(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?

On a Sunday afternoon in 1935, J. Gresham Machen stepped into a broadcast booth at WIP Radio in Philadelphia and began something no one had tried before: teaching Reformed theology over the radio. In the vein of C.S. Lewis’s landmark “Mere Christianity” talks, Machen’s addresses are a crystal-clear articulation of the basics of the Christian faith, unfolding into an exceptional and persuasive explanation of Reformed theology.

Things Unseen is both an accessible systematic theology, and a masterclass in evangelistic apologetics. Introduced by Timothy J. Keller, Foreword by Sinclair B. Ferguson, Historical Preface by Stephen J. Nichols, Afterword by Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. Join us as we sit down with Dr. Nichols and get a glimpse into the life, context, and work of J. Gresham Machen.

Part 1 of our 3-part-series where Danny Hyde gives us a primer on each of the 3 documents that comprise the Three Forms of Unity. Today Danny Hyde takes us to school on the gloriousness that is the Belgic Confession. Listen in as we ask discuss:

1. Can you give us a quick intro on what this thing is and why it should matter to a busy mom in 2021? 

2. What groups or denominations use the Belgic Confession?

3. How does one use the Belgic Confession in their daily lives and what would a life marked by its usage look like?

4. How does the Belgic Confession compare with the Westminster Confession, and why didn’t the Westminster divines just use the Belgic, and why do North Americans chiefly use the Westminster over the Belgic?

5. Do you have, or have you ever met someone who has, any Belgic Confession tattoos?

6. Weren’t their Confessions before the Belgic, if so, what was wrong with those ones? Was author Guido de Bres just reinventing the wheel?

7. What was the desired function of the Belgic Confession: was it apologetic, was it to highlight differences, was it to notate conformity or specific truths? etc.

8. Article 1 says “We all believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there is one only simple and spiritual Being, which we call God; and that he is eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, infinite, almighty, perfectly wise, just, good, and the overflowing fountain of all good.”  When it says “We believe…” Who is Guido de Bres, the author, speaking for when says “we”? Was he sanctioned or commissioned, or did he just rise to the occasion?

9. When did it get officially adopted and sanctioned to be used beyond just the initial purpose?

10. The Belgic is broken into 37 "articles” what’s an article? If we were to print this thing out, about how many pages would it be?

11. What is the tone, the heart and vibe of the Belgic Confession?

12. How has the Belgic Confession been used throughout history? How can it best be used now? And are there any versions that you suggest?

13. Where is it dated or a product of its time? And what are we to make of the Belgic Confession's usage of a 1 John text that is not in any modern translations (and is probably not part of the autograph). that is, how does one subscribe with issues with the proof texts?

14. Must we memorize the Belgic Confession? Why not Proverbs or the Gospels before?

15. Where is the Belgic Confession at its best?

https://threeforms.org/

https://danielrhyde.com/

https://thelaymenslounge.com/

Join us as we sit down with Dr. Guy Waters, contributor and co-editor of Covenant Theology: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Perspectives (Crossway, 2020), and discuss Covenant Theology asking:

Is the principal of Covenant Theology something that a Bible reader could easily, or difficultly, glean from actively engaging their Bibles apart from secondary sources? How do we see Covenant Theology in seed form amongst the Church prior to Augustine? In your own life, as you are commuting to work, BBQing with friends, looking around at this world and thinking about your creator – in what ways has Covenant Theology enriched your day to day as you encounter the hopes and fears of all the world? Which came first: the covenant with the Son to dwell with his church, or the covenant with the Son to redeem lost sinners? If God’s eternity means that he is outside of time (not just before time), do reformed people place too much emphasis on his eternal past?

Dr. Craig Keener is a world-renowned Biblical scholar, and so, naturally, he believes the Bible, and takes seriously the command, when it says “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” Listen in as we ask Dr. Keener (in connection with his book “Gift and Giver: The Holy Spirit for Today” Baker Academic) what the Biblical warrant to believe that Spiritual Gifts continue (and have not ceased as the post-enlightenment West would have us believe) and then how to actually operate in them without being a heretic.

Join us as we sit down and pick the brain of the gracious T. Desmond Alexander in connection with his book "From Eden to the New Jerusalem: An Introduction to Biblical Theology" (Kregel Academic & Professional). Questions include:

A Glorious Discussion on How to Joyously Read the Old Testament

I think this is one of the most practical and applicable interviews we’ve had yet.

“Joy is the word that comes to mind when I reflect on writing about typology and allegory” is how Dr. Mitchel Chase opens up his book “40 Questions About Typology and Allegory” (Kregel Academic). Listen as we sit down with Dr. Chase and discuss a way we can read the Bible the way it was intended to be read – to be read in such a way that results in, as we echo what Cleopas said on the road to Emmaus “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

Join us as we sit down with Winfield Bevins, author of "Simply Anglican: An Ancient Faith for Today's World" (Anglican Compass, 2020), asking him why so many Christians are trading their “Jonathan Edwards is my homeboy” shirt for icons of Chrysostom and prayer books, and find out what itch Anglicanism and liturgy scratch that the new-Calvinism doesn’t.

Listen in as I try to interview John Goldingay on Genesis.

What are “Ethics”? What is the need for Ethics when we have Theology? What do ethics have to do with my normal life? How can I become the person I want to be? How can I try to live like Jesus and Hudson Taylor when they were at another level? How can I be a better human when Im depraved? All these, and more: listen in as we have a discussion with Dr. Pieter Vos around his new book “Longing for the Good Life: Virtue Ethics after Protestantism”.