Why Look at Our History
It is not to learn a bunch of dates, or dry historical information. It is not to be able to pass a quiz.
When you look at the state of Churches today you will find that on the whole we have lost something. Not every church and not every Christian. I am talking about the overall general state of Churches.
In many cases, if you compared today with 2000 years ago, 500 years ago, even 60 years ago, what we have today is way different. I dare say that if you could transport a faithful Christian from centuries ago to today, they would not recognize what we have (again as a whole) as Christianity.
I personally have seen over and over again a softening, a departing from holding to the truth.
Jesus said “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. “
Jude verse 3 says it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
The Word of God, What the Almighty gave us, was precious to our forefathers. They would believe it and hold to it no matter the cost. I have personally seen time and again that become more and more rare.
I knew a family who left the truth because their kids became old enough to play T-Ball. O’ they did not lose their salvation. Salvation is not in church membership. But T-Ball was more important than God’s truth. I personally knew a lady who left holding for the truth because she wanted a permanent grief group. I could go on and on with examples that I have seen. It is very sad to me.
I was a deacon serving in a church and was called to a meeting. The pastor was there along with the associate pastor, another deacon, and 4 trusties.
The Pastor tells this sad story and then says I want to let her join the church without any baptism. He said I have called many of my pastor friends and told them of the situation and they all agreed that in this case it is ok to let her in the membership without being baptized. I have even talked to, and he named someone well known who is connected to a well-known bible college.
They all just nodded and went on to the next topic. They then asked me about the next topic and I said. I have no idea on that. I am still thinking about baptism. I then stood up for God’s truth. What really shocked me was that I was the only one. I stood alone. I paid a price for that. But it is worth it. His truth is worth standing for.
Why look at History. Reason one is that there is a great need to be reminded that God expects us to hold to and stand up for His precious truth.
There is a second reason to look at those that went before.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore. Stop. That is referring to what just went before. Chapter 11. Often called the great hall of faith. Example after example of people of faith that went before.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Wherefore, because of the example of those that went before. Lay aside every weight and our sin and run the race.
The great hall of faith is to help encourage and challenge us to lay aside every weight, and our sin, and run the race that is set before us. Their examples of faith are supposed to change us. Their examples should encourage us to live lives of faith for God.
It is important to realize that great examples of faith and doing did not stop with Hebrews 11. They did not stop when the last words of the Bible was penned. They did not stop 2000 years ago or 800 years ago.
I have actually heard people dismiss a challenge from the Bible. They would say, yes but those are Bible Characters. Those are special people. Examples of Christians having great faith and doing for God did not stop with the Bible. It has been continuous.
A third reason to look at church history is that it will show us how the wicked one attacks. One of his main methods of attacks is thru introducing errors. The Devil is very much in the religion business.
Why look at History.
- There is a great need to be reminded that God expects us to hold to and stand up for His precious truth.
- A look at those that went before encourages us to walk in like manner.
- It shows the evil of the wicked one and the dangers of his errors and attacks