he may apply his hand, in agriculture, in commerce, and in industry, or his mind, in the world of art, and science, he is, in whatsoever it may be, constantly standing before the face of his God, he is employed in the service of his God, he has strictly to obey his God, and above all, he has to aim at the glory of his God.” (from Lectures on Calvinism)
Abraham Kuyper on marriage.
- “Free love may try to dissolve, and the concubinate to desecrate, the holiest tie, as it pleases; but, for the vast majority of our race, marriage remains the foundation of human society and the family retains its position as the primordial sphere in sociology.” (from Lectures on Calvinism)
Abraham Kuyper on government.
- “All authority of governments on earth originates from the Sovereignty of God alone.” (from Lectures on Calvinism)
Abraham Kuyper on nature.
- “Sun, moon, and stars beckon people to worship the Creator—until people lose sight of the living God and begin to worship the sun, moon, and stars themselves.” (from Wisdom and Wonder)
Abraham Kuyper on convictions.
- “When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at any price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith.” (source unknown)