Mid-Week Messenger

Jan 23, 2025

Greetings Everyone

Sarah Irving-Stonebraker is a professor of history at Australian Catholic University in North Sydney, Australia. She has written about the necessity of understanding history when it comes to orthodox Christianity. I find her arguments very convincing in a recent article she published online. She believes we live in a “a-historic age”, and she gives 5 characteristics which describes how that looks: 

There are five major characteristics of the Ahistoric Age:
1. We believe that the past is merely a source of shame and oppression from which we must free ourselves.
2. We no longer think of ourselves as part of historical communities.
3. We’re increasingly ignorant of history.
4. We don’t believe history has a narrative or a purpose.
5. We’re unable to reason well and disagree peaceably about the ethical complexities of the past—the coexistence of good and evil in the same historical figure or episode.
How does this have to do with Christianity? She argues that because we dismiss history, particularly history of the church and doctrine, we end up with a shallow view of the role church should have in society, how much Christianity offers a society, the role of discipleship and ultimately of the glory of God. As I read this article I could not help but remember the famous scene recorded in Nehemiah 8, “So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard…And he read from it…early in the morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. All the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.” (Nehemiah 8:2-3) The people of God had returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. They were rebuilding the wall and the temple. However; they had not had their history put before them and therefore they did not quite understand how they ended up there and why they should continue their work. Ezra, the priest, reminded the people of God’s Word, which warned them of the consequences of disobeying God, and also encouraged them of God’s faithfulness to those who returned to Him. Biblical doctrine is not just an academic topic, when it becomes so it looses its power, and it is not just a historical dinosaur which has no bearing on life today. The past helps us understand our present and shapes our vision for the future.
I think of our church today and wonder if we see ourselves as part of the historical narrative of how God is building His Kingdom. We are in a historical moment, the church always is, and history reminds us that God works out His purposes through those who remain faithful to His Revelation. The people of Israel wept when they heard the Law read, but Ezra commands them to rejoice and hold festivities. (Nehemiah 8:6-12) The reminder of God’s Law led them to confession of their history and repentance to renewal. (Nehemiah 9) The writer of Hebrews states that, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Heb. 1:1-3a) Jesus and His Kingdom is the story of the Church, He is the Word of God given to us. Most of the time I am too busy building my own kingdom, reading and learning history reminds me that my kingdom will fade, but His Kingdom lives on. It lives on in my kids, my community, the whole earth. One day my faults will be analyzed and scrutinized, and I’ll need to be seen through the lens of gospel grace, we all will need to be seen this way. So what are we to do?  If we are to avoid “a-historicism” let us remember that the study of Him through the revelation of His Word will give us the right understanding of our role in society, our role in His Kingdom, and how He is leading our church. When I am asked where the church is going, my answer is let’s look at the past, let’s look at God’s Word, and the thought that has developed from the doctrine of the church. The importance of the study of historical orthodoxy (right belief) leads to orthoproxy (right living), for His glory and for our good. 
Ben Melli

Week At A Glance

Saturday, January 25th

We’re painting the Youth Room! If you’d like to take part in the transformation join us at 1:30. 

Sunday, January 26th

9:00 Adult Bible Study – Chapel

10:00 a.m. Worship Service

Monday, January 27th

5:30 p.m. Bell Choir Practice

Tuesday, January 28th    

7:00 a.m. Men’s Bible Study and Breakfast

Wednesday, January 29th 

10:00 a.m. Ladies AM Bible Study (LAMBS)

6:00 p.m. Parent and Youth (5th-8th grade) meeting

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

Thursday, January 30th 

10:00 a.m. Bible Babes

 

Annual Meeting of the Congregation

The Session of the Church has called for the Annual Meeting of the Congregation to take place February   2ndfollowing worship service. Please plan on sticking around for this meeting. There will be tacos! Sign up to bring toppings in Fellowship Hall.

 

 

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