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Why Church History Always Matters
Place For Truth ^
| March 17, 2015
| Michael Roberts
Posted on 03/20/2015 6:57:58 AM PDT by RnMomof7
Those who dont know history are destined to repeat it. But how does one know such a danger exists unless one already possesses an interest in, and respect for, people who lived and thought and wrote in the past? And in order to avoid this historical pitfall, the assumption must exist that people in the past actually have things to say to us that we need to know, an assumption that may not be as accepted as it once was. C.S. Lewis talked about the threat of presentism, the idea that our current time is the most developed and that therefore those who preceded us were somehow deficient. To the extent that still exists todayand I suspect there is quite a bit of itthe resulting attitude is probably more along the lines of Henry Ford: History is bunk.
But is that an appropriate or even legitimate attitude toward those who have gone on before? To demonstrate that kind of indifference, or even disrespect, for past people and events seems less like a developing sophistication and progress, and more like myopia and a lack of humility. Have we become so narcissistic that we forget we are still standing on the shoulders of giants?
In Scripture, the people of God are commanded to remember his redemptive acts in history, particularly their deliverance from Egypt (Ex. 13:3; Deut. 5:15; 7:17-19). And the psalmist writes in Psalm 77: I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old (v. 11). The Bible itself considers the past to be important, even vital, for godly thinking and living. It is not enough to recount Gods present blessings; his faithfulness and power shown in earlier generations are to be reflected on as well, since it is Gods activities in history that are the reason for our present status as redeemed and reconciled people.
Redemptive history is important for a number of reasons. One is to remember the difference between God and ourselves. He is the Creator, Redeemer, and Sovereign. We exist for him, not he for us. We are accountable to him. We are dependent upon him for everything we need, enjoy, and far too often take for granted. We are to remember Gods great acts in history because it is the context in which our praise to him is offered.
Another reason is that because we are sinful, there exists the temptation to lose our dependence upon him and exchange it for a supposed independence and self-sufficiency. When we fail to remember who God is and what he has done on our behalf, our tendency is to rest in our own wisdom and achievement for the preservation of the good things and advantages we possess.
Obviously the record of the church down through the ages is not the inspired account of redemptive history culminating in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. But it is nevertheless a record of Gods past acts. God is still at work in his world. He is still sovereignly guiding his people toward the holy ends for which we were created and redeemed. Church history reveals the faithfulness of God, and how his eternal counsels are carried out as the church travels as elect exiles in this life, as it looks ahead toward Christs return and consummation.
Another reason why church history is important is that it teaches us that we do not exist or function on our own as Christians. Our own church or even denomination is not the only expression of Gods people. We fit into a long line of those from other ages and places who have tried to live to the glory of God. The sets of beliefs and practices we possess are not the product of our own hands. Rather, how we think and function as the church today is a result of ideas we have inherited from faithful Christians in the past.
One more reason why the study of church history is vital is that it provides lessons for dealing with present situations and challenges. The vast majority of problems in the church are not unique. Church history shows us that how we regard Christian doctrine affects our practice. For example, battles over the doctrine of Scripture and the atonement were not only fought in the past; debates about the same are with us still. And a study of how the church dealt with such matters in the past can shed light on how we might tackle present problems, and even what we might expect to happen if we fail to do this.
Michael D. Roberts (DTh, University of South Africa) is assistant pastor at Grace Bible Fellowship Church in Quakertown, PA, where he also sits on the committee for the Quakertown Regional Conference on Reformed Theology. He also serves on the Christian Education committee of the Bible Fellowship Church.
TOPICS: Apologetics; Evangelical Christian; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: church; churchhistory; history; truth
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1
posted on
03/20/2015 6:57:58 AM PDT
by
RnMomof7
To: Alex Murphy; bkaycee; blue-duncan; boatbums; CynicalBear; daniel1212; Gamecock; HossB86; Iscool; ...
2
posted on
03/20/2015 6:58:38 AM PDT
by
RnMomof7
To: RnMomof7
**We fit into a long line of those from other ages and places who have tried to live to the glory of God.**
A few years ago we were taking a tour of Canterbury Cathedral.
Every afternoon the Cathedral goes quiet and The Apostles Creed is said by every visitor who chooses to do so.
When we finished reciting the creed our tour guide told us we have just joined 1,000 years of Christians who have recited the creed in that very spot. Puts things in perspective.
