Christians have regularly struggled with how they should live in this fallen world. Should they retreat into their own enclaves and disengage from the world with all of its problems and attendant difficulties? “No,” asserts Dr. Abraham Kuyper! He gives us this bold answer to the question by reminding Christians everywhere that God owns the earth and all that is in it. Simply stated, the Lord has never given title to anyone else, nor did He leave it solely under the authority of the Evil One. The Lord owns it all–every “square inch.” In addition, the Lord is steadily advancing the kingdom of His Son here on earth. Consider these two Psalms,
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.”
Psalm 24:1-2
“The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool…The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of His wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.”
Psalm 110:1, 4-7
Therefore, we as the people of God, must live under His authority and seek to advance His Son’s kingdom throughout our lives. It is not a futile task! The Lord promises us the Kingdom of Christ is a domain “that cannot be shaken.” (Heb. 12:28) It is steadily advancing throughout history, even though at times it may be hidden from our sight. (Matt. 13:31-33) Nonetheless, this fact should give us hope in times of growing darkness. Moreover, it gives us a confident expectation that righteousness shall prevail and that the Lord will bring all things under His dominion. Soli Deo Gloria! To God alone be the glory!
An awe-inspiring view of Earth from the International Space Station
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” Hebrews 12:28
Written by Dr. Marcus J. Serven
During this time of trouble and turmoil that is taking place within our country, it is good for Christians everywhere to recall that God actually owns the world. It is His creation and He sovereignly superintends all of the events of the world. This fact never changes throughout earth history, and even though the evil one has some temporary influence over the events of men the sovereign plan of God always prevails (Prov. 16:4; Rom. 8:28; 1 John 3:8). For example, King David tells us in the Psalms…
“The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.”
Psalm 24:1-2
Also, two additional Psalms written by others reiterate this same foundational truth,
“The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.”
“He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.”
Psalm 89:11 and Psalm 104:5
With this fact in mind, then, how then should Christians relate to the ever-changing powers in the civil sphere and to the diverse ideologies in this fallen world? Do we quietly go along with every government inspired program, no matter how ridiculous or evil it is, or do we look to the Bible to see how God would have us live?
Dr. Abraham Kuyper
Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920), a Dutch Reformed pastor, author, politician, newspaper editor, professor, and theologian, thoughtfully addressed these basic questions. Kuyper believed that every sphere of life belongs to King Jesus and that no part of life should ever be separated from the lordship of Jesus Christ. Moreover, he believed that the Bible was sufficient to instruct us in how we are to act, speak, and think. He wrote,
“Oh, no single piece of our mental world is to be hermetically sealed off from the rest, and 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, Sphere Sovereignty
Also Kuyper forcefully argues,
Whatever 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 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.
Abraham Kuyper, Lectures on Calvinism
In this respect, Kuyper asserted the sphere sovereignty of Jesus Christ over all human endeavors and institutions. Kuyper referred to this as a “Reformed World and Life View.” He carefully explained,
“God built into the creation a variety of cultural spheres, such as the family, economics, politics, art, and intellectual inquiry. Each of these spheres has its own proper ‘business’ and needs its own unique pattern of authority. When we confuse spheres, by violating the proper boundaries of church and state, for instance, or reducing the academic life to a business enterprise, we transgress the patterns that God has set.”
Abraham Kuyper, Sphere Sovereignty
Christians should not be afraid to engage fallen culture with the gospel and biblical truth. There simply is no neutral ground, and all human beings—whether they acknowledge God or not—must live by the laws that God has given, and also they must ultimately give an account to God on the Judgment Day based on his laws (Matt. 25:31-33; Rom. 14:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:10).
Let me return now to my basic question, “Who owns the world?” If it is man, or the evil one, who actually owns the world, then this leaves all of mankind in a place of ambiguity and uncertainty as to just how we should live in this fallen world. Everything is always changing; nothing is fixed or permanent. In addition, this premise gives the false impression that there is some standard of right and wrong other than God’s Law; some have glibly called this a “natural law.”
North America from Space
However, the Bible clearly asserts that God alone is the one who owns the world. He has never given its title over to anyone else—not to any individual human being, not to any humanistic ideology or philosophy, nor to the evil one. The world belongs to God. Moreover, the Bible declares that God alone is the law-giver. Therefore, mankind has a fixed and unchanging set of laws to live by—God’s laws—and Christians have a divine commission to take dominion in every sphere of life for our sovereign King, the Lord Jesus Christ (Gen. 1:28; Ps. 103:17-19; Matt. 28:19-20).
Select Bibliography:
If you want to learn more about Abraham Kuyper, then I would suggest the following four books—they are short and full of many stirring quotes.
Bratt, James D., ed. Abraham Kuyper, A Centennial Reader. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998.
Kuyper, Abraham. Lectures on Calvinism. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1931.
Mouw, Richard J. Abraham Kuyper: A Short and Personal Introduction. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1931.
Van Til, Henry R. The Calvinistic Concept of Culture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1959, 1972.
Dr. Marcus J. Serven, ThM and DMin
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Who were these men of mystery from the East who have been so popularized in various Christmas carols? Tradition tells us that the Magi were three in number and that their given names were: Caspar, Balthazar, and Melchoir. Questions abound when it comes to the Magi. How did they first hear of the “King of the Jews”? What were the origins of the star which they followed? Why did they feel compelled to bow down and worship the baby in the manger? What was the significance of the three gifts? Moreover, how were their lives changed as a result of meeting Jesus Christ? Some answers can be found in this passage from the gospel of Matthew,
(1) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, (2) saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (3) When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; (4) and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. (5) They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: (6) ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” (7) Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. (8) And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” (9) After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. (10) When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. (11) And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (12) And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
