Value of Church History

By Jason

30 Mar 2004

From my friend Mike at Soul Farers

“In one of Jonathan Edward’s sermons he comments about the current (18th century) scientific era, which gives so much greater insight into reality than the poor apostle Paul had. We always seem to be in danger of thinking that our era has the corner on clarity.

Whether emerging pastors ever attend seminary or not, they should all be forced at gunpoint to take at least a year’s worth of church history courses. It might help shake the belief that true Christianity began the day we were born.

The Constantian era was clearly institutionalism at its deepest. But in that era there were faithful scribes who labored to protect and pass on the scriptures with integrity. In that era emerged the various monastic groups that continue to inform our hunger for spirituality.

True Christianity didn’t start with Martin Luther, and theological innovation shouldn’t end with whatever new list of propostions the National Association of Evangelicals (or whoever) comes up with.

Mike”

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  1. Comment by timsamoff

    3.31 pm on 30 Mar 2004

    Jason… A slight, but somewhat unconnected coincidence… I’ve been making my way through a friend’s thesis about Julian Barnes (but, more specifically, postmodernity, history, and literature). It’s very interesting very easy read. It points out the errancy in history-writing and how we base our opinions on what we think are facts. It’s not a lot of “new” information, but you should check it out f you have a chance.

  2. Trackback by theopraxis

    6.56 pm on 31 Mar 2004

    Historical Community

    I posted something similar at theopraxis last week. It’s tragic that we’re unable (or unwilling) to live in community with those who have come before us.

  3. Trackback by theopraxis

    4.52 am on 8 Apr 2004

    History

    I read some thoughts over at Jason Clark’s blog on the importance of church history. Good stuff – it mirrors what I’ve been thinking about recently….

  4. Trackback by theopraxis

    1.37 pm on 17 Dec 2004

    History

    I read some thoughts over at Jason Clark’s blog on the importance of church history. Good stuff – it mirrors what I’ve been thinking about recently….

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    3.44 pm on 7 Sep 2005

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  8. Comment by DH

    5.12 pm on 8 Nov 2005

    Errancy of historical texts? There are so much things that “conspiracy theorists” THINK are truth and in the end they are proved wrong. I just can’t subscribe to nihilism.

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