Why Study Christian History?
by Jefrey D. Breshears
A ccording to recent surveys of college students, about half were raised attending church
“regularly” or “semi-regularly,” yet more than 85% are functionally illiterate when it comes
to the Bible and 95% have virtually no understanding of Christian history. Among college
graduates who are church members, about 85% are clueless regarding the origins of their own
particular church and/or denomination. And even among relatively well-educated and active
church members, relatively few know much about Christian history between the close of the
New Testament and the present other than perhaps a few random facts related to the Crusades,
the Inquisition, or the Reformation.
As a history professor, I‟m not surprised by many contemporary historians essentially
these findings. Over the years I have observed agree. Few college and university professors
that the level of religious cultural literacy in would argue that history is anything but a
American society is pitifully low. Even among random sequence of events with no ultimate
those who were raised in Christian families purpose or design. Some prominent historians
and grew up attending church regularly, most in recent years have even questioned the
evince only a superficial understanding of the relevance of studying the past. Furthermore,
Bible and even less concerning basic Christian we‟re often reminded that “history is written
theology, Christian apologetics, or church by the winners,” so can we even trust it?
history.
Certainly, if the hedonistic ideal were true – if
Ignorance may be blissful, but it‟s never the purpose of life were mainly to maximize
impressive, and in the realm of religious faith pleasure – I‟m not sure that history would have
it has serious consequences. Those who never much to offer. But what if life actually has
invest the time and effort to study their faith in meaning and purpose? – Christians purport to
depth have no real basis for their beliefs other believe that it does. Then the past might be of
than their own subjective experience or the some help and value. It might even hold the
word of a trusted authority figure. Rightly or key for making sense of the present. Fifty
wrongly, people tend not to take us seriously if years before Christ, the Roman statesman
they can‟t respect us intellectually, and many Cicero said something rather profound about
Christians who sincerely desire to witness for historical consciousness:
Christ find that their testimony is ineffectual To be ignorant of what has happened
because they can‟t handle the tough questions before your birth is to always remain a
posed by skeptics. Unfortunately, not only is child. For what is the meaning of one‟s
their own testimony affected, but the integrity life unless it is integrated with that of our
ancestors by history?1
of the Christian faith in general is called into
question.
Cicero understood what all the great thinkers
have realized: Those who live shallow, ego-
There‟s no question that many people who
centered lives disconnected from the broader
have an aversion to history or most anything
currents of existence will always be,
else “intellectual” live lives that are just as
intellectually-speaking, immature children.
happy and contented as those who are life-long
The wise access the collective knowledge of
learners. So is there any intrinsic value in
the ages and learn from it so as to enrich their
history? Is a knowledge and understanding of
own life experience. To do otherwise is abject
the past – and Christian history in particular –
foolishness.
mainly for those who happen to have
antiquarian interests and nothing better to do
with their time? After all, it doesn‟t really What History Is
translate into dollars. So other than improving Until the last quarter of the 20th century,
one‟s performance in Trivia Pursuit, what Western civilization had generally valued
exactly is the point in studying history? history. As the classical Greeks defined it,
history (historia) was a process of inquiry into
Many would argue that there is no point since the past. In their lexicon, history was a verb,
history has no meaning. Henry Ford dismissed not a noun: one did history, much as we might
it as “bunk,” Nietzsche called it “the belief in refer to someone who is studying history rather
falsehood,” and Voltaire declared that “History than just taking a course in it. There are a
is but a pack of tricks we play on the dead.” In couple of fundamental premises on which the
the best selling novel, The Da Vinci Code, one whole process of doing history rests: First, it
of the main characters (no doubt speaking for assumes that there are objective realities
the author) asserts confidently, “What is
history but a fable agreed upon?” Ironically, 1
Cicero, Orator 34:120.
associated with the past that we can access, or their sentiments and let the facts dictate their
that real objective truth exists; and second, it conclusions.
presupposes that apprehending this knowledge
matters. So history is the process of reconstructing and
interpreting the past based on the facts as we
The process of doing history starts with understand them: what happened, when it
accessing and interpreting facts. Facts are the happened, why it happened, how it happened,
basic building blocks of the discipline – bits of and who did it? We usually get our facts from
information that coincide with past realities. two or three means: primary and secondary
An historical fact is something that rational sources, which are based on written accounts,
people generally accept as true based on and oral traditions. Ideally, these are
credible research and our current level of supplemented by corroborating artifactual
knowledge. Since facts are assumptions and evidence via art, pottery, or architecture.
