Abraham Kuyper’s Sphere Sovereignty with Vincent Bacote

In this episode of the Trinity Forum Conversations podcast, host Brian Daskam and guest Dr. Vincent Bacote explore Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper’s contributions to Reformed theology, with particular emphasis on his concept of sphere sovereignty:

“Kuyper helps us to see that we can be Christian in public spaces without having to turn those public spaces into churches and that we don’t have to have a triumphalistic aspiration in order to be faithful in those spaces.” – Vincent Bacote 

Kuyper believed that different domains of life, such as church, government, education, and family, each have their own integrity and should operate independently within their God-given roles. As Dr. Bacote argues, Kuyper’s ideas can help modern Christians engage more faithfully and imaginatively in public life without succumbing to triumphalism or tribalism. 

This podcast is an edited version of a conversation recorded in fall of 2024. Learn more about Vincent Bacote.

episode outline

00:00 Introducing Dr. Vincent Bacote, professor and Trinity Forum Senior Fellow

00:57 Who is Abraham Kuyper?

01:54 Understanding Kuyper’s Concept of Sphere Sovereignty

04:33 Sphere Sovereignty in Practice

14:35 Kuyper’s Views on Race

21:36 Applying Kuyper’s Ideas Today

32:10 Vince’s Thoughts on Christians Shaping Culture

Authors and books mentioned in the conversation:
The Spirit in Public Theology, Appropriating the Legacy of Abraham Kuyper, by Vincent Bacote
Contours of the Kuyperian tradition, by Craig Bartholomew

Related Trinity Forum Readings:
Sphere Sovereignty
Wrestling with God, Simone Weil
Children of Light and Children of Darkness, by Reinhold Niebuhr
Politics, Morality, and Civility,  by Vaclav Havel
The Origins of Totalitarianism, by Hannah Arendt
The Federalist Papers
A Practical View of Real Christianity, by William Wilberforce
Who Stands Fast? by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Related Conversations:
Hope Beyond Tribalism with James Mumford
Faith, Fear & Conspiracy with David French
The Fall, the Founding and the Future of American Democracy
How to Be a Patriotic Christian
Extremism and the Path Back to Peace with Elizabeth Neumann
Democracy & Solidarity with James Davison Hunter and David Brooks

To listen to this or any of our episodes in full, visit ttf.org/podcast and to help make content like this possible, join the Trinity Forum Society

Special thanks to Ned Bustard for our podcast artwork.