The Power of the Church: The Sacramental Ecclesiology of Abraham Kuyper
Ebook
It is fascinating that in all the media reports and discussions of the church's abuse of power in the early years of the twenty-first century, few if any seemed to notice that the accusation of the church's misuse of power presupposed a shared understanding of the positive use of power within the church that had been violated. Rather than an interest in the sociological aspect of this question, this book examines the more ontological and normative aspects of it. That is, it investigates and discerns the foundational theological framework of culture and society and the location and purpose of the church within them. As a cultural force and societal institution, what does the church constructively bring to the human community?
“Mike Wagenman’s The Power of the Church is an
extraordinary work of public theology. In it, he provides a
compelling account of the church’s role and its unique ‘power’
among other societal institutions such as government, education,
and family. Highly recommended for readers interested in being
public witnesses in our secular age when orthodox Christianity is
relegated to the social, cultural, and political margins.”
—Bruce Riley Ashford, Professor of Theology & Culture,
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Today some lament the church’s loss of power and others see the
church exercising political power inappropriately. Michael Wagenman
explores the implications of Abraham Kuyper’s view of the church as
grounded in creation and as both an institution and an organism for
larger questions about the church’s power and role in society.
Following Kuyper, Wagenman highlights the church’s power in
proclamation, sacraments, and discipleship as grounding for the
organic church to serve the world.”
—Ronald Feenstra, Heritage Professor of Systematic and
Philosophical Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary
“What hope is there for the church? What has the church to do with
power and what has power to do with the church? These are the
important questions Wagenman raises in this important and engaging
work. By drawing on and developing the inchoate insights of the
Dutch polymath, Abraham Kuyper, Wagenman address these key issues
of church and power—issues that are perhaps more relevant today
than they were when Kuyper was writing in the nineteenth century.
Kuyper had a multi-aspectual view of power and Wagenman takes
Kuyper’s seminal views and produces a much needed critique of power
in the church today. With this book, Wagenman establishes his
position as one of the leading Kuyper scholars. If you are
interested in Kuyper, ecclesiology, or power—then get the
book!”
—Steve Bishop, co-editor of On Kuyper
- Title: The Power of the Church: The Sacramental Ecclesiology of Abraham Kuyper
- Author: Michael R. Wagenman
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications
- Print Publication Date: 2020
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781532697678, 1532697678
- Resource ID: LLS:9781532697678
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-04-11T16:23:08Z