beliefs about truth – not necessarily truth itself Primary sources are original, first-hand
– facts can change in the light of new accounts, and in most cases they are highly-
evidence. Ideally, that is what historical valued. But just because something purports to
revisionism is all about – new understanding be an eye-witness account doesn‟t necessarily
based on more recent (and presumably better) mean it is reliable. It can be misleading, or it
information. But we shouldn‟t be cavalier can be an outright forgery. Due to bias, people
about facts. If we value truth, we must be often twist the truth or simply omit crucial
cautious when it comes to altering our information to suit their own purposes.
interpretations of the past. The burden of proof
should fall on the revisionists, not (as is often In best-case scenarios, historians have access
the case today) the other way around. There to multiple primary source documents that they
should be convincing evidence to the contrary can compare and contrast in order to construct
before we rewrite history, and it needs to be a more thorough understanding of an issue or
based on solid factual evidence, not current event. But this is particularly problematical the
ideological trends. farther back we go in time. Oftentimes, we are
working off only one or a few sources, so our
In fact, all history is a complex matrix of conclusions are, by necessity, more tentative.
contributing (and often conflicting) realities, Therefore, based on the quantity and the
which is why the greatest challenge facing quality of the sources, we can, for example,
historians is to sift through the material, select write the history of the Normandy Invasion of
what is salient, organize it in a sensible World War II with a much higher degree of
manner, and present it intelligibly so as to probability than that of the Norman conquest
illuminate the past. Otherwise, history is of Britain in 1066.
chaotic and meaningless – a mere clutter of
often-disconnected and random facts (or as the Secondary sources also play a vital role in
popular axiom declares, “History is just one historical research. Although not written by
damn thing after another”). As all serious those who actually witnessed an event, they
students and scholars of history can attest, the can still enhance our understanding depending
real value of history comes when we go upon (1)how long after the fact the account
beyond the basic facts into the realm of was written (as a general rule, the sooner the
analysis and interpretation. But conclusions better), and (2)how knowledgeable and
must be based on solid factual evidence and objective was the author? As with primary
rational extrapolations lest we become sources, those who write secondary accounts
propagandists who use history merely to of an event have their biases and limitations,
promote our own agendas. As in every field of and part of the challenge of doing history is
scholarship, some historians are intellectually learning to evaluate documents for factual
dishonest. The best ones, however, try to curb inaccuracies as well as unwarranted premises
and hidden agendas.
In some cases, our main source of information One of the obvious limitations of history is that
comes via oral traditions. In terms of it is by nature selective. Not everything that
reliability, oral sources are even more happened in the past is recorded (let alone,
problematical than written ones. Especially in recorded accurately), and not everything
lieu of any corroborating evidence, oral source recorded has been preserved. In fact, much has
material has to be evaluated with a good been lost. When Julius Caesar‟s troops burned
measure of prudent skepticism. the Alexandria library and
museum in 48 B.C. (purportedly by accident),
The Limitations of History they inadvertently perpetrated one of the great
Like philosophers and theologians, historians cultural disasters in history. According to the
are supposed to be seekers of truth. Yet the ancient sources, the library contained nearly a
connections between truth and history are half-million volumes, including copies of all
often elusive. Once history moves beyond the the known books in the known world at the
acquisition of basic facts, truth becomes a time. And of course, similar disasters have
matter of interpretation. occurred repeatedly in history from the
destruction of the great Assyrian Royal Library
Many historians would be hesitant to admit it, at Nineveh in 612 B.C. to the looting of
but history is far from foolproof.2 As a form of European museums by the Nazis during World
knowledge and a means of accessing the past, War II. The amount of knowledge that has
the historical method has definite limitations. been lost is incalculable. What we‟re often left
Although there is a “scientific” method for with, especially when it comes to ancient and
evaluating historical sources, the writing of medieval history, is at best only a fragmentary
history is fundamentally a literary art form, not record of the past. So we know in part and we
a science. Beginning in the late 19th century write history in part, and the problem is
there was a movement in higher education to generally worse the farther back in time we go
distance history from the humanities and place as gaps in our knowledge become gaping
it within the realm of the social sciences, but in chasms.
