Apologetics

A True Christian Culture

by Jeff Drinnan
06/19/21
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17th century Netherlands was the height of the Reformation and was a hotbed of true faith. The oppressive Spanish, with their inquisitions, was driven out of the country, and Holland/Amsterdam reaped the fruits of the true Christian heritage. This Christian steeped culture is reflected in the 17th century painting "Dutch Landscape With A Waterfall", by Jacob van Ruisdael, an example of Dutch Golden Age painting.

The painting depicts the grandeur of God's creation. Surrounded and small in comparison to nature is a man and a boy standing, talking with a woman nursing a child. Although small in comparison to the landscape, the people are shown to have importance, a special creation in the scheme of things.
"God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." - Genesis 5:1-2

Unlike Renissance painting, where humans appear to be the center of the universe, this landscape painting shows a vast universe, in which people are part of someone (God) much bigger than them.It shows the concept of family, generations in God's creation, and life, as a woman nurtures a baby. It portrays the nuclear family.

In 17th century Calvinist Netherlands, family was important. They spent a lot of time together, doing things like reading the Bible and worshipping together. Values, world view, came from the home, not the state.

The largely Calvinist population didn't take to the extravagances of the boroque influence, as people lived a relatively simple but not an escetic lifestyle. Artists, scientists, craftsmen and intellectuals came to Amsterdam. The arts and crafts and science flourished there.

People had freedom of religion, speech and assembly in 17th century Netherlands. It was a prosperous time, where everybody had money to live and had the opportunity to advance themselves Even kitchen maids could make money by buying shares in a business Everyone who wanted a job could get one.

17th century Dutch culture should be a model of what a nation can be, including the United States.

But is the case with any country at particular times, cultures decline, as was the case of the Netherlands. Today, Christianity is only a shell in Holland. Symbolism over substance. The Germany of J.S. Bach and Martin Luther was replaced by the Nazis, and today there is cultural decline in Germany. At a time when pornagraphy and other immorality reined, Hitler convinced Germans they were victims, much like the cancel cuture is doing in America today. America, which once had a Christian consensus, and life was good, declined.

To resolve America's problems and get right, we need to turn back to God.
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance." -Psalm 33:12