3
posted on
03/20/2015 7:12:47 AM PDT
by
Gamecock
(Joel Osteen is a minister of the Gospel like Captain Crunch is a Naval officer.)
To: RnMomof7
In all too many circles “church” history has been re-written as it has been in secular history.
4
posted on
03/20/2015 7:32:03 AM PDT
by
CynicalBear
(For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus)
To: RnMomof7
Thanks for posting this article! So appropriate to the season (winter to spring, Lent to Easter) and to the times we live in. Clinging to my Lord Jesus more and more these days. Grateful for Christian parents who wanted me to know church history. Praying for so many things and glad that God is in control!
To: Gamecock
6
posted on
03/20/2015 8:27:47 AM PDT
by
RnMomof7
To: CynicalBear
7
posted on
03/20/2015 8:28:03 AM PDT
by
RnMomof7
To: RnMomof7
The Pilgrim Church by E.H. Broadbent <—highly recommend. It is a classic on church history throughout the world since Polycarp.
The writer is from a Brethren background, but the book is Christ centered, and is very well-researched and documented, with lengthy quotes from the writings of believers throughout the centuries. I think it is a very worthwhile read.
To: Gamecock
When we finished reciting the creed our tour guide told us we have just joined 1,000 years of Christians who have recited the creed in that very spot. Puts things in perspective
I am sure you corrected them by saying that is impossible since Protestants have only been around for 500 years. No Christians before then.
To: one Lord one faith one baptism
Oh. I get it. That’s a joke, right??
10
posted on
03/20/2015 9:59:30 AM PDT
by
Gamecock
(Joel Osteen is a minister of the Gospel like Captain Crunch is a Naval officer.)
To: Gamecock; RnMomof7
Oh. I get it. Thats a joke, right??
no, I was deadly serious. the joke is many on this RF board must believe it judging by the way the Church is attacked daily.
puts things in perspective.
To: one Lord one faith one baptism; RnMomof7
***the way the Church is attacked daily***
No, the errors of Roman Catholicism are pointed out frequently.
The catholic (little c) church has been with us even when the existing Ecclesiastical bodies of the day, like Rome, jumped the shark.
12
posted on
03/20/2015 10:10:32 AM PDT
by
Gamecock
(Joel Osteen is a minister of the Gospel like Captain Crunch is a Naval officer.)
To: Gamecock
well, since that Cathedral was built by papists, odds are the people reciting the Apostles Creed before the “light” of King Henry VIII arrived were worshipping bread, statues, Mary, praying to dead folks, offering the idolatrous Mass, etc etc.
think how powerful a testimony it would have been if when the tour guide said “Christians” have recited that Creed for over 1,000 years, you could have raised your hand and said no it has been 480 years, before that the people weren’t Christians, they were lost papists!!
it is easy to spout nonsense on the internet, but to make a fool of yourself in public at a place like this Cathedral, was a bridge too far even for you I guess.
when I say you, of course I am not “making it personal”, that would violate FR rules.....I mean you in the general sense.
To: one Lord one faith one baptism
...it is easy to spout nonsense on the internet,...
Much of it by religious intellectuals...such as you purport to be.
To: one Lord one faith one baptism
I mean “you” in the general sense.
To: one Lord one faith one baptism
Like I said, there is always a remnant.
Go dust off your Bible. You can read all about it!
16
posted on
03/20/2015 10:28:41 AM PDT
by
Gamecock
(Joel Osteen is a minister of the Gospel like Captain Crunch is a Naval officer.)
To: Resettozero
Much of it by religious intellectuals...such as you purport to be
conservatives believe words mean things.
I am a conservative.
I also happen to believe the orthodox, historical Christian Faith and defend it the best I can from those who do not.
To: Resettozero
To: Gamecock
Like I said, there is always a remnant
ah, the remnant hiding in caves from 95ad thru early 16th century. they have no names, they left no writings, but we know they were there hiding in caves. how we know? ummmm, don’t ask, we just do!
To: one Lord one faith one baptism
I also happen to believe the orthodox, historical Christian Faith and defend it the best I can from those who do not.
The historicity of one's "Christian Faith" means little if that "Faith" is not based on the Truth of Jesus Christ and Him alone.
The rest is for show and bluster.
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