The subject of the lecture, "The Coming of the Kingdom: ‘Christianizing the World?’" is of vital importance to all professing Christians. It is the subject of the relation of the Christian to the world of the ungodly in which he lives, works, plays, and exercises earthly citizenship, as also of the way in which he lives distinctively as a Christian in all the spheres of earthly life — marriage, labor, education, and the rest. The subject of the speech is also the calling of the Christian from the Lord Jesus Christ with regard to the "culture" of the society in which she finds herself.
In an age when many professing Christians are in danger of being swallowed up by worldly culture, or ways of life, a speech that applies the Bible to the relation of the Christian and culture is timely.
The lecture is of special interest and importance to Reformed, or Calvinistic, Christians, as it is particularly addressed to them. Widely and for years, many Reformed believers have been taught that God calls them to "Christianize" their society and then the world by means of a common grace of God. Such “Christianizing” has not happened, is not happening, and obviously is not going to happen.
In addition, the effects upon the churches, schools and people committed to this project have been disastrous.
The question arises: If not the "Christianizing" of the world, what is the kingdom-calling of the Reformed Christian? Is he to flee the world? Or, is there a positive kingdom-calling given with, and empowered by, salvation by the particular, saving grace of God in Jesus Christ?
This question, the lecture will answer. |