fact, by nature and practice, history has always
been a branch of literature. It is, after all, the History is not only selective but highly
story of the past. It is “scientific” only in the interpretive, the product of human intelligence
sense that it is a systematic collection and and, undeniably, human imagination. Other
analysis of historical material using criteria than the indisputable facts, history is mostly
and methods that have proved themselves interpretations of the past – i.e., making sense
generally satisfactory over time. Realistically, of what happened. Therefore, to a certain
history is often messy and complicated – full extent, history is created by the historian.
of contingencies, ambiguities, and paradoxes – There is no purely objective, unbiased history
but these are some of the very factors that because there are no purely objective, unbiased
make it so intriguing. Like life, it is not neat historians. All have a guiding philosophy,
and simplistic, and those who try to treat it as whether they realize and admit it or not, and all
such only fool (and eventually discredit) operate on the basis of certain presuppositions.
themselves. Likewise, all are a product of their age, their
environment, and their life experiences –
although the better ones understand this and
conscientiously endeavor to transcend the strict
2 limitations and prejudices of their particular
At least, traditional historians are often reticent to
admit the limitations of history. At the other end of
situation. This is another reason why the
the spectrum, postmodern scholars question dominant historical theses vary from
whether we can know much of anything about the generation to generation and must be
past. For them, history is almost totally subjective, a constantly reinterpreted and revised.
mere projection of the particular psychological and
sociological factors operating upon the historian
him/herself.
These same realities hold true for Christian which is the response in love to God who
historians, including the writers of the New has revealed himself in Jesus Christ, opens
Testament. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, the mind towards the true understanding of
Paul, and James all had their biases, their history.”4
agendas and their priorities (not to mention
their individual temperaments). When it comes Another problem is that much of what we call
to historical credibility, the issue is never if the history deals in the realm of probabilities, not
historian is biased. What matters is whether the certainties. Even multiple attestations of the
historian is able to transcend these biases and same fact do not constitute proof – at least not
record what happened accurately. Good in the clinical, scientific sense. Historical
historians write as objectively, as fairly, and as interpretations cannot be verified in a lab.
truthfully as possible, based on the facts. And Nevertheless, sane and rational people can still
of course Christians believe that this was the rest assured that certain historical facts are true
case with the writers of the New Testament – but the assurance comes via the laws of
gospels and epistles who were inspired by the probability and reason, not scientific proof.
Spirit of God, who is the Spirit of Truth. One Did the physical bodily resurrection of Jesus
of the 20th century‟s great church historians, Christ actually happen in a particular time and
Kenneth Scott Latourette, emphasizes this place in history? This is not a matter that can
point in the Prologue to his History of be proven. But what the Christian can argue is
Christianity: that the resurrection of Christ can be
No one can hope to write history substantiated on the bases of sound reason and
Without presuppositions... Every attempt honest historical research. Therefore, we can
to tell the human story... involves accept the historicity of the resurrection as
[selectivity]. Back of the selection is a assuredly as we can know that anything
conviction of what is important. Governing happened in the past.
this „value judgement‟ is, consciously or
unconsciously, a philosophy....3 Christians have to be knowledgeable and
honest about the limitations of history (and this
Furthermore, Latourette argues, a sterile and includes biblical and Christian history) lest we
detached “objectivity” is not even preferable succumb to the common human temptation to
because historians must care about what they exaggerate and overstate our case. We must
research and write: respect the truth, and we have to understand
Truth is not attained by reason [and that the cause of Christ is not advanced by
scholarship] alone. The insight that is born
stretching the truth. Those who resort to
of faith can bring illumination. Throughout
the chapters [of this book] is the conviction exaggeration, even for a good cause, wind up
that the faith which is stimulated by the losing credibility and discrediting the faith. In
Christian Gospel, the faith which is the our apologetics we go as far as the facts take
commitment to God of the whole man, us, but there is always a faith factor involved.
body, mind, and spirit, the commitment In the realm of Christian history, as in every
area of life, we live by faith.
3
Kenneth Scott Latourette, A History of Christianity
(Peabody, MA: Prince Press/Hendrickson
Publishers, 1999), p. xix.
