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Book Review
Common Grace Revisited
A Response to Richard J.Mouw's He Shines
in All That's Fair.
David J.Engelsma
Reformed Free Publishing Association 2003, lOOp
Review by Ray Hoekzema
In T&S of March 2002, I reviewed Richard Mouw's book He shines in all that's fair in which Mouw re-examines common grace theology. It was an issue hotly debated in the 1920s when Herman Hoeksema strongly opposed the theology of grace encapsulating it in the phrase “Believers and unbelievers have everything in common except grace". Then already, I made reference to David Engelsma's opposition stating that Kuyper's "woridview of common grace" had been a colossal failure. I also inferred that Mouw, rather than attempting to preserve an area of mystery regarding God's dealings with human kind, had entered on dangerous ground by making attempts to solve it.
Engelsma, Professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament Studies at the Presbyterian Reformed Seminary USA, entered the debate by a series of editorials in The Standard Bearer. This was followed up by a three-hour live debate with Mouw in September 2003. Since then the editorials were published in this book. Having received a copy, I think it only fair that I make reference to it, be it only briefly. The author counters Mouw on infra versus supralapsarianism, the issue concerning the order of the decrees of God with regard to predestination. His main beef however, with Mouw, his mentor Abraham Kuyper and their numerous allies in Reformed and Presbyterian Churches worldwide is that they confuse grace with providence. He examines the issue from a broad perspective but not wanting to go over the same ground again, can I suggest you get hold of this rather small but comprehensive booklet by writing to the Publisher 4949 Ivanrest Ave SW Grandville M 149418- 9709 USA, or e-mail at mail@rfpa.org Cost US$ 6.95.
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