Lecture 1—“A Long Preface”: Introduction to Reformation & Modern Church History Lecture 2—“The Mouse that Roared”: The Context of the Reformation (Reading: Gonzalez, ch. 1, pp. 6-10)
RTS iTunes and Alister MacGrath's book have much more in-depth information on the background of reformation.
RTS iTunes lecture 1 is mostly about the term paper. You can skip it. RTS iTunes lecture 2-5 have extensive background covering political, social, religious, and intellectural/academic areas.
A difficult question that we may never have answers, God is sovereign in human history. Why would God allow evil exists in the church and let it go on for so long and became so bad?
Having created man with free will so that we might come of our own volition to seek Him, then when men have turned from the Lord and have refused to listen to his prophets, refused to listen to His Word, refused to heed His warning to turn from their course of destruction, as a God of justice He allows gives us up to our own devices - again that we might eventually turn again to Him and know His endless forgivenss, His abundant mercy and his never ending love.
I have recently heard the adage repeated that those who control the past control the present and those who control the present control the future. This adage was being applied to the present political situation in our country with regard to how over the last few decades history books have and are being rewritten in a slanted manner to support a more liberal perspective. I thank God for His faihtfulness and His Word which make it clear that He who controls the past, the present and the future is our Lord Jesus Christ. It becomes imperative to study the past so that we can come to more intimately know the ways of the Lord for He has, is and continues tounfold His-tory.
Yes, reading the background information, I'd conclude that God is in charge of the history. If the environment was not ripe, Luther and other reformers would not have succeeded in their efforts.
Summary from a professor I worked with in the summer on church history: 1. God is Sovereign. 2. History is Messy – History often looks like a mess even though God is in control. God is sovereign over history but it often looks terrible. Just look at Biblical history! Judges! 3. Our perspective is not God’s perspective. 4. History is complex, and men are sinners. 5. God uses controversy to refine the church’s understanding of doctrine.
Why do we need to study church history?
ReplyDeleteI think it is important to know the past to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and to build on the foundation of others.
If we stand on the shoulders of giants, we can see further and accomplish more. We do that in science and our everyday life.
"If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants." - Isaac Newton
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana
RTS iTunes and Alister MacGrath's book have much more in-depth information on the background of reformation.
ReplyDeleteRTS iTunes lecture 1 is mostly about the term paper. You can skip it.
RTS iTunes lecture 2-5 have extensive background covering political, social, religious, and intellectural/academic areas.
A difficult question that we may never have answers, God is sovereign in human history. Why would God allow evil exists in the church and let it go on for so long and became so bad?
ReplyDeleteHaving created man with free will so that we might come of our own volition to seek Him, then when men have turned from the Lord and have refused to listen to his prophets, refused to listen to His Word, refused to heed His warning to turn from their course of destruction, as a God of justice He allows gives us up to our own devices - again that we might eventually turn again to Him and know His endless forgivenss, His abundant mercy and his never ending love.
ReplyDeleteI have recently heard the adage repeated that those who control the past control the present and those who control the present control the future. This adage was being applied to the present political situation in our country with regard to how over the last few decades history books have and are being rewritten in a slanted manner to support a more liberal perspective. I thank God for His faihtfulness and His Word which make it clear that He who controls the past, the present and the future is our Lord Jesus Christ. It becomes imperative to study the past so that we can come to more intimately know the ways of the Lord for He has, is and continues tounfold His-tory.
ReplyDeleteYes, reading the background information, I'd conclude that God is in charge of the history. If the environment was not ripe, Luther and other reformers would not have succeeded in their efforts.
ReplyDeleteSummary from a professor I worked with in the summer on church history:
1. God is Sovereign.
2. History is Messy – History often looks like a mess even though God is in control. God is sovereign over history but it often looks terrible. Just look at Biblical history! Judges!
3. Our perspective is not God’s perspective.
4. History is complex, and men are sinners.
5. God uses controversy to refine the church’s understanding of doctrine.