These comments are not to imply that there are
no accepted standards governing the research and
writing of history. The professionalization of the
th
discipline in the 20 century has established
academic standards that the historian violates at
his/her own risk. In most fields of historical study,
this provides a check on some of the worst impulses
of the most ideologically-driven and/or intellectually
dishonest scholars.
4
Ibid, p. xx.
Why Study History? History is integral to making sense out of life,
Paradoxically, the problems and limitations of although one would never know it from the
history only bolster the case for studying it. way it is often written and taught. Most people
History is anything but simplistic, and a probably consider it largely irrelevant, little
serious study of it demands that we think more than a mind-numbing litany of names,
rationally, critically, and comprehensively. The dates, and pointless factoids from the murky
principle of multiple causation, one of the and musty past. Some probably perceive it as a
central tenets of modern historical analysis, curious preoccupation with dead people.
recognizes the complexity and Others view it as an antiquarian scavenger
interconnectedness of issues and events. hunt, a kind of trivial pursuit of information
Because history encompasses so many fields that may be interesting in a quaint sort of way
of knowledge, it compels us to integrate all the but is nonetheless disconnected from the
contributing factors that impact an issue realities of contemporary life. But in fact,
including the economic, social, political, history is remarkably relevant for those who
religious, philosophical, and cultural access it for knowledge and inspiration. Those
components. This often calls for a good bit of who are wise, or want to become wiser, delight
intellectual energy, but until we assess history in exploring the past because of the light it
comprehensively we can never rest assured sheds on the present. Without a sense of
that our conclusions are valid. historical consciousness, we are like amnesiacs
groping in the dark with little awareness of
There are other, more endemic reasons why who we are or where we came from.
history matters and why we should study it. A
few years ago in the Q&A session following History also provides valuable insight into
one of his lectures, someone in the audience human social and cultural development. We
asked the renowned historian Arthur study it in part to gain a sense of shared
Schlesinger Jr., “Why should we study humanity and discover where ours and other
history?” Schlesinger could have pontificated civilizations came from, how they developed
at length on the intellectual and cultural over time, the philosophical and theological
benefits of the discipline, but instead he simply foundations on which they are based, and how
replied, “Because, first of all, it‟s a lot of fun.” and why the various world systems function as
He was right in a sense – it is undeniably they do. We all know people who are
enjoyable. History is, after all, the story of the disinterested in anything that‟s outside the
past, and who doesn‟t love a good story? Like boundaries of their own life experience. In
all good literature, it stimulates the their immaturity, they inhabit a small, ego-
imagination. It inspires us with great examples centered universe in which nothing matters
of heroic sacrifice and accomplishment, while unless it affects them personally. For such
also warning us of the deceitfulness of power people, history holds no interest – in fact, it‟s a
and wealth. (Biography can also do this, except bore – presumably because it‟s not about them.
that in biography, scale and proportion are They often express the same indifference
skewed in the sense that everything revolves toward politics, philosophy, religion, current
around a single life.) Even more fascinating is events, or anything else that strikes them as
the fact that history deals with true stories irrelevant to their own personal existence.
about the most interesting people who ever
lived and the most important events that ever When we study history, we broaden our scope
occurred. How could anyone not enjoy it? – of awareness and begin to understand how the
unless, of course, their souls are impoverished major forces that impact our lives have
by over-exposure to the stultifying effects of developed over time. In the process, we also
contemporary pop culture. acquire greater insight into human nature. We
are all familiar with George Santayana‟s oft-
quoted comment about history repeating itself:
“Those who fail to learn the lessons of the past
are doomed to repeat them.” Now that may be the longer we‟re on stage, the more oriented to
true in academia in the case of those who fail a our surroundings we become, that doesn‟t
required history course, but outside that necessarily translate into understanding the
context history does not in fact repeat itself. ultimate purpose or goal of the play. To gain a
Every historical scenario has its own unique clearer perspective, we have to transcend the
and complex matrix of ideas, personalities, strict limitations of just our own personal
institutions, social and cultural factors, and a experience.
myriad of other conditions and variables that
collectively affect the outcome. History isn‟t History matters because knowledge is innately
predictable like an experiment in a chemistry valuable. Like art, knowledge needs no
lab. What is true, though, is that basic human justification. It is the fundamental means by
nature doesn‟t change, and there are general which we comprehend reality, understand the
patterns and cause-and-effect relationships in world around us, and access ultimate truth.
