Earlier this year in my blog post “Van Til’s Summary of His Apologetics Written for the Layman” I made the statement that I believe Van Til/Five Point Calvinism treats the unbeliever as less than human. Commenter BBG took exception to that statement (which is fine) and felt I was presenting a caricature of reformed theology. Today I was researching Abraham Kuyper and his concept of “Sphere Sovereignty” when I read “Abraham Kuyper and Sphere Sovereignty” where the following statement was made:
- The human heart is the “seat” of the Trinitarian activity of grace, the focal point and integration point of all Christian (i.e., fully human) personality and personal existence. But this is a heart-in-community.
This article was written by Nelson D. Kloosterman who appears to be a sympathetic student of Kuyper’s (Cornelius Van Til was “Kuyperian” in theology). Maybe BBG was right that I misunderstood Van Til but I am not alone in my misunderstanding either.
I have one aside to make about a modern variation of Kuyper’s “Sphere Sovereignty”. The author of the article “Finally Found! The Roots of the Seven Mountains Mandate” found the current Seven Mountains Mandate movement began with Loren Cunningham and Bill Bright. However the root is Abraham Kuyper and his Sphere Sovereignty. I would recommend reading the linked article on the founding of the Seven Mountains Mandate. Any movement founded by men (or women) who claim to speak directly with God is very dangerous. In the Old Testament there were tests for determining if a prophet was from God (these people by claiming to act on direct orders from God are claiming to be prophets) and those tests can still be performed today. While we cannot stone false prophets in this day and age you would be wise to separate yourself immediately from such people.
