3/10/08 IF HIGHBROW MOUW IS TRYING TO RELATE TO A "LAY"AUDIENCE, HE FAILS BY SPEAKING OF "KUYPERIANISM": "....he limited role of the local church in nurturing spiritual growth I have struggled much with this topic in recent years, because of my own Kuyperian allegiances. I celebrate the ways in which Abraham Kuyper encouraged the flourishing of a variety of Christian organizations beyond the boundaries of the institutional church: the Christian school, the Christian political party, the Christian farming organization, the Christian art guild, and so on. There is certainly a way of seeing all of this as diminishing the role of the local church. And this downplaying of the importance of the institutional church has often loomed large among many of Kuyper’s followers. But I believe that is a mistaken interpretation. In his day Kuyper could take the strength of the local church for granted. People were thoroughly immersed in the worshiping and teaching ministries of the local church. When they went off from the church to their involvement in Christian political witness, Christian farming discussions, and the like, they took with them that very robust Calvinist vision that had nurtured and formed their faith in the life of the local congregation. congregation In Kuyper’s day, he knew that the larger culture was strongly influen..." http://www.netbloghost.com/mouw/?m=200803 (Posted 1/6/12)

3/10/08 IF HIGHBROW MOUW IS TRYING TO RELATE TO A "LAY"AUDIENCE, HE FAILS BY SPEAKING OF "KUYPERIANISM": "....he limited role of the local church in nurturing spiritual growth I have struggled much with this topic in recent years, because of my own Kuyperian allegiances. I celebrate the ways in which Abraham Kuyper encouraged the flourishing of a variety of Christian organizations beyond the boundaries of the institutional church: the Christian school, the Christian political party, the Christian farming organization, the Christian art guild, and so on. There is certainly a way of seeing all of this as diminishing the role of the local church. And this downplaying of the importance of the institutional church has often loomed large among many of Kuyper’s followers. But I believe that is a mistaken interpretation. In his day Kuyper could take the strength of the local church for granted. People were thoroughly immersed in the worshiping and teaching ministries of the local church. When they went off from the church to their involvement in Christian political witness, Christian farming discussions, and the like, they took with them that very robust Calvinist vision that had nurtured and formed their faith in the life of the local congregation. congregation In Kuyper’s day, he knew that the larger culture was strongly influen..."
http://www.netbloghost.com/mouw/?m=200803
(Posted 1/6/12)