human social interaction that are manifest History, along with other humanities-based
repeatedly in history. disciplines such as religion, philosophy,
literature, geography, political science, and
As Cicero implied, all of us are intimately psychology, is essential for processing the
connected to the past. None of us operate as issues of life. Whether we realize its value or
isolated individuals; we are all part of the not, and whether we think that it directly
human community. More than just being benefits us or not, we need to know about the
influenced by what came before, we are to an significant people, ideas, issues, and events of
extent, whether we realize it or not, products the past. Regardless of one‟s level of education
of the past. Most of our values, beliefs, and life or how many advanced degrees one has
situations are rooted in earlier realities. Human earned, no one is truly educated if he/she lacks
beings possess a measure of free choice, but a basic understanding of history.
within certain parameters. Our heritage,
culture, environment, and life experiences all An understanding of history is essential if we
condition who and what we are. So when we are to maximize our potential as human beings.
study history, we glean greater understanding Historical consciousness provides breadth,
of the people, ideas, events, and other factors depth, and substance to our values, beliefs and
that have directly or indirectly influenced our opinions. Those without a firm grasp of history
lives. will always be limited in terms of their
understanding of the world and humanity. To
I often remind college students that the world speak with authority and command respect, we
did not begin when they were born. We are all must do so out of a reservoir of knowledge,
characters in a real-life epic drama that began experience, and wisdom, of which history is a
thousands of years ago. But with no fundamental and integral component.
understanding of the past, we are like actors
shoved out onto the stage of life in the midst of
a long-running play that we don‟t understand.
We are disoriented. We are ignorant of what‟s
going on, why things are as they are, or where
we fit into the script. We have no
understanding of the plot, the major characters,
or anything that preceded our arrival on stage.
Furthermore, what‟s the point of the whole
production? We are truly clueless. As C. S.
Lewis once noted, “The unhistorical are,
without knowing it, enslaved to a fairly recent
past.” All we see and know is what‟s going on
immediately around us. And while it‟s true that
Why Study Christian History? meaningless, lawless, shapeless sequence of
For Christians, there are even more compelling events – just “one damn thing after another.”
reasons to study the past. Most of the Bible is (I‟m reminded of one former student who, in
history, and most of the theology and morality his term-ending essay assessing the course,
we glean from it are presented in the context of concluded that “History is just an orgy of
history. Unlike religions that are based slaughter.” Apparently, I must have over-
primarily on esoteric speculations, the emphasized the military component in that
Christian faith is rooted in divine revelations particular course.) This is a cynical and
manifest in historical realities – the simplistic assessment, but even the great
culmination being the life, teachings, death, classical historian Edward Gibbon essentially
and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the apostle concurred when he declared that “History is
Paul noted in his epistle to the Corinthian little more than the crimes, follies and
church, “If Christ has not been resurrected, misfortunes of mankind.” Dutch philosopher
your faith is futile” and “we are false witnesses Herman Dooyeweer succinctly summarized
about God” (1 Cor. 15:17, 14). Christians, of this secularist view of history:
all people, should value history; it is, as John History has no windows looking out into
eternity. Man is completely enclosed in it
Calvin declared, “the theater of God‟s glory.”
and cannot elevate himself to a supra-
historical level of contemplation. History is
Implicit in every historical orientation is an the be-all and end-all of man‟s existence
underlying philosophy that seeks to understand and of his faculty of experience. And it is
not only the root causes of specific events, but ruled by destiny, the inescapable fate.6
the macro-forces that move the whole process
along. Because history and humanity are From the outset of the Christian era,
integrally connected, there is a direct link centuries before Augustine developed a
between our view of history and our systematic philosophy of history in The City
philosophy of life. It was this realization that of God, Christians held a coherent view of
prompted the Christian historian Herbert history that encompassed three fundamental
Butterfield to argue that our historiography concepts:
conditions our theology. (1)History is an open system and the
Our interpretation of history is the most earthly theater of a cosmic spiritual
Sovereign decision we can take, and it is struggle going on behind the scenes.
