Why is Church History Important?
By Rev. A.P. McIntyre - Posted at Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church:
DEFINING THE SUBJECT
Church History is the study of Christianity from the close of inspired history in the New Testament to the present. This includes the study of the people whose lives and ministries shaped the development of the Church and the growth of movements within the body Christ. Very often at the heart of our Christian past are the martyrs of the cross and their profound influence upon the Church of the future. Church History also involves the study of controversies within the Church and the divisions that they sparked. As these disputes were largely theological the Church learned to carefully define doctrine in order that heresy might be avoided in the future. This particular aspect of Church History is known as Historical Theology. Church History, therefore, studies the heretics and the apostasy of the Church as well as the champions of the faith, the revivals and missionary endeavours.
A VITAL DISCIPLINE
Church History (and Historical Theology) is a most vital discipline of Christian study. Many of the great theologians in history, including the Church Fathers were historians, who took with seriousness, the importance of recording and learning from the past. Outside of Scripture, preachers derive more material for their sermons from Church history than any other source. A Bible College which does not regard the importance of Church History is unworthy of the name.
RELATIONSHIP WITH SECULAR HISTORY
Furthermore Church History frequently intersects with what we may loosely call secular history. Indeed the title for this article may well have been “Why Should the Christian Study History”; the answer would be substantively the same. Secular history has influenced the Church and the Church has likewise influenced the State. Governments, Emperors and Nations have persecuted Christianity, while Christian virtues eventually made their way into the ethos of every country in the western world. Any student of Church History will therefore, only understand each period by knowing something of the secular background. Every Church historian is also an historian of all history. Therefore, those who study the history of the Church see the big picture. Secular historians who major on temporal matters in the affairs of men only get a snap shot; they miss the most important historical truths of all.
Church History is the study of Christianity from the close of inspired history in the New Testament to the present. This includes the study of the people whose lives and ministries shaped the development of the Church and the growth of movements within the body Christ. Very often at the heart of our Christian past are the martyrs of the cross and their profound influence upon the Church of the future. Church History also involves the study of controversies within the Church and the divisions that they sparked. As these disputes were largely theological the Church learned to carefully define doctrine in order that heresy might be avoided in the future. This particular aspect of Church History is known as Historical Theology. Church History, therefore, studies the heretics and the apostasy of the Church as well as the champions of the faith, the revivals and missionary endeavours.
A VITAL DISCIPLINE
Church History (and Historical Theology) is a most vital discipline of Christian study. Many of the great theologians in history, including the Church Fathers were historians, who took with seriousness, the importance of recording and learning from the past. Outside of Scripture, preachers derive more material for their sermons from Church history than any other source. A Bible College which does not regard the importance of Church History is unworthy of the name.
RELATIONSHIP WITH SECULAR HISTORY
Furthermore Church History frequently intersects with what we may loosely call secular history. Indeed the title for this article may well have been “Why Should the Christian Study History”; the answer would be substantively the same. Secular history has influenced the Church and the Church has likewise influenced the State. Governments, Emperors and Nations have persecuted Christianity, while Christian virtues eventually made their way into the ethos of every country in the western world. Any student of Church History will therefore, only understand each period by knowing something of the secular background. Every Church historian is also an historian of all history. Therefore, those who study the history of the Church see the big picture. Secular historians who major on temporal matters in the affairs of men only get a snap shot; they miss the most important historical truths of all.
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