The Ascent of the Son--The Descent of the Spirit: Kuyper Meditations Author(s): Kuyper, Abraham (1837-1920) Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library Description: Abraham Kuyper, the widely respected Dutch theologian, offers the world a book of deep spiritual meditations in The Ascent of the SonÐThe Descent of the Spirit. Each of the twenty-six meditations focuses on the pouring out of the Holy Spirit through ascension, as well as understanding gifts and spiritual calling that each Christian has. This book is highly engaging and will be especially useful to those interested in Christ's Ascension and Pentecost. Luke Getz CCEL Staff Writer i Contents Title Page 1 Translator's Introduction 2 Introduction by Abraham Kuyper 14 Table of Contents 15 The Ascension 16 Meditation 1 17 Meditation 2 21 Meditation 3 25 Meditation 4 28 Meditation 5 34 Meditation 6 37 Meditation 7 42 Meditation 8 45 Pentecost 48 Meditation 9 49 Meditation 10 52 Meditation 11 58 Meditation 12 64 Meditation 13 70 Meditation 14 72 Meditation 15 77 Meditation 16 83 Meditation 17 86 Meditation 18 90 Meditation 19 96 Meditation 20 101 ii Meditation 21 107 Meditation 22 112 Meditation 23 115 Meditation 24 118 Meditation 25 121 Meditation 26 124 iii This PDF file is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, www.ccel.org. The mission of the CCEL is to make classic Christian books available to the world. • This book is available in PDF, HTML, ePub, Kindle, and other formats. See http://www.ccel.org/ccel/kuyper/ascentofchrist.html. • Discuss this book online at http://www.ccel.org/node/25804. The CCEL makes CDs of classic Christian literature available around the world through the Web and through CDs. We have distributed thousands of such CDs free in developing countries. If you are in a developing country and would like to receive a free CD, please send a request by email to [email protected]. The Christian Classics Ethereal Library is a self supporting non-profit organization at Calvin College. If you wish to give of your time or money to support the CCEL, please visit http://www.ccel.org/give. This PDF file is copyrighted by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library. It may be freely copied for non-commercial purposes as long as it is not modified. All other rights are re- served. Written permission is required for commercial use. iv Title Page Title Page The Ascent of the Son—The Descent of the Spirit: 26 Meditations on Ascension and Pentecost By Abraham Kuyper Translation and Introduction by Jan H. Boer Christian Classics Ethereal Library www.ccel.org Calvin College Grand Rapids MI 2014 The Ascent of the Son—The Descent of the Spirit: 26 Meditations on Ascension and Pentecost Authored by Abraham Kuyper, 1888 Dutch original published in 1923 Translation and Introduction by Jan H. Boer Copyright 2014 by Jan H. Boer All rights reserved; all the standard restrictions apply. Bible quotations are from the New International Version from Zondervan Publishers, Grand Rapids, MI, USA. Cover design and formatting of book by Sabrina Tsai of Vancouver. Canadian ISBN for CD Rom: 978-0-9937547-2-2 US ISBN for ebook: 978-1-312-08348-6 Publishing Data: 2014 CD-Rom: Self published under Social Theology Jan H. Boer (translator), Vancouver, Canada www.SocialTheology.com Email-- [email protected] E-book: www.lulu.com 1 Translator©s Introduction Translator's Introduction Translator’s Introduction In terms of his writings, Abraham Kuyper is probably best known for his tomes on academic, social, economic, political and theological topics. It is those writings that currently are bringing him into the international lime light since a group of Reformed scholars have organized translation projects of those books, while others have recently written about Kuyper’s life and theories. Please see the Kuyperiana page on my website www.SocialTheology.com for some of the details. Another genre of Kuyper’s writings is also beginning to receive renewed attention in English, namely his volumes of meditations and writings on the Holy Spirit. For my own small part in this, please go to the last page of this book. Here I present to you my English translation of Kuyper’s Op den Pinksterdag (met Hemelvaart), volume 3 of his series Dagen van Goede Boodschap (Kampen: Kok, 1923, though written in 1888). The literal translation of the title of this volume is On Pentecost Day (with Ascension), while the series title is Days of Good Tidings. I have chosen as title for this translation The Ascent of the Son—The Descent of the Spirit: 26 Meditations on Ascension and Pentecost. Someone described these as “meditations and biblical-theological articles,” being both at the same time. They originally were published in the two Kuyper newspapers, De Standaard and De Heraut. Kuyper explains that he treats Christ’s Ascent or Ascension, the more common term, into Heaven along with the Descent of the Spirit within one set of covers, because these events are so closely related. In his own Introduction, he writes, “Thus the Ascension and Pentecost belong together in one single unity. He ascended into Heaven in order to pour out the Holy Spirit. It is because of that unity that this bundle offers you meditations on both of these aspects of salvation history together.” Though the Church today tends to downplay or almost ignore the Ascension, Kuyper insists on its importance. You can’t do without it and you can’t afford to ignore it, for it is woven into your entire spiritual life, a point that he makes very clear throughout the eight meditations on the subject. The Birthday of the Catholic World Church He begins his introduction with a majestic declaration: “On Pentecost, the Church of God steps onto the world stage as the Universal Catholic world church.” Majestic it is and probably fitting for the time when the majority of the population belonged to a church, but at the time of the event itself, people would have been surprised at such an opening, since the community of believers was a mere handful. It hardly looked like anything global. And could even the most ardent believer at the time envision a universal church? Nevertheless, I like the spirit of that opening. It’s like a sudden wakeup call for the wimpish Western church of today, as if it had a pail of ice water dumped on it. Yes, that Church does deserve that kind of declaration, for it represents the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is a fitting coming out on the world stage, even though it is not the forceful kind 2 Translator©s Introduction of language we are accustomed to in meditational literature. But, Kuyper is Kuyper—and that can only mean forceful language, meditational, theological or political. In spite of the importance of the event, it does not receive the attention today of either Easter or, even less, Christmas. Kuyper explains that this was not because Pentecost has less value or respect than do Christmas or Easter, but because it appeals to a level of imagination and conception too high for the average person and is too spiritual. Pentecost is the noblest of the three feasts, but only for those who have tasted the noblest. Only those who themselves have received the “first fruits of the Spirit” can truly celebrate this Feast of the Spirit! Pentecost “the noblest of the three!” Is it too high and too spiritual for the Church of today? Why is it celebrated with such a low profile? I encourage you readers to begin a “crusade” to restore the celebration of Pentecost—along with Ascension, since the two are inseparable—to its appropriate level as the birthday of the Church. I often greet people with “Happy birthday” on Pentecost morning and receive little more than a quizzical look. John Boer again?! This event, my sisters and brothers, needs to be revived and you and your friends can start it. You may wish to start with your pastor. Universalized Spiritual Autobiography I am far from an expert on Kuyper, though I have a general acquaintance with his major ideas. Neither am I an expert on his meditational writings. In fact, this volume is the only one I have read carefully. I do not know how it compares to his other volumes in this genre. But I have developed a strong feeling that these meditations reflect his own spiritual journey and makeup. As summarized below, Kuyper underwent a lengthy conversion experience during which he struggled intensely and during which his earlier strong theological affirmations toppled one after another. One of his biographers, Frank Vanden Berg wrote, “His inner spiritual struggle of those days was one of those intimate personal experiences that remain behind the veil. One does not publicize them....” I believe that these meditations represent much of his own personal spiritual struggles; that he did, in fact, write about them in these meditations. It was just not in an acknowledged biographical context. Furthermore, these personal experiences were mixed with and profoundly influenced by his theological instincts, which, in turn were changed by his spiritual experiences. This means, among other things, that many of the chapters contain heavy trinitarian theological stuff mixed with what he offers as universal Christian spiritual experiences, but which, I have a hunch, were, in fact, personal rather than universal. Though I deeply appreciate reading these profound reflections on his spiritual experiences, I cannot always identify with them. My experiences are different, probably a little more relaxed, from those of this intense man for whom everything seemed so absolute.