clear that every one of us, standing alone in Human history is an epic drama between
the universe, has to take it for himself. It is
the forces of Divine Light and Satanic
our decision about religion, about our total
attitude to things, and about the way we Darkness, with the human soul as the
will appropriate life. And it is inseparable primary battleground. Whether history is,
from our decision about the role we are as Calvin proclaimed, “the theater or God‟s
going to play in the drama of history. 5 glory” or the Devil‟s playground depends
upon whether we view it from an eternal or
Secularist historians who operate out of a a strictly temporal perspective.
naturalistic worldview naturally assume a
closed universe in which humanity creates A New Testament-based philosophy of
history independent of any external or history presupposes divine involvement but
transcendent reality. As Hegel taught, nothing defies simplistic speculation. It
happens in history that does not have its entire acknowledges the reality of the
explanation within history. Furthermore, supernatural while avoiding superstition.
history has no over-arching purpose: it is a God interacts in human history both
directly, through supernatural intervention,
5 6
Herbert Butterfield, Christianity and History Herman Dooyeweerd, In the Twilight of
(London: Collins, Fontana, 1957), p. 39. Western Thought: (Philadelphia: Presbyterian and
Reformed, 1960), p. 63.
and indirectly, through his guiding
presence in the lives of individuals who are a simplistic view of life that can lead to serious
attuned to his will, but the exact manner erroneous conclusions that ultimately undermine the
and extent of God‟s involvements are often credibility of the Christian faith.
mysterious.
Christian writers who spin history in an attempt to
argue providentialism are guilty of the same errors
The Christian view of history is not an as agenda-driven ideologues who manipulate the
argument for strict determinism. God does past to promote a particular political or social theory.
not micro-manage human history, nor does The antidote to secularistic historical revisionism is
not Christian revisionism but a sensible and realistic
God, as a matter of course, cause wars, understanding of history.
famines, plagues, natural disasters, or
terrorist attacks. (To argue otherwise is to An example of these two contrasting views of
attribute to God actions that contradict his history – providentialism verses the historic
character – a theological absurdity.) Nor Christian view – is presented in a brief exchange
between a Portuguese official and a papal anuncio
does God contravene human free will. in the motion picture, The Mission. The cardinal has
Human beings make history, and God is just been informed that the native inhabitants of a
involved in the process primarily to the remote mission deep within the rain forest of
extent that he inspires and guides human southern Brazil have been slaughtered along with
their Jesuit missionary leaders – an atrocity to which
thought and action. God‟s involvement in he had inadvertently acquiesced under pressure
history, while indisputable, is also from the Vatican and the governments of Portugal
inscrutable. Normally, it is subtle and and Spain. Upon hearing the report, the cardinal
manifest through natural processes and asks ruefully, “And you have the impertinence to tell
human volition. me that this slaughter was necessary?” “We had no
alternative, your Eminence,” the official replies. “We
must work in the world. The world is thus”
Thus, a Christian view of history (Implication: “It‟s God‟s will”) – to which the cardinal
recognizes the reality of a complex paradox replies, “No Senior. Thus have we made the
incorporating two fundamental theological world.... Thus have I made the world.” The cardinal
knows full well that the outcome was not divinely
truths: divine sovereignty and human free mandated – things would have been different had
will. Without these factors – along with an he followed the dictates of his heart rather than
understanding of the Fall and endemic sin capitulate to political expediency.
– history truly is nonsensical.7
In the Old Testament, Moses clearly articulated this
7 reality in his final charge to the Children of Israel
Some Christian historians argue a theory of when he declared, “Now what I am commanding
history very close to strict determinism known as you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your
“providential history.” Although there are reach. It is not up to heaven.... No, the word is very
variations on the theme, providentialism typically near to you; it is... in your heart so you may obey
emphasizes one side of the paradox – i.e., the it.... This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses
sovereignty of God – to the exclusion of human free against you that I have set before you life and
will, and contends (or at least implies) that God death.... Now choose life....” [Deut. 30:11ff]
controls everything that happens in human affairs.
So where was God in the massacre? The simple
There are a couple of problems with providentialism. and obvious answer is that God wasn‟t in it at all.
