Church History Is Important

April 24, 2007

In his book, Church History In Plain Language, Bruce L. Shelley gives us good reason to be a student of Church History. Read the Prologue to his 2nd edition.

PROLOGUE

ON MY STUDY door is a cartoon. Students who stop to read it often step into my office smiling. It encourages easy conversation. It is a Peanuts strip. Charlie Brown’s little sister Sally is writing a theme for school titled, “Church History.” Charlie, who is at her side, notices her introduction, “When writing about church history, we have to go back to the very beginning. Our pastor was born 1930.” Charlie can only roll his eyes toward the ceiling.

Many Christians today suffer from historical amnesia. The time between the apostles and their own day is one giant blank. That is hardly what God had in mind. The Old Testament is sprinkled with reminders of God’s interest in time.

As a consequence of out ignorance concerning Christian history, we find believers vulnerable to the appeals of cultists. Some distortion of Christianity is often taken for the real thing. At the same time other Christians reveal a shocking capacity for spiritual pride, hubris. Without an adequate base for comparisons they spring to the defense of their way as the best way—their party as the superior party. Finally, many Christians engage in some form of ministry without the advantage of a broader context for their labor. When they want to make the best use of their time or their efforts, they have no basis for sound judgment.

Posted in History