Praising and Trusting the Word of God

"When Abraham Kuyper came to grips with the criticism of Scripture in his day, he sharply formulated this existential character of the problem. He attacked the criticism of his day "in its questionable effect upon the church of the living God." It is obvious that Kuyper had in mind all forms of radical criticism, for he used terms like "critical vandalism," "Scripture anatomists," "recklessness and vivisection." These radical critics of Scripture create distrust and doubt by denying what formerly applied as the standard of faith: "When Scripture has spoken, all contradiction ceases; when it has testified, the last remnant of doubt vanishes." But even though Kuyper is referring particularly to radical criticism, it is clear that the contrast between criticism and authority occupies his mind. The logic of criticism is contrasted with a non-critical, receptive listening to the voice of God, like Samuel's "Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears" (I Sam. 3:10). Behind his considerations is a recollection of the relationship between God's Word and the indubitable certainty and place us for time and eternity on an immovable foundation. Much strife and opposition in the church must be viewed in this light, as must the emphasis on the judging but unjudgeable Word of God. The Word must be praised and trusted (see Ps. 56:10-11), as Scripture informs us with its unique divinity and self-authentication" (G. C. Berkouwer, Studies in Dogmatics: Holy Scripture, 14-15).