(1)Few who take an absolutist view of divine Like all atrocities, it was a totally godless act. The
sovereignty would contend that God violates human officials who planned the campaign and the soldiers
volition on a micro (individual) level – i.e., most who carried it out chose to deny their God-given
agree that God does not impose his will on moral conscience and defy the will of God. For
individuals but works symbiotically and reasons we can never know, God permitted them go
synergetically with those who choose to cooperate their own way and chose not to intervene
with him – and if that is true, why would we argue supernaturally to protect the lives of the innocent.
that it works otherwise on the macro (historical)
level? (2)Also, providentialism undermines any Thus, a truly Christian view of history
reasonable Christian understanding of theodicy – acknowledges in all appropriate humility our ultimate
i.e., if God micro-manages human affairs, does he ignorance and the inscrutability of God and his
not also share responsibility for all the evil in human ways. “„For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
history? To say the least, providentialism promotes neither are your ways my ways,‟ says the Lord. „As
(2)History is teleological. It has a divinely- knowledgeable. Our testimony must be
appointed purpose and goal – however consistent with our lifestyle and character, but
subtle and enigmatic it may appear without it also must be consistent with objective truth.
the illumination of divine revelation.
Evangelism is more than merely sharing one‟s
(3)History is eschatological. Everything is
“personal testimony.” When the early apostles
moving toward a grand climax in
and evangelists took the Good News of Jesus
accordance with God‟s ultimate purpose
Christ into mainstream society, they presented
for creation. As President James Garfield
an apologia, a reasoned argument, for the truth
once observed, “History is but the unrolled
of the gospel that was based on factual and
scroll of prophecy.”
historical realities. Reasoning from the Old
Testament scriptures and testifying to objective
A Christian view of history gives meaning and
realities that many of them had witnessed
purpose to the past while respecting the reality
personally – in particular, the life, ministry,
of divine mystery. It also has consequential
miracles, atoning death, and resurrection of
ramifications. When Christians affirm that
Jesus – they led thousands to a saving
history matters, this presupposes that human
knowledge of Christ. They practiced what the
relations are profoundly significant. Such an
apostle Peter later preached in his epistle:
awareness transforms our whole attitude
“Always be prepared to give an answer to
toward society and culture and how we relate
everyone who asks you to give the reason for
to them. Conversely, if we conclude that
the hope you have” (1 Peter 3:15) – an
history is random and purposeless, it follows
admonition that necessitates that we have our
that the social, political, cultural, and religious
facts straight and know what we‟re talking
contexts of life also have no real meaning – in
about.
which case we have no rational basis for taking
interest in, or feeling responsible for, the
Unfortunately, in much of modern evangelism,
problems that confront humankind. By
the objective components of the Gospel have
extension, it also renders the study of history
been subordinated to one‟s own subjective
rather pointless.
experience. Today, many Christians present
the Gospel primarily, if not exclusively, by
Another social implication of a Christian view
way of a personal testimony. There are some
of history relates to our public witness. True
obvious flaws with this approach, most notably
Christian faith is not privatistic but an open
the fact that many Muslims and Mormons and
and public proclamation of the life-
New Agers also have personal testimonies of
transforming love and power of Jesus Christ.
how their religion has changed their life.
Indeed, Jesus warned that “Whoever
Furthermore, many skeptics and secularists
acknowledges me before men, I will also
who don‟t identify with any religion will
acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
testify to being quite satisfied with the quality
But whoever disowns me before men, I will
of their lives. So unless we want to get
disown him before my Father in heaven”
embroiled in a battle of dueling testimonies
(Matt. 10:32-33). For those who have been
(who is happier, more fulfilled, or more
truly converted, sharing their faith with others
peaceful than whom), we would be well-
is neither burdensome nor embarrassing; it is a
advised to learn from the example of the early
great joy and the natural overflow of a grateful
church. They confronted a skeptical (and often
heart. But for our witness to be credible and
hostile) world with objective facts, sound
effective it must be both genuine and
reasoning, and the witness of history – the
truth of which was manifest in their love for
the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my one another and their own personal stories of
ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than
your thoughts.‟” [Isaiah 55:8-9]
how Jesus Christ had changed their lives. The
result was phenomenal as even their enemies
marveled, “They have turned the whole world that have been perpetrated in the name of
upside-down.” Christ, and immerses us in the currents of faith
that have carried the Gospel over the past
In essence, Christian history is the story of 2,000 years. An eclectic and sometimes
God‟s redemption of humanity through the maddening mix of the good, the bad, and the
agency of the church. In his epistles, the ugly, we find much in Christian history that is
apostle Paul refers to the church as the Body of truly inspiring and sordidly appalling – but we
Christ. In a mystical, but also in a very real and can learn from it all.
