Wisdom and Wonder: Common Grace in Science and Art by Abraham Kuyper
This new translation by Nelson Kloosterman is a wonderful
addition to the existing works of Kuyper’s already in English translation. Vincent Bacote guides us through the
political and social ramifications of Kuyper’s theology in a short but
insightful introduction. Seeking to
understanding Kuyper and common grace, Bacote writes, “Common grace is God’s
restraint of the full effects of sin after the Fall, preservation and
maintenance of the created order, and distribution of talents to human beings”
(26). While modern people might still
make sharp distinctions between science and art, Kuyper brought together both
fields under the domain of scientific investigation. This new translation is a great joy for many,
including myself, because we need Abraham Kuyper to help elucidate a vision of
cultural engagement and theological maturity that is neither ‘Club
Christianity’ nor dominated by a secular worldview. How does Abraham Kuyper engage the cultural
capital of his time while remaining true to the faith he held so dear?
In his first section on Wisdom, Kuyper makes a claim
regarding humanity made in the image of God that is more than just a
recognition that we belong to God’s race.
He writes, “If this is so, then it follows automatically that in
relation to the image of God, no single human being bears this feature of God
in its fullness, but that all talent and all genius together comprise the
capacity for incorporating within itself this fullness of the thought of God”
(43). Rather than keep the discussion of
the image of God and humans to a description of attributes (communicable and
incommunicable), Kuyper reveals that there is a harmonious functionality to the
rich talent and aptitude of human nature.
No one human being comprises an ultimate slice of the talents and skills
engendered by being made in the image of God.
Furthermore, for science, it “arises from the fruit of the thinking,
imagining, and reflecting of successive generations in the course of centuries,
and by means of the cooperation of everyone” (43). As scientific discoveries permeate across
centuries, the fruit of investigation reveals the myriad number of people
working as individuals for the goal of truth that builds up the entire human
race. Yet, the goal of wisdom from
scientific work was not a an alien unchartered pathway, but “that God himself
developed his own divine plan for this construction, created the geniuses and
talents for implementing that plan, and directed the labor of everyone and made
them fruitful…” (46). God was the one
who called science into being and provided the material and social means for
its advancement as an independent reality.
Kuyper in his chapter on education draws out the
implications between unbelieving science and the science done by believing
Christians (101). He rightly indicates
that the study of such secular subjects is not evil in of themselves, but ‘the
wrong use non-Christians perspectives have made of such study’ (100). The perceptiveness that Kuyper brings to the
table about education is very important.
He makes mention of the true goal of education that is ‘an edifice of
the whole of science built on a Christian foundation’ (101). I encountered a kind of repudiation of belief
and evangelical antagonism in college, coming from a believing background. Yet, this kind of antagonism pushed me to
further study, engaging fellowship with other believers, and connection to a
healthy church. Yet, I think for some
their faith is lost in the midst of power struggles, professor’s ridicule, and
no one to turn to for help. I disagree
at a point with Kuyper’s assessment that ‘With escalating determination, unbelieving
science substitutes a completely atheistic worldview for ours,’ because in
today’s world the universities are replete with postmodern philosophies that
are entirely confused about their ability to rightfully speak truth about a
given subject. Atheism might be part of
the problem but it is not the only issue at stake. Even in this point, the realization occurs
that most lecterns are not filled with unbelieving educators but educators from
every swath of belief from postmodern to virulently hostile to faith
matters.
The last few chapters on wonder, creativity and worship are
essential to Kuyper’s development of an avenue to display God’s glory. Kuyper writes, “Song and music must speak to
the human heart in the fullness of worship in a way that impels you to worship”
(167). There is an indispensable link
between the quality of the one offering song and the direction the praise is to
go. The reason for this is that God
deserves the best musical expression we have to offer because of who he is, not
necessarily because our skills are to be to be seen by others. Another point that Kuyper makes that is worth
mentioning is the relationship between ‘our personal spiritual life and our
artistic life’ (175). There is a strong
emotional bond that develops as we attach ourselves to music, enough to a
certain extent to cast us away control and balance. If everything is align itself with a desire
to enjoy art, then art becomes an idol that dulls our sense of the creativity
of God in the face of art. What is clear
in these chapters is Kuyper’s sensitivity to the directional intent of art and
music. Not content with absorbing art or
music for its own sake, Kuyper pushes his readers to see both the illuminative
and destructive intent of art.
On a critical note, Vincent Bacote mentions in the introduction
that ‘Kuyper regarded Africans as far behind other civilized groups’ and hinted
at a kind of racial prejudice that counter his own arguments for common grace and
multiformity. We see this on pg. 97
where Kuyper writes, “Superstition cannot survive where the light of science
shines.” Rather than just throwing down
the gauntlet of full force judgment, I think this point in Kuyper’s thought
brings out that sin even reaches those most cultured and educated and blinds
them to their own thoughts.
This book was a wonderful read! Enlightening, challenging and nothing less
than deeply insightful, Kuyper captures the reader with the world God has made
and the intricate connection between all areas of thought through a Christian
worldview. I heartily recommend this
book!!
Thanks to Christian’s Library Press for providing a review
copy of this book in exchange for review.https://www.clpress.com/publications/wisdom-wonder
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