A companion volume to Rougemont's "The Individualists in Church and State," this outline of Christian political action was written by the nineteenth century pioneer of the genre, the Dutchman Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer. Groen not only developed a political philosophy based solidly in Reformation truths but he also formed a political party to bring those truths to bear in the political forum of his day. Then, as now, the battle was against the Revolution: "the invasion of the human mind by the doctrine of the absolute sovereignty of man, thus making him the source and centre of all truth, by substituting human reason and human will for divine revelation and divine law." It is "the history of the irreligious philosophy of the past century; it is, in its origin and outworking, the doctrine that—given free rein—destroys church and state, society and family, produces disorder without ever establishing liberty or restoring moral order, and, in religion, inevitably leads its conscientious followers into atheism and despair." Against the Revolution there is only one antidote: the Gospel. To proclaim and elaborate this truth was Groen van Prinsterer's life work. This volume—never before published in English—is an adept summary of it.

Christian Political Action in an Age of Revolution

History

Groen Van Prinsterer, Guillaume

World

WordBridge Publishing

Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer 
"Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer. I heard that you don't know who Stahl is. And I could not help wondering - please pardon my incivility, but ... what rock have you been hiding under? Never heard of Stahl? Why, he is simply one of the greatest statesmen and legal scholars that Germany ever produced. 
"Everyone knows Stahl - usually without wanting to. For he has many opponents, who execrated what he stood for. They had a host of names for him: 'a friend of compulsion, of princely absolutism, of medieval prejudices and misconceptions, a thoughtless fanatic, attached to obsolete forms, who foolishly mixes politics with religion; an ultra-Lutheran, Puseyite, head of the Junker party, proponent of feudal abuses, sophist in scientific outfit, dreamer about whose metaphysical speculations one reluctantly racks one's brains.' When he died, they were happy to see him go: 'Every sane person gladly sends such wicked men as this crusader chasing the holy cross, when heaven pleases to call them.' Crusader! And they say that of someone who is Jewish! That's right, Stahl was a convert to Christianity. And then, about his legacy - they are certain it will not follow after him: 'It does not look as if Stahl will rise from the dead anymore.' 
"But it will. I - we - will make sure that it does. Stahl was a voice crying in the wilderness, but his message is timeless. The kingdom of God and of His Christ will be recognized, on earth as it is in heaven. Here and now, among the rulers and powers, among the nations. 'Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.' That is Stahl's message, not only in private, among the congregation and around the dinner table, but in public, in the halls of power, the groves of academia, the popular consciousness, the public's opinion. The gospel is an affair of public interest, it is a message to the nations. It concerns their weal and woe, their destiny. Such is by no means a matter of indifference to the kingdom of God. 
"That has been my message as well. Believe me, it is not a popular one in this day and age. The entire Zeitgeist is running against it. No one wants to hear of 'the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth' - not even His followers! But does that mean that we are to be silenced? Or worse yet, to silence ourselves? Forbid it, Almighty God! 
"It is time men like Stahl were recognized for their work, their achievement, and their vision for the church, the nations, and the kingdom of God. It is past time to embrace and build upon their legacies, especially Stahl's, which is so rich, profitable, rewarding. Read this memorial and acquaint yourself with someone who well deserves your undivided attention."

In Memory of Stahl

Biographies & Memoirs

Professionals & Academics

Pantocrator Press

Unbelief in religion and politics (His Unbelief and revolution ; lectures 8 and 9)

Groen van Prinsterer Fund

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Groen Van Prinsterer, Guillaume. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Groen Van Prinsterer, Guillaume