practical sense, the church functions as the
mind, eyes, ears, voice, hands, and feet of There is a war going on today for the heart and
Jesus Christ in this world. From the beginning soul of America. It is fundamentally a spiritual
of the human race, God has been preparing a struggle but manifests itself on two fronts: the
corporate body through whom he could offer intellectual and the cultural. There is no doubt
salvation to all mankind. Unwilling to violate of the final outcome – God‟s truth will prevail
man‟s free will, God chose not to force himself and his kingdom will be established here on
upon anyone, but accepted all who freely earth – but in the meantime, we are losing
responded to his love out of grateful hearts. most of the battles. Most Christians tend to
focus on the cultural front because it is the
In response to God‟s initiative, people in every most obvious. Culture directly reflects our
culture were stimulated to seek God. The result values, morals, ethics, and beliefs in the realms
was a proliferation of religions that possessed of politics, economics, law, education,
some truth and divine insight in varying religion, and social institutions – as well as in
degrees, but were also clouded and confused art, literature, music, sports, and entertainment.
due to the inherent sinfulness of mankind. But in fact the priority should be otherwise.
None of these religions fulfilled God‟s History teaches that philosophy determines
purpose, and for some inscrutable reason, God culture. What is considered intellectually
chose the Hebrew race and spent several credible determines what is socially and
centuries revealing specific aspects of his culturally acceptable.
character and purpose to them through their
prophets and national history. A remnant of This is particularly problematic because the
Hebrews remained faithful and obedient to Christian worldview of the past is no longer
God over the centuries, and through their predominant. We now find ourselves living in
descendants, the Jews, God eventually sent his a culture that is not simply “post-Christian” but
only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world increasingly anti-Christian. America today is
as the spiritual savior of humanity. Following becoming remarkably similar to the society
Christ‟s crucifixion and resurrection, the Holy and culture in which the early church
Spirit indwelled and empowered those who functioned. Like ours, theirs was a pluralistic,
submitted to the lordship of Christ in their multi-cultural society lacking any religious
lives. Thus, the church was born, the consensus. The Roman Empire in the 1st
community of Christ here on earth, and century was a hedonistic and materialistic
through it God offers salvation to all humanity. culture rife with political corruption, social
injustice, economic exploitation, violence,
An essential component of any credible and moral decadence, and ethical confusion.
substantive Christian witness is an
understanding of how God has worked through If the church is to offer a credible witness
the church since apostolic times. Christian today, Christians will have to confront not only
history provides a context for interpreting and the cultural challenges but the intellectual
applying the Scriptures, illuminates the ones. This calls for a comprehensive
subsequent growth and development of the apologetic that encompasses not only our
faith, offers access to the great Christian minds lifestyles and values but our beliefs as well.
of the past, exposes the frauds and fallacies Both our minds and our hearts have to be
engaged. The early church understood this and
offered a wholistic defense of the Gospel that
eventually changed the world.
Knowledge as an end in itself, disconnected
from the Spirit of love and the art of living, is
of little value. Ultimately, the greatest
apologetic lies not in compelling arguments
and irrefutable historical facts, but in the
resurrection power of Jesus Christ to transform
lives through the indwelling presence of the
Holy Spirit. Christianity is much more than an
evidential faith – it is an existential reality. But
to separate the mind and the heart is to create a
false dichotomy that is antithetical to New
Testament doctrines and practice.
So why study Christian history? Certainly, to
learn from the past. To find out what God has
been doing in the lives of individuals and in
the corporate life of the church for the past
2,000 years so we can better discern what God
wants to do in our own life and times. And to
provide a context for our own lives, or as
Christian historian Justo Gonzalez notes, “To
tell the story of those whose heirs we are is to
write a long preface to our own life stories.”8
Ultimately, of course, the point of the Christian
life is not so much to understand the world as
to change it. But we can be agents of change
only insofar as we allow God to change us,
personally and corporately. And in Christian
history, we have many examples of people
who did precisely that. As the writer of
Hebrews reminded his 1st century readers, we
have before us “a great cloud of witnesses”
from whom we have much to learn.
8
Justo Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity
(Peabody, MA: Prince Press/Hendrickson
Publishers, 2001